The ZZ Plant is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, with a single species, Zamioculcas. It is a tropical perennial plant endemic to East Africa, ranging from southern Kenya to northeastern South Africa.
Popular names include Zanzibar Gem, Z Plant, Zuzu Plant, Aroid Palm, Eternity Palm, and Emerald Palm. It is mainly planted as an ornamental plant for its elegant glossy leaves and ease of maintenance.
Lodiges named it as Caladium zamifolium in 1829, but Heinrich Wilhelm Scott moved it to the new genus Zamioculcas and Adolf Engler gave it the accepted name, Zamioculcas zamifolia.
ZZ Plant
The ZZ Plant is a low-maintenance Zamioculcas Zamifolia plant with glossy, broad, oval-shaped leaves. Which tend to curve upwards and grow rapidly indoors.
ZZ plants are slow-growing plants that prefer bright, indirect sunlight. One feature of the zz plant is that it can flourish in numerous lighting situations.
The plant’s roots are rhizomatous, which means they may store moisture and aid with drought tolerance.
ZZ Plant Overview
- Botanical Name: Zanzibar gem, eternity plant,
- Common Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
- Family: Araceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Mature Size: 2-4 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide
- Sun Exposure: Partial
- Soil Type: Well-draining
- Soil pH: Neutral, Acidic
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Flower Color: Yellow, Green, White
- Hardiness Zones: 9-10 (USDA)
- Native Area: Africa
ZZ Plant Species
The ZZ Plant types have a similar characteristic. It comes in three different flavors. They are all easy to care for. While varietal types are more susceptible than standard ZZ plants.
1. Zamioculcas Zamiifolia ‘Raven’: a rather new type that stands out for its dark purple-maroon leaves.
2. Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Lucky Variegated’: characterized by green leaves with white and yellow variegation; if not exposed to enough light, variegation disappears.
3. Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Zamicro’: A small form of zz plant with small leaves and short stems.
How To Grow ZZ Plant
Whether grown indoors or outdoors, ZZ plants thrive in strong indirect light. Avoid being in the sun. It needs soil that drains properly. If the dirt is not removed, the rhizome will rot and the plant will die.
Only regular potting soil is efficient. You can also add sand or perlite to increase drainage further. Rhizomes should be rooted in pots that are as wide as the rhizomes.
Once every two to three weeks, water your ZZ plant. Watering should only be done when the top 3 inches of soil are dry.
Pruning
The ZZ plant is a slow-growing plant that almost always maintains a pleasing appearance. It rarely needs trimming. ZZ plants should never leave fading leaves on the plant.
Take hold of the stem of a golden leaf. Trim any ZZ plant stems that seem excessively long with a pair of clean, sharp scissors. Dead or wilting stems should be cut off. At the soil’s surface, cut them off.
Propagation
Taking stem cuttings from a ZZ plant is quite easy. Every indoor plant can be multiplied quickly and easily in summer. Cut a stem from the mother plant using a clean pair of scissors or a knife.
Maintain a few healthy leaves at the top and cuttings at least two inches long. Every three to four weeks, change the water in which the cut stems are submerged. Place the cutting near a window so that it receives plenty of direct light.
Sunlight is the most effective approach to promote the growth of ZZ cuttings. You can transplant your cutting once it has developed a rhizome and at least one inch of new roots.
ZZ Plant Care
Even the most green-thumbed gardener can grow ZZ plants as low-maintenance, easy-to-care-for houseplants with little effort. Every two weeks, all zz plants need adequate hydration and adequate sunlight.
ZZ plants are drought tolerant because they are rhizome based. The rhizome enables them to retain water underground. While this plant is grown outdoors in Africa. This plant grows well indoors elsewhere.
The ZZ plants have naturally glossy leaves that dull due to dust accumulation. Gently wipe off dust and dirt with a damp cloth to restore its shine.
Soil And Fertilizer
ZZ plants actually require soil that drains well. Perlite, which are little white balls in your soil that aid drainage and generate air gaps, is present. The soil should have a pH of 6 or 7, which is neutral or slightly acidic and what the majority of potting soil mixtures have.
Fertilizing is not a significant part of caring for ZZ plants. The rhizomes of ZZ plants store nutrients, so less fertilizer is needed. During the growth season, he advises using a general-purpose indoor plant fertilizer at half intensity once a month.
Also Read: Oyster Plant
Light And Water
The ZZ Plant is tolerant of many lighting situations. They may be cultivated inside with little light, but without adequate light, they can rapidly start to appear feeble.
Place them near south-facing windows indoors to give the plant strong, indirect light. These plants can partially survive sporadic irrigation due to their dense rhizomes.
Depending on their growing conditions, they may need to be watered every two weeks if the soil dries out completely. Mist the soil thoroughly until water drains from the container’s drainage holes. Try not to overwater the plant.
Temperature and Humidity
The ZZ plants can tolerate typical indoor humidity and temperature levels. Avoid placing your ZZ plant near drafts or extremely cold parts of your home as they do not handle cold temperatures well.
ZZ plants do not require a humid environment. If your home is on the dry side, consider purchasing a humidifier or setting your plant on top of a tray with stones and water to increase the humidity around it.
Pests and Diseases
ZZ plants are typically a fairly low-maintenance species, some growth issues can nevertheless arise. Most problems are caused by lack of light and water.
Brown or crispy leaves: The leaves of a Z plant submerged in water will start to curl or get crispy brown.
Yellow leaves: Overwatering is a typical plant-growing issue because ZZ plants retain water in their rhizomes. ZZ Plants become waterlogged and the tips of the leaves begin to turn yellow.
Root-bound: ZZ plants frequently have root rot when they require repotting.