The most popular indoor plant for beginners is the ZZ plant. Its common names include Zuzu plant, aroid palm, eternity plant, Zanzibar gem, etc. It has thick and waxy foliage. Its leaves are generally dark green. It is a low-maintenance and low-care plant. Believe it or not, the ZZ plant is a flowering plant. It has white or creamy flowers. The beauty of the white flowers among the dark green leaves will mesmerize you. Since it is a low to bright indirect light plant, you can easily set it in your living room, bedroom, or office. It is a useful plant for decoration. You must follow some rules to enjoy the ZZ plant’s beauty, such as:
Now, I will try to describe these rules based on my own experience :
| Common Name | ZZ Plant, zuzu plant, Zanzibar Gem, eternity plant, aroid palm |
| Botanical Name | Zamioculcas zamiifolia |
| Family | Araceae |
| Plant Type | Perennial, Houseplant |
| Mature Size | 2-4 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide |
| Sun Exposure | Low to bright indirect light; tolerant of low light conditions |
| Soil Type | Well-draining potting mix, can tolerate a range of soil types |
| Soil pH | Neutral (6.0-7.0) |
| Bloom Time | summer |
| Flower Color | Yellow to brownish spathes (not very showy) |
| Toxicity | Toxic to humans and pets |
ZZ plant Care Tips
Soil
The ZZ plant does not require any specific soil. It can easily grow in any soil. It just needs well-draining soil. You can use a standard potting mix with a bit of perlite. The ZZ plant does not like wet soil. It always prefers dry soil, so you should always try to keep your plant’s soil dry.
Water
The ZZ plant does not require much water to grow. A little too much water is enough to kill it, so you should water it very sparingly. In the growing season, you should water once every 2 to 3 weeks. The growing season means summer and spring. In the resting season, which is winter, you should water once every 3 to 4 weeks. So, be careful when watering.
Light
The ZZ plant needs bright but indirect sunlight, so place it where sunlight comes indirectly. But if you have no bright place in your house, nothing to worry about because the ZZ plant can also live in a low-light place. So you can easily place it in the corner of your house, windowsills, or balcony. However, it grows well in a bright place. So try to keep it in a bright place.
Right Place
You already know that ZZ plants can live in both low-light places and bright indirect light places. You can place them on a bright indirect windowsill or in your balcony. If you have no bright place, you can place them anywhere in your house where you like because it also grows in low light. However, try to place them in a bright place for better growth.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer should be given to your ZZ plant because it will help your plant grow well and quickly, keep free from insects and diseases, and also help your plant flower. You can use fertilizer with more magnesium and potassium for healthy stems. You can use fertilizer with a higher ratio of nitrogen for better foliage growth. Since the ZZ plant is a flowering plant, you can use fertilizer with more phosphorus. You should use fertilizer in the growing season, which is summer and spring, because the growing season is best for fertilizing. Winter is the rest period for the plant, so avoid fertilizing in the winter season.
Insects
Insects always attack plants, but ZZ plants are generally insect-free. Nevertheless, some pests attack the plant, such as scale, aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, etc. To get rid of them, you can wash the plant’s leaves with insecticidal soap and also apply organic neem oil. You can also spray Savlon water on your plant’s leaves to get rid of insects.
ZZ’s Pruning
Pruning is very important for your plant. It helps your plant grow quickly. For pruning, you can use scissors. First, remove yellow and damaged leaves from your plant. Then cut the stems that are damaged or very tall compared to the other stems. Cut in such a way that all stems are the same length. Growing seasons are best for pruning. Don’t prune your plant in the winter season because it is the rest period for the plant.
Leaf Care
The beauty of ZZ plants is hidden in their leaves, so it is very important to give your ZZ plant’s leaves extra care. Always try to keep your plant’s leaves clean. Use neem oil to keep the leaves clean. Spray water on the leaves to remove dust. Remove yellow and damaged leaves from your plant. Sometimes place your plant in a bright place. After doing these things, you can enjoy the beauty of the plant.
Solving Some Problems
You may face some problems when you take care of your ZZ plant. Now, I am sharing these problems.
Yellow Leaves
The first problem you may face when you take care of your lovely plant is yellow leaves. Yellow leaves are normal in winter. It is also a sign of dead leaves. But when the leaves continue to turn yellow in excess, it is not normal. It is caused by using too much fertilizer and water. So, when you see the leaves turn yellow in excess, stop watering and fertilizing. Be careful when using fertilizer and water for your plants.
Brown Leaves
There are several reasons why leaves turn brown. The reasons are underwatering, bright direct sunlight, and low humidity. So you should water your plants properly and keep them in an indirect light place. Also, provide them with proper humidity as needed.
Root Rot
Root rot happens when you give your plants too much water, more than they need. So, be careful when watering your plants. Your plants can die because of root rot.
Here I have discussed ZZ plant care, all types of problems, and their solutions. By following these, you can easily take care of your plant and enjoy its beauty.
