Zamioculcas (ZZ plant) - Care tips

Zamioculcas (ZZ plant)

The Zamioculcas is a tropical plant native to Eastern Africa. She has many nicknames, but you might have heard of the names ‘ZZ plant’ or ‘Zanzibar Gem’. She is easy to maintain and is a real air-purifier. When you take extra good care of her, she can actually produce flowers for you. This is because she is part of the Araceae family. This is a very big family, and at this moment there are approximately 3750 known species! These species are also known as ‘Aroids’.

Zamioculcas Care Tips

The ZZ plant is actually a real charm when it comes to caring for her. She will definitely appreciate a chucky soil mix that drains well. Our Aroids potting mix kit, will give her everything that she needs when it comes to soil.

She has very thick and strong roots and so it is important to check her roots regularly. Because once your Zamioculcas gets root bound, you might not be able to get her out of her nursery pot very easily. Her roots are actually so strong that they are able to break through that pot.

She can tolerate drought quite well. So if the humidity in your house is rather low, the ZZ plant can definitely be the plant you are looking for.

Light and placement for Zamioculcas

She thrives in medium to bright indirect light, but also does fine in lower indirect light. As long as you avoid bright direct light, like most plants, she’s satisfied. Finding her an appropriate spot should not be hard at all.

Water

The Zamioculcas doesn’t need a lot of water, once every 2-3 weeks depending on how much light she receives. This is because she saves up water within her stem and roots. If you notice yellow leaves, this is 99% of the time because of overwatering. Don’t water her unless the soil is almost completely dry. Because of her thick roots, it is advised to water her from the bottom, so she can soak up all the water that she needs from her roots. Don’t let her stand on wet feet for too long otherwise you’ll increase the chance of root rot.

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Nutrition

This strong classy plant does not need much. You can give her PLNTS Nutrition once a month in Summer and she doesn’t need any nutrition in winter. During winter most plants enjoy their resting period, also the Zamioculcas grows a lot slower during this period.

Propagating a Zamioculcas

You can either propagate a Zamioculcas through a ‘leaf cutting’ or a ‘stem cutting’. The leaf cutting is best taken as close to the stem as possible. Once you have cut off the leaf (always disinfect your tools before taking cuttings!), you place it 1-2 centimeters deep in cutting Soil. You will place the side where you have taken the cutting in the soil. Keep the soil moist and you should see new growth within two months.

A stem cutting is taken at the beginning of the stem, remove the bottom leaves if there are any, and place the side where you have taken the cutting in water. Out of the stem will grow new roots. Once the roots are long enough, you can repot her in soil. Make sure to keep the soil moist to start with, since the roots are acclimated to living in water. You can build this down every day.

Most common pest on Zamioculcas

Because of her thick glossy leaves, most pests do not even dare to come close. So overall is she a very healthy and strong plant. The mealy bug might give it a try, but still has a very small chance of succeeding. Do you expect any pests on your pretty plant? Visit our PLNTSdoctor page for a correct diagnosis and treatment.

Are Zamioculcas toxic for pets and children?

The Zamioculcas is indeed poisonous to ingest, so it is best to keep her away from your pets and children. It is also advised to wash your hands after handling her, so you can avoid having irritated skin.