ZZ Plant Care 101: Water, Light & Growing Tips (2024)

ZZ Plant can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of ZZ Plant in your home 🏡.

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your ZZ Plant after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

ZZ Plant is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Benefits of Growing ZZ Plant →

Common ZZ Plant Problems →

ZZ Plant thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

ZZ Plant Water Frequency →

ZZ Plant Root Rot →

ZZ Plant can tolerate being far from a window and light source. Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

ZZ Plant Light Requirements →

ZZ Plant is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

ZZ Plant Toxicity to Humans →

ZZ Plant prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

ZZ Plant Humidity Needs →

ZZ Plant is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

When and How to Successfully Repot ZZ Plant →

ZZ Plant grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

It’s common for ZZ Plant to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

ZZ Plant is native to Southeastern Africa.

ZZ Plant produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

ZZ Plant Flowers →

ZZ Plant is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

How and When to Prune ZZ Plant →

USDA Hardiness Zone
ZZ Plant can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

ZZ Plant Temperature Tolerance →

ZZ Plant can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

• Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
• To get the cutting to root, you can either:
  
  • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
  • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

• Common Bugs Affecting ZZ Plant →
• Drooping ZZ Plant Leaves →
• ZZ Plant Dropping Leaves →
• ZZ Plant Mushy Leaves →
• Black Spots on ZZ Plant →
• Brown Spots on ZZ Plant →
• ZZ Plant Leaves Falling Over →
• ZZ Plant Leaves Curling →
• ZZ Plant Root Rot →

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with ZZ Plant. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!