ZZ plant Zamioculcas Zamiifolia care guide that will help you get the best house plant. The ZZ plant is the easiest plant to keep alive. Unless you directly abuse the Zamioculas Zamiifolia, it’s impossible to kill it. The ZZ plant is the best plant for beginners as well as people who have not had much success with indoor plants. It requires less maintenance compared to all other plants including succulents.
ZZ Plant Zamioculcas Zamiifolia Care
The ZZ plant has a great appearance. It has deep green leaves that are super shiny. The waxy leaves make the plant appear fake or artificial. The look has also made the plant the preferred choice for decorating malls and shops.
ZZ Plant Soil Requirements
The best soil mix for your ZZ plant should be well-draining. Although you can get great results with the standard potting soil mix, you may want to use a mix that has more porosity.
You can make a blend of 75% potting mix with a 25% cactus mix. The plant has bulbs that hold on to water. Adding some cactus mix will help ensure that any excess water drains away.
Watering Requirements for ZZ Plant
ZZ Plants require to be watered less than the average house plant. If you check at the base of the plant, you will notice large bulbs that hold quite a bit of moisture. The general rule of thumb is to water when the top two inches of soil are dry.
To check whether it’s time to water, put in your finger in the soil about two inches deep and check if there’s any moisture at that level. If there isn’t then it’s time to water. Be careful and don’t get carried away and over water. Also, make sure your pot drains properly and has a drainage hole on the bottom.
Light Requirements for ZZ Plants
ZZ plant Zamioculcas Zamiifolia care also includes providing the plant with the ideal light. When choosing where to place your ZZ plant in a room select a place with bright indirect light. For guidance, you can place it about six to seven feet away from a windowsill that is getting large amounts of light throughout the day.
You do not want to put the plant directly on the windowsill especially if that windowsill is getting a lot of light. The ZZ plant does not like direct light and the leaves will not do well.
It’s also advisable not to place the plant in a location with low light. Low light makes the ZZ plant droop down and look sickly. The ideal location is somewhere in the middle of bright light and low light.
The ZZ plant is super sensitive to the light source. If you place in one position too long, it will bend towards the light source. You will have the branches curving and growing towards one direction which looks odd.
The solution is to turn the plant often and not keep it in one position for too long. You can make a point to turn it a little every fourth time you water it. Consistent turning will result in an evenly straight growing plant.
Fertilizing ZZ Plants
Fertilizing most house plants is only recommended during the growing season. The ZZ plant is not any different. Use a diluted fertilizer solution during the growing months. During the non-growing months, avoid feeding.
Repotting ZZ Plants
Repotting ZZ plants is required when the plant has outgrown its current pot. Choose a pot with a drainage hole that will not get clogged by soil. As noted above, overwatering is a serious issue with Zamioculcas Zamiifolia. Large drainage holes reduce the risk of the plant sitting in water because they allow excess water to drain off.
Fill your new pot with soil mix or blend to about 2/3 full. Remove the plant from the current pot, and loosen the roots if they are root-bound. Place it in the new pot and fill the sides with soil. Finish everything up by watering the plant.
ZZ Plant Pests and Diseases
The ZZ plant is not affected by many pests or diseases. Compared to many other house plants, the ZZ plant has minimal issues if any. The plant can get the occasional scale here and there. These never develop into full-blown infestations and can be easily controlled using neem oil.
In general, the ZZ Plant is not an attractive house plant for most pests including aphids and whiteflies that can destroy a beautiful indoor plant.
The only problem new plant owners might run into is root rot caused by overwatering. If you overwater and soak the plant completely and the soil is not well-draining the roots will begin to rot.
The risk of root rot is higher if the soil has high levels of water-retaining materials such as peat moss or coconut coir which holds too much moisture. Once you get root rot, you are also likely to get other fungal pathogens that come along with it. Avoid overwatering and having your plant sit in water.
Propagating the ZZ Plant
Propagating the ZZ Plant is an extremely slow process. I don’t do it and I don’t recommend it to plant owners.
It’s possible to propagate the ZZ Plant using cuttings. Make a stem cutting and remove the two lower leaves. You could also scrape the stem and apply some rooting hormone to encourage faster rooting. Stick it in a pot of soil and wait for it to root and get established.
The reason I don’t advocate for propagating the ZZ plant is that the process of rooting and getting established usually lasts over many months. The plant is extremely slow in rooting. When established, it grows faster but before the roots are formed it will be months before you see any change.
I would recommend just purchasing an already established ZZ plant that is already growing. However, this is just my opinion, if you’re extremely patient, and would love to experiment propagating the ZZ plant, give it a go.
ZZ Plant Poisonous for Pets
The ZZ plant is poisonous for cats and dogs. It produces a toxic sap. If ingested it can cause vomiting, stomach ache, and diarrhea depending on the amount consumed. If the sap gets in the eyes it can also irritate.
Most pets don’t have much interest in ZZ plants but if you have a cat or dog that is interested, you might want to place it out of reach.
Check these related Posts:
- 25 Indoor plants that are easy to keep alive
- 50 Air-purifying house plants by NASA.
- 30 Fast-growing indoor plants
Conclusion
The ZZ plant is a beautiful house plant. It is extremely easy to care for and keep alive. No matter how inexperienced or busy you are, you can have a pretty real plant for home décor.
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