The Zanzibar Gem (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a low-maintenance tropical houseplant that can be grown and propagated with minimal effort. It requires a temperature between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit (18-24 degrees Celsius) and bright indirect light. The plant prefers a spot with medium to bright indirect light, as direct sunlight can burn their leaves. However, they can tolerate low light positions too.
To care for the ZZ plant, provide a well-draining soil using cactus soil containing perlite and horticultural materials. Water your ZZ plant every 2-3 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot and wilting, wrinkled leaves, and dry potting mix. Signs of thirst include wilting, wrinkled leaves, and dry potting mix, while wet mix or yellowing and mushy leaves signal overwatering and root rot.
To keep your ZZ plant looking green and shiny, give its leaves some love with an occasional wipe with a cloth and lukewarm water. Prune any wilting or wrinkled leaves with a cloth and lukewarm water.
Zanzibar plants grow best in indoor temperatures between 15°C and 23°C, so keep them away from air conditioning or heating vents. Caring for the ZZ plant involves giving it at least a little indirect light daily for optimum growth and health, allowing the soil to dry out completely.
A well-drained potting mix, like a cacti and succulent mix, is recommended. Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes and maintains average humidity in the home. The Zanzibar Gem prefers bright or medium indirect light, but can adjust to low light and even survive with just fluorescent overhead lights. To keep the foliage nice and shiny, clean with a damp cloth as needed to remove dust and mist the leaves occasionally to reduce dust buildup.
📹 How to Care for the Zanzibar Gem
Zanzibar Gems aka ZZ Plants are known for their beauty and resilience, and require minimal care to keep them thriving and …
How do you revive a Zanzibar plant?
To address root rot on Zamioculcas, remove the plant from the pot, examine the root ball for brown or soggy roots, remove affected parts, mix dry soil with sand, repot the plant in fresh substrate, and water sparingly. Yellow leaves on the ZZ plant often indicate improper care, and urgent first aid measures are needed due to the plant’s damage and risk of dying. The cause of yellow leaves is usually a care error. Place the plant in a brighter place and water more sparingly in the future.
How often should you water a Zanzibar plant?
Zanzibar plants don’t require regular watering, as they store water and only need to be watered once a week during summer and once a month in winter. They should be given a drink when the soil has dried out completely. To prevent root rot, avoid keeping the plant in a pot with excessive water. Zanzibar plants thrive in indoor temperatures between 15°C and 23°C, so keep them away from air conditioning or heating vents. They don’t mind warm temperatures with average to high humidity, but if the indoor air is dry, misting them a couple of times a week can help.
Why are the leaves on my ZZ plant falling off?
Zamioculcas zamiifolia, also known as Zanzibar Gem, is a popular houseplant with glossy, dark green leaves and a low-light tolerance. Originating from arid regions of eastern Africa, particularly Zanzibar, this resilient plant has adapted to survive drought and neglect. Its accented shape and human-friendly characteristics make it an essential part of any indoor plant collection. Zamioculcas zamiifolia is care-easy, waterwise, low-light tolerant, and pretty, and rarely needing fertilization. If you suspect that the plant hasn’t underwatered, it may be due to overwatering. Adjust watering accordingly.
Should I cut off yellow leaves?
Yellowing leaves on indoor plants can be caused by overwatering or underwatering, which can lead to the loss of chlorophyll (pigment) and prevent the plant from turning green again. To fix this issue, remove the leaf using a sterile cutting tool and focus on healthy leaves. If the plant regains its health, new leaves may fill in during the next growing season. It’s important to be patient with plants and eliminate common reasons for yellowing leaves before attempting to fix them. Watering plants only as much as necessary is crucial for their health.
Is it okay to touch ZZ plant?
Touching a ZZ plant is generally safe, but gloves are recommended during pruning or repotting. The sap is the troublemaker, not the foliage. ZZ plants are not a threat to pets or children, but they can cause tummy aches and discomfort if mistaken for green treats. Keep the plant out of reach to maintain peace. The ZZ plant is not a poison dart, but proper placement and basic precautions can prevent harm. Proper placement and basic precautions can help prevent the ZZ plant from causing harm to pets or children.
What are the disadvantages of the ZZ plant?
The ZZ plant, also known as Raven ZZ, is considered mildly toxic due to its presence of calcium oxalate, a crystalline salt found in various plants, including spinach. While not poisonous, it can cause skin inflammation, itching, diarrhea, and kidney stones when touched. ZZ plants can also be toxic to pets due to the calcium oxalate content. Although not fatal, the symptoms can be unpleasant and frightening. To prevent this, keep the plant out of reach of pets. Although not considered poisonous for dogs, the ZZ plant can cause irritation, stomachache, diarrhea, and vomiting if ingested.
Do Zanzibar plants like sun?
The Zanzibar Gem plant, also known as the ZZ Plant, is a low-maintenance houseplant with shiny, wide, oval-shaped leaves on long stems. Its lush, deep green appearance and tropical vibe often make it mistaken for artificial plants. These plants are perfect indoor plants for serial plant killers or those who love low-maintenance plants. They grow from thick underground rhizomes that store water, making them very low water use.
To ensure their health, allow the potting mix to dry out between waterings and ensure water doesn’t collect in saucers or coverpots. They thrive in bright, indirect sunlight but can also handle low light situations.
Why do Zanzibar leaves go yellow?
Proper soil moisture is crucial for ZZ Plants, as overwatering is the leading cause of yellowing leaves. ZZ Plants thrive on neglect and don’t need much water to survive. Water only when 100% of the soil volume is dry, discarding excess water. Altering between bone dry and wet soil from ill-timed waterings can create stress and cause yellow leaves. Weakened or stressed ZZ Plants become more susceptible to insect infestations, such as spider mites, which can drain moisture and cause yellowing leaflets and fronds.
If not killed early, these pests proliferate and accelerate yellowing, especially if the ZZ is already unhealthy due to nutrient deficiency or improper soil moisture. It is essential to provide adequate water and avoid ill-timed waterings to prevent root rot and eventual plant death.
How do you make a ZZ plant happy?
ZZ plants require moderate light, well-draining soil, and occasional fertilization for their growth. They require low watering and should dry completely before repeated watering. ZZ plants thrive in low to medium light conditions, as direct sunlight can scorch their leaves. They are suitable for the office and dimly lit rooms, and can grow well in medium bright, indirect light. To ensure optimal growth, choose a spot with medium bright, indirect light. ZZ plants can survive in artificial lighting, making them ideal for offices and dimly lit rooms.
Why is my Zanzibar plant dying?
In the event that the foliage of a ZZ Plant exhibits soft, mushy brown tips, it is probable that the plant has been subjected to excessive irrigation, which can precipitate the onset of root rot and ultimately result in the demise of the plant. If the tips are dry and brittle, it is probable that the plant is not receiving sufficient water. Although overwatering is beneficial to the plant, consistent neglect of watering can have a detrimental impact on its health. It is of the utmost importance to ascertain the moisture content of the soil and modify the watering regimen in accordance with this assessment.
Why is my Zanzibar plant turning brown?
The ZZ Plant typically does not require a high humidity level. However, the presence of brown leaves may indicate a lack of moisture in the environment, necessitating an increase in humidity to prevent further browning of the plant’s leaves. This is a common problem encountered with this houseplant.
📹 5 quick tips Zamioculcas zamiifolia ZZ plant
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My moms zz plant catch nasty root and died due to poor soil drainage but being me Ive saved those potatoes babys, and planted into succulent soil with good drainage. 3 tiny potato balls, first month it shot fake branch ‘didnt look anything like a zz plant”, It took 1 year, Now 3 of them has small zz plant starting baby branches….. hope and patience really pays off.
Herregud, your article couldn’t have been more timely than this. Now I browsed the rest of the material you had on ZZ, and realized that our bulgy container of a year old plant is…well, bulgy, deformed and…I had to cut it open to release the poor plant. No wonder it couldn’t send any more shoots – it was literally stuffed inside, little “potato” after another, and above another, all stacked. Few branches were spindly and got broke now that I transplanted it, will probably utilize the leaves to try and propagate it into little ones. Wish me luck! 🙂 Ha det så bra!
I’ve been struggling with my ZZ Raven since I got it over a year ago. It lost one immature stem, then a few leaves on another stem and since then nothing. It gets plenty of indirect light and as I’m an underwaterer I’m sure that’s not the problem. I have not repotted it but I have noticed that the rhizomes are partially above the soil level. Maybe I’ll try repotting it a bit deeper. Right now I’m just keeping my fingers crossed it’s been dormant and that it will wake up with the arrival of summer!
Hi I got a slight problem with a zz plant propargation that I had in a glass with spider plant propargations, I kind of forgot about them for a while and when I was going to pott them up I could not separate them so now I have a pot with spider plant with a zz stalk in the middle =D But the problem also is that I couldnt properly bury the the lump of the zz plant totally due to the spiderplant babies. So I did a 50/50 on them…I know its not ideal. What shall I do to make them all survive? Should I try to seperate them when they are a bit more established and less vulnareable? Would really appreciate advice on this issue. Love the website its awesome. Great informative articles! =) Thank you for your time and take care and stay safe and have a great day!
I got a question you may be able to answer. You mention they got into dormancy for a really really long time. Mine has not grown for 3 years know. Im sure that is way to long. But is there anything that I can do to help he begin to grow again? its root system is health and in a nice area of my home for the sun.
Please Swedish plantguys – I have a zz crisis and your opinion would be hugely appreciated. I bought one 4 months ago. It looks healthy, but from the start it’s been losing branches, one at a time. A leaf at the bottom will turn yellow (no blotches or brown edges), then the rest of the leaves become yellow, before the branch finally comes loose from the soil. Its close to a growlight, I water it every 2 weeks as it’s summer with average temps of 25-34C here in the south of France. The soil is always bone dry in-between waterings. For soil I use a blend of 3 parts interior plant mix with 1 part orchid mix – same as my other aroids. I repotted it one moth ago into a terracotta pot and noticed the roots are white and healthy. Don’t know what I’m doing wrong!
Will it grow in a room with little or no sunlight? I want to buy one, but the only place it can go is nowhere near a window. I tend to have the blinds down anyway, so the only light source is likely to be from standard light bulbs. I do have an uplighter with a daylight bulb as well. Will my plant survive?
Do you have a article on money plant issues? Mine is very very large and was insanely beautiful. Over Christmas, I moved it to another room across the house. I feel like it was too much light. The leaves look mottled. Yellow/green watercolor looking. They are soft when they drop but it has lost a ton of leaves. .. I am going to report. To replace the soil. Also, I was probably watering it too much bc I was nervous with it not being in direct site. Ugh. The truck is thick braided and still hard. Help
Hello, I apologise for too many questions and comments It is generated due to confidence you have honest and scientifically based experience I received a zz in 20cm pot in peatmoss with perlite and few sand soil I checked the stocks they are 8 2 of which are 40 cm and 3 are 25 but 3 are only 12 to 15 cm and these short ones one is having only 2 big leaves similar to the tall branches while the other is 10 very small dark green leaves I checked the root system looks cream and white and see the root hairs all around the contour of the cylinder that came out of the pot Soil was little dry and fluffy almost 80% dry I checked the potato like … by removing some soil and looked white and clean and big and around 3 I couldnt stop at this point because I am sick person who never let things as they are and relax and enjoy I fould in your articles that the stocks are filling the pot and not just at the center as mine where 60% around is empty Specially that some are big others so small I took a decision to benefit of the dry soil condition and of already the plant is out of pot to check it as mentioned And i started to move little bit so softly the stocks apart to gain better looking Firstly i discovered that 2 very short stocks with v small leaves have no roots and nothing been attached to them Second i got the 2 long stocks bending but no broken but inclining and required to press the soil from the side far from the cylinder that has them with the potatoe like… to get them straight again I got almost a heart attack in the situation I was so afraid i messed up everything I put back pebbles on top that I got them as gift and put bigger ones to support these 2 branches Then i am now no-stop thinking will those 2 short branches live while they put in my pot without any roots How come the second short one has 2 big leaves only Finally I watered with an amount about 20% of soil volume I didnt see any drop out of drainage holes but looks normall because watered small amount Will the tall stocks be straight again?
I have a watering question because my watering technique still is a problem. Now after my plant is 1 inch or 2 inches between watering, do I just water enough until I instantly see the water running out of the bottom then stop? If so that means that I am just replacing what water was lost from that 1 or 2 inches? It’s not meant for me to soak the plant throughly is it? These are my plants that eed to dry out between watering. Do I have this right?.
Hi! Am writing to you from north India. My ZZ Plant is growing well, and bringing up new shoots. My problem is, the new shoots have only 2-3 pairs of leaves on top. So now I have stems growing bare, whether long or short, with only 2-3 pairs of leaves on top… Could you give me some tip to rectify that?
Please consider doing a deep dive on rubber plants. I have three varieties and all of them are temperamental. Current, my burgundy rubber plant is dropping leaves like you couldn’t believe. I have several Fiddle Leaf figs. None are as moody as my rubber plants. I need the expertise of the Swedish Plant Guys 😩.