ZZ Care Guide
Family: Arums
Genus: Zamioculcas
Botanical Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Difficulty: Hard to kill
Light
ZZ are not fans of bright, direct sunlight. They do very well in medium to low indirect light, and they can tolerate bright indirect light. Keep them a good distance from windows that receive bright direct sunlight. Six feet is a good starting point!
Water
Good news for all you brown thumbs out there, ZZ plants need less water than the average house plant. Check to see if the soil is dry two inches deep. Watering needs can vary depending on the type of light a ZZ is placed in. For plants in brighter light, they will need more water than plants that are in lower light.
Climate
The ZZ is not much of a drama queen. It does not have specific humidity requirements and can tolerate dry air and the average home temperature. They do best in temperatures ranging between 60°F-85° F.
Soil
ZZ have bulbs that hold water, so they will not need to be watered as often as the average house plant. Use a well-draining potting mix that is 75% potting mix and 25% cactus mix to prevent too much water build up in the soil. Apply balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer once a month.
Pests and Diseases
No need to stress about pests and diseases with ZZ plants because they don’t really have problems with them! If you over water or the soil is holding too much moisture they will develop root rot, but they aren’t very prone to other issues.
Signs your ZZ is no longer happy
Wilting plants and dry potting mix: under watered
Wrinkly leaves: underwatered
Yellow and mushy leaves in wet potting mix: they have root rot and are over watered.
Tips for a happy ZZ
Rotate your ZZ a little every 4-6 times of watering it to avoid an unbalanced plant.
Having more space will encourage them to grow taller, so repot them into a larger pot.
How to propagate
ZZ are not the easiest plant to propagate because they take forever to show even the tiniest roots. But, if you want to embark on that journey, you can take a leaf and place it in a glass of water and leave in direct sunlight. You will have to change the water every few days to keep it clean.
Fun Facts
The thick leaves of ZZ are thought to bring good fortune and luck!
ZZ plants can flower if kept outside, but rarely do so.
Hardiness Zones
Before you move your plant outside, be sure to check the hardiness zone to save yourself some grief and the loss of a beloved plant.
The hardiness zones for ZZ are : 10-12
If you live in Tennessee, here’s a hardiness map to help you decide if your plant can survive outside!
