ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Other names: Zanzibar gem, eternity plant
The ZZ plant has arching stems lined with thick, glossy, dark green leaflets. Underground it grows potato-like rhizomes that store water, so it copes with drought and with the low light of offices and hallways.
How to grow ZZ plant
Light
It grows best in medium to bright, indirect light and tolerates low light very well. Keep it out of hot, direct sun, which scorches the leaflets.
Watering
Water only when the mix has dried out completely, roughly every two to three weeks, and less in winter. If in doubt, wait another week.
Soil and feeding
Use a free-draining mix and a pot with drainage holes. Feed two or three times during spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer at half strength.
Pruning and upkeep
Remove yellow or leaning stems at the base. Wipe the leaflets with a damp cloth to keep them shiny. Repot every two to three years, or when the rhizomes distort the pot.
Propagation
Divide the rhizomes when repotting for the quickest result. Single leaflets pushed into moist mix also root, but take several months to form a new rhizome.
Common problems
- Yellow leaves on several stems
- Overwatering. Let the soil dry fully and check the rhizomes for soft, brown rot.
- Wrinkled stems and dropping leaflets
- The plant has been dry for too long. Water thoroughly and it will plump up again.
- Long, leaning stems
- Too little light. Move it nearer to a window and rotate the pot.
Questions about ZZ plant
Can a ZZ plant survive in a room with no windows?
It survives for months under ordinary office lighting, but it needs some natural or grow light to keep growing. Move it to a brighter place for a few weeks from time to time.
How fast does a ZZ plant grow?
Slowly. Expect a few new stems each year in good light.
Plant details
| Botanical name | Zamioculcas zamiifolia |
|---|---|
| Family | Araceae |
| Native range | Eastern Africa, from Kenya to South Africa |
| Plant type | Houseplants. Evergreen perennial |
| Soil | Free-draining potting mix with extra perlite or grit |
