Ranks of deep green evergreen leaflets rise on upright stems, and in a well-lit spot a new shoot can lengthen a whole inch in three days. The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) stores water in those stems, so it shrugs off months of neglect — the one thing it will not forgive is direct sun.
| Name | Zamioculcas zamiifolia |
|---|---|
| Family | Araceae |
| Type | indoor plant |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Height | 1 ⅓ to 3 ft (0.5-1 m) indoors |
| Exposure | well-lit |
| Soil | soil mix |
| Care | easy |
Repotting, watering and proper exposure are easy care tasks. Each will make your Zamioculcas even more beautiful!
Upon purchasing, if the pot is too small, repot your zamioculcas. This helps the plant grow more adequately.
Usually, plants are sold just before repotting is needed, so don’t delay. After that, every 2 or 3 years, repot your zamioculcas plant.
Spring is the best season for repotting. Use a pot of a slightly larger size (1 inch/2-3 cm).
The best place to set your zamioculcas up is near a window. It should let a decent amount of light through, but not direct sunlight.
Zamioculcas have been noted to survive with very little light.
When well-exposed and watered, a new Zamioculcas shoot can grow up to an inch in three days (1 cm/day)!
The same plant needs two very different regimes across the year: a moist, well-fed growing phase and a dry, dormant rest. Use this table to work out which one your plant is in.
| Season | Watering | Feeding | Main task |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early spring | Resume watering as new sprouts appear | Start liquid feeds again | Repot into a pot about 1 inch (2-3 cm) larger, every 2 or 3 years |
| Mid-spring to late summer | Keep the soil mix moist, checking that water drains away | Leaf plant liquid fertilizer every 8 to 15 days | Mist or spray the leaves with calcium-free water |
| Early autumn to late winter | Wait for the soil to be dry before watering again | Stop adding fertilizer | Let the plant take a dry, dormant rest; leaves may fall |
Whatever the season, let cold tap water stand near the pot for an hour so it warms up and loses its chlorine.
Regular but moderate watering will help your zamioculcas thrive.
If you don’t water enough, fronds fall over and leaves start drooping.
How often should you water zamioculcas? It depends on the season:
Keep the soil mix moist and check that water drains properly.
Add leaf plant liquid fertilizer every 8 to 15 days during the growing phase.
Reduce watering and wait for soil to be dry before watering again. Your Zamioculcas will benefit from having a dry, dormant season every year during winter.
Growth slows, and in some cases leaves fall off entirely, much like deciduous trees outdoors. Don’t worry: new sprouts appear in spring.
It’s easy to multiply zamioculcas, but it takes months. An effective technique is that of leaf cuttings.
After about 2 to 4 months, leaves wilt away. From underground, new shoots appear. Transplant to individual pots at this stage.
Instead of preparing cuttings, another option is to simply split the root bunch. This is called dividing the plant.
If your Zamioculcas stems and leaves turn yellow, it is most certainly due to excess watering. Overwatering also results in leaves losing their firmness and become soft.
If you haven’t watered the plant in a very long time, it might trigger a baffling reaction. Indeed, it may be that your Zamioculcas loses its leaves.
This might happen after forgetting to water for over a month. Simply resume watering, a bit more regularly this time. New growth will sprout.
One last point regarding parasites: Zamioculcas is vulnerable to scale insects.
Zamioculcas is a recent commercial plant. In 30+ years, not many prized mutations have appeared.
An exciting development appeared in 2017: a black Zamioculcas. It is sold under the name Raven ZZ plant.
Variegated ZZ plants grow more slowly and their cream patches scorch easily, so keep them out of direct sun.
Zamioculcas got its “ZZ plant” nickname from its botanical name: “Zamioculcas zamiifolia”. It originated in southern Africa in the Zanzibar region. This explains why one of its common names is also “Zanzibar gem“.
One of the previous names was Caladium zamiifolium, possibly because of the resemblance of its roots to those of the Caladium family. However, that name has since been replaced.
Zamioculcas contains microscopic calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals are irritating compounds in sap, leaves and roots. Calcium oxalate causes rashes. Although this may be uncomfortable, there’s no need to panic if your child or pet have ingested small amounts.
Zamioculcas isn’t toxic, poisonous or life-endangering in small quantities. The irritation may cause light swelling and pain.
Zamioculcas is considered a “succulent”. In the wild, stems store water during floods. It can survive for months without watering. Zamioculcas is an appealing houseplant for forgetful people!
