The ZZ Plant ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to what you look for in house plants. Beautiful, glossy green foliage, that will brighten up any room or office? Tick. Stress relief, productivity boosting and air cleansing? Tick, tick, tick. But what about maintenance, is it straightforward to look after? Big tick.
That final point is what we are going to focus on in this blog, as we look at how to care for a ZZ Plant. While it is quite easy to keep a ZZ Plant going, we want to help you really get the most out of it, so we will run through everything you need to know about ZZ Plant care. We'll run through the what watering schedule it requires, how much light it needs - even how to propagate ZZ Plants.
Let's get those glossy green leaves looking their best.
Are ZZ Plants easy to care for?
You've probably already guessed by now, but yes - ZZ Plants are incredibly easy to care for. In fact, the ZZ indoor plant is known to be one of the hardest to kill - they are incredibly robust indoor plants. They can tolerate neglect of all kinds; they can go for long periods without water, and will even grow in low light conditions.
This makes it a great plant for someone who hasn't got many indoor plants, someone who is new to this game. It's why they make great presents, perfect for someone moving into a new home.
So, while they are incredibly easy to keep alive, we think that these plants deserve to be allowed to flourish - and that's why we've created the Zanzibar plant care guide below.
What are ZZ Plants?
The ZZ Plant originally came from Central and Eastern Africa - which is why it is often referred to as the Zanzibar gem - in areas that frequently experience drought, which is why ZZ Plants have adapted to long periods without water. The droughts are often interrupted with an almighty downpour, so the plants are excellent at storing water, which gets them through the dry spells.
They are known by many different names. The botanical name is Zamioculcas zamiifolia (hence why that is often shortened to 'ZZ plant') and it is also referred to as Zuzu Plant, Eternity Plant, Aroid Palm, Fern Arum and Emerald Palm.
Their leaves change colour as they age - they start out as a lovely bright lime colour, and then grow into a deep emerald green as they get older. They are beautiful plants, and are non-toxic so pet-friendly plants - a great addition to any home.
How to care for a ZZ Plant
So now that we know that zamioculcas zamiifolia care is pretty straightforward, we can tackle the specifics. We'll go through each category individually, and then we'll leave our quick-fire guide below.
How much water a ZZ Plant needs is a good place to start. We know that it is a drought tolerant plant, and it has the ability to store water, so there isn't much that you need to worry about here. The best rule to follow is that is the top of the soil is dry (which is usually around every 2 to 3 weeks), it could do with a drink, and then leave it to drain through. The drainage holes on the pot are just as important as the amount of water you give it - if the water can't drain through then it stagnates in the soil and you are at the risk of getting root rot. Some leaves will turn brown or yellow if this starts to happen.
Now let's cover the ZZ plant light requirements. They love bright indirect light, but can survive in lower light, but it may grow slowly in more shaded areas. The one thing they don't do as well in is very bright direct sunlight.
As they are from the desert, they prefer dry conditions so you don't need to worry about spraying them with a mist of water at any time. They would prefer to be in a dry room, so will thrive better away from a kitchen or bathroom. You can find some bathroom plants on our site that would thrive in those conditions.
In terms of potting, the ZZ Plant's rhizomes will grow out, rather than down, so if you repot to a wider plant pot
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Origins: Central and Eastern Africa
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How much light: Bright indirect light is best, avoid direct sunlight. Can tolerate low light.
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Water requirements: About once every couple of weeks, when the top soil is dry. Don't overwater.
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Humidity requirements: Keep it dry where possible! Average household humidity is absolutely fine.
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Soil requirements: Well-draining potting mix to help prevent root rot
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Temperature requirements: As a desert plant, it is pretty flexible - 15°C to 24°C is optimum, but can go down to a minimum of 7°C.
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Pruning requirements: Remove dead (brown or yellow) leaves when you see them.
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Pests: The ZZ Plant are generally pest free, but wipe the leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to keep them healthy.
Propagating ZZ Plants
The easiest way to propagate a ZZ Plant is by cutting off a tuber. The best way to do this is to separate some rhizomes, while trimming the roots a bit. Plant immediately in a small pot with some well draining soil, and give it a big drink. Your new plant should grow.
A quick word of warning, though - your ZZ Plant doesn't like its roots interfered with too much (they love being pot bound), so try not to use the same larger plant every time you propagate. You can also use leaf cuttings to grow new plants as well, but this can take 12 months.
Build your dream indoor setup with Prickle
The ZZ Plant is a great place to start your indoor plant setup - and with Prickle you can create an incredible display throughout your home. Beautiful, deep green leaves, interesting foliage, better air quality - all just a few clicks away. Whether you want large house plants or small - we've got you covered.
We want to hear from you about your indoor plants - so if you have any questions at all, please get in touch - get us on social media @prickplantsuk or email contact@prickleplants.co.uk