Home Gardeners

ZZ-plant or zamioculcas zamiifolia is a tropical perennial plant native to Africa, New Zealand, and Kenya. It is often called as drought tolerant plant as it has rhizomes that have the capability to store water for a long time.

The Plant has air-purifying quality for the indoor environment (i.e. home and offices). ZZ-plant is able to remove volatile organic compounds like benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene. In some countries, the juice is extracted from leaves to treat an earache, inflammatory conditions and roots for ulcer problems.

Here in this article, you come to about the growing conditions of ZZ-plant and the factors affecting it. We also come with a solution to your air-purifying ZZ-plant problems.

Zanzibar Gem Plant Growing Conditions

USDA Zones                :    9-12

Plant Height                :      3 Feet

Temperature                :      65-75 F

Seed Germination      :      7-10 Days

Flowers                          :      White, bright yellow, brown  colors

Sunlight                        :      Full Sun

Fertilizers                      :      Balanced N-P-K (20-20-20), compost or manure

Other Names             :      ZZ-Plant-Zamioculcas Zamiifolia-Zuzu plant-Emerald                                                        palm-Zanzibar gem-Aroid palm-Eternity plant

Step-by-step procedure to Grow Zamioculcas plant

ZZ-plant is a popular slow-growing houseplant which is easy to take care of. Here is the step by step procedure to grow the zamioculcas plant from seed indoors.

• Before start sowing the seeds in pots, place them in warm water for 1 day to speed up the germination process.
• Take out the seeds and allow it to dry for some time. Now the seeds are ready to place in pots.
• Select the pot or container of size 8-12 inches when you start growing from seeds. The pot is made up of clay or ceramic and has holes at the bottom to drain water completely.
• Use well-drain fertile soil to grow ZZ-plants in pots. You can also use equal amounts of peat moss, perlite, and loamy soil to improve the soil fertility.
• Water the plant regularly and also when the soil becomes dry completely. Avoid overwatering ZZ-plant as it may result in root rot.
• The plant grows well in low or bright light conditions. The seed germinates within 10-14 days and allows it to receive sunlight for a minimum of 8 hours a day.
• When planted outdoors the best temperature to grow ZZ-plant is 65-75F and reaches to a height of 3 feet tall.
• Pests like aphids, spider mites, thrips, caterpillars, and whiteflies cause great damage to the plants by feeding on leaves. To overcome pets problem spray Neem oil or insecticidal soaps on plant leaves.
• Nutrient deficiency can also be the serious problem in plants. Deficiency symptoms include yellow leaves, dark green foliage, mottle lower leaves, curry leaves and brittle petioles. To deal with nutrient deficiency issues use organic fertilizers.
• ZZ-plants require balanced liquid fertilizers (N-P-K: 20-20-20) to boost the plant growth. Fertilize the plant when matures and once in every month to thrive quickly.

Can you Propagate ZZ-plant from Cuttings?

ZZ-plant is a common air-purifying plant that you can see in home and offices.   Propagating ZZ-plants can be done by stem cuttings and division method. It is because the plant produces new rhizomes very slowly and damages the parent plant. But if you take stem cuttings with few leaves then the rooting and growth are quicker. Within 4 weeks roots establish completely when you maintain the temperature between 80-90F.

Propagating ZZ-plant in water

In this method take the mature stem cutting of height 6-12 inches from the healthy plant.  Now place the stem in a jar of water. Place it near window location to receive bright indirect sunlight. Change water in the jar for every 2-3 days. You can see the roots emerging at the bottom of the stem.

Take out the stem and place it in a well-drain soil or a mix of vermiculite perlite. If necessary add fertilizers to the plant to ensure quick growth. The plant is ready to transplant or shift to your home and offices to purify surrounding atmosphere by eliminating harmful toxins.

Propagating ZZ-plant in Soil-Division Method

To propagate ZZ-plant by division method, select a healthy plant that has glossy green foliage. During spring or winter season it establishes a new growth forming new leaves and stems. Now divide the parent plant into 3 baby plants using a knife or cutters. Plant them outdoors in a well-drain fertile soil and provide successive waterings. Make sure the plant is kept in a partial shade location for better growth. Within months the baby ZZ-plant matures and is able to purify the surrounding air, making an eco-friendly plant to grow outdoors or landscape.

ZZ-Plant Care Instructions

• Do not overwater as the plant cannot survive and may die.
• Zamioculcas Zamiifolia plants cannot survive in frost conditions.
• Wear goggles, gloves, shoes and face masks while pruning ZZ-plants.
• Pollination is not necessary as they don’t bloom flowers in any season.
• Make sure the ZZ-plant receives sunlight for a minimum of 6-8 hrs a day.
• Follow instructions & warning labels on fertilizers before applying them.
• Fertilize the plants once or twice in a year during spring and summer seasons.
• The pot must have holes at the bottom for better air circulation and proper drainage.
• Re-pot the plant every year only when the root emerges out of the pot and transplant it bigger pots.
• Add mulches around the plant to maintain the soil moisture levels and to provide nutrients to the plants.

Where does the ZZ plant come from?

ZZ-plant or Zuzu plant is an air purifying plant that is mostly seen in African countries i.e. from southern Kenya to northeastern South Africa. It is sometimes called as aroid palm and eternity plant. These plants usually grow to a height of 3 feet tall when grown home indoors with proper care.

How big do ZZ-plants grow?

ZZ-plants grows to a height of 5 feet tall and spread up to 2-3 feet tall. The plant grows from an underground rhizome that looks like a potato. The plant matures and grows faster when more or large number of rhizomes are grown together.

What are the good companions for ZZ-Plant?

Snake plant, Aglaonema, Calathea, Kalanchoe, Cast Iron Plant, Ti Plant, Rattail Cactus, Ferns, Ficus, Mosses, Rhipsalis, Prayer plants, Sansevierias and Tradescantia are the good companion plants that help the ZZ- plant to thrive quickly by deterring pests and also provides sufficient nutrients to the plants.

Do ZZ-plant bloom flowers?

ZZ-plant produces small flowers at the base of the plant when planted outdoors. A flower is a type of sapthe with a spadix that is not seen easily when it grows. Because the ZZ-plant flowers are covered with its leaves as they grow along the base of the stem. The flowers are available in white, bright yellow, brown  colors of thickness 20 cms long that grows easily when planted in a well drain soil.

How to prune ZZ-plant?

Remove yellow leaves throughout the year as mature plants drop older leaves. You can also prune stems if they are too long using cutters or shears. Cut them above the soil level as they cannot be restored once you prune them at ground level.

Is ZZ plant poisonous?

Zamioculcas zamiifolia or ZZ-plant all parts of the plant are poisonous. Wash your hands or wear gloves if you want to prune the plant. So keep children and pets (dogs & cats) away as they can’t tolerate the harmful toxins evolving from the plants.

How do you repot a ZZ plant?

ZZ-plant performs well in a wide variety of soils, so you can repot them in all-purpose potting mix soil. Repot the plant from smaller pots to bigger ones at outdoors. Use a mixture containing equal amounts of perilite, sterilized loamy soil and peat moss. It is done during the months of the spring season for better growth of Zuzu.

Why the leaves of ZZ plant turning yellow?

These plants do not require more water but can grow well with small amounts of water only when the soil is dry. Over-watering the plants can kill the plant. Sometimes nutrient deficiencies can also be the reason for your plant leaves turning yellow color.

For more information refer: Why are my plants turning yellow?

Start growing ZZ-plant in pots or outdoors that purifies air near your home and garden. If you have amazing ideas about growing ZZ-plant in your home, please share your experience with us in the comment section given below.

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