Did you know… the ZZ plant wasn’t introduced as a houseplant until the 1990s? Although the plant was botanically registered as early as 1892, it wasn’t cultivated before 1996. On this page you’ll find all information on plant care, from the ideal spot until repotting instructions. Follow these plant care guidelines and help yours live a long and healthy life.
The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) has got it all. This houseplant has a cool look, shiny leaves and is incredibly easy to care for. Since its introduction as an indoor plant in 1996, the ZZ Plant has been extremely popular. With its glossy, feather-shaped leaves and long stems, the plant is a real eye catcher in any interior.
The ZZ plant is originally from Tanzania. Here the plant is used to long periods of drought followed by periods of extreme rainfall. During these showers, the plant stores a lot of water, so that it has sufficient reserves during the drought. The Zamioculcas can survive weeks or even months without water. This survival mechanism makes the ZZ plant very easy to care for. The plant can be placed in nearly any spot and won’t mind a dry potting soil. Read on for all plant care tips.
ZZ plant light requirements
Whether you place the ZZ plant in a light, sunny or dark spot makes little difference. There are a few things to consider:
Are you placing the ZZ plant in a sunny spot?
Allow it to get used to direct sunlight gradually, by moving the plant a little closer to the window every week. In addition, keep in mind that the plant grows very quickly in a sunny spot. Sometimes the plant can grow so fast that the stems collapse under their weight. To prevent this from happening, we recommend placing the plant further away from the window if the stems start drooping down.
Are you placing the ZZ plant in partial shade?
Keep in mind that the plant will grow less quickly.
A light spot with filtered sunlight is therefore an ideal spot if you’d like to the plant to grow at a normal rate. But if the plant is best suited for a sunny or shady spot in your home, that’s fine as well. Wherever you place the plant, make sure you turn it regularly. The plant tends to grow towards the light.
ZZ plant care: water
The ZZ plant prefers too little water over too much. The plant stores a lot of water and nutrition in its leaves. It’s best toto water it moderately, just enough to moisten the potting soil. Allow the potting soil to dry before watering again. The plant will need more water during spring and summer as compared to winter. During winter the ZZ plant will survive without water for 2 to 4 weeks. During summer, you’ll need to water it about once a week. If the potting soil has not dried up after a week (during summer) or after 2/3 weeks (during winter), we recommend waiting until the potting soil has dried before watering again. This is also a sign that you should give less water from now on. It’s important not to give too much water. If there’s a layer of excess water at the bottom of the pot, the ZZ Plant’s lower leaves can turn yellow.
Repot the ZZ plant once every 3 years, during spring. Be careful not to damage the roots too much when repotting. Use a pot that is at least 20% larger than the current pot, allowing the roots plenty of room to grow.
We recommend placing a layer of hydro granules at the bottom of the pot when repotting. That way, it won’t matter if you overwater the plant, as the hydro granules provide drainage.
Once you receive the Zamioculcas, it won’t need any fertilizer for the coming 2 months. This is because the plant can still obtain sufficient nutrition from the fresh potting soil. When the two months have passed, you will only need to apply fertilizer during spring and summer.
Make sure you never give too much plant food. Use half of the recommended dosage on the packaging. Make sure you never give plant food again. This is harmful to the plant.
Is the ZZ plant poisonous?
All outdoor and indoor plants on Plantler have a decorative purpose; they’re not fit for consumption – unless it is explicitly stated that they are (i.e. a fruit tree). The ZZ plant is poisonous to humans and animals. Make sure to protect small children and/or pets from them.