ZZ Plant Care: Light, Water, Pets and Yellow Leaves
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
The ZZ plant is the one people reach for when a space is dim and nobody wants to think about watering. It earns that reputation, with one condition: keep it on the dry side.
How to care for a zz plant
ZZ plants tolerate low light and grow best in medium to bright indirect light. Strong direct sun will bleach or scorch the glossy leaves. In a dim room growth is slow, which is fine: a ZZ plant that holds its leaves is doing its job.
Plant it in a well-draining mix with a drainage hole. Thick, potato-like rhizomes under the soil store water, which is why the plant copes with dry spells. Wipe the leaves occasionally so dust does not dull the shine.
Where a ZZ plant works
Dim room
Growth is slow, and that is fine. A ZZ plant that keeps its leaves is doing its job.
Bright, indirect light
The best growth. Medium to bright light without direct sun.
Direct sun
Strong sun bleaches or scorches the glossy leaves. Move it back from the glass.
How often to water a zz plant
Let the soil dry out fully between waterings, then water thoroughly. Every 2 to 4 weeks is typical, and winter can stretch longer. Because the rhizomes hold water, a missed week hurts far less than an extra one.
Why zz plant leaves turn yellow
Yellow leaves on a ZZ plant are most often overwatering. Check the soil and the base of the stems: soft, mushy stems and a damp smell mean rot, and the rhizomes need to be checked and any soft ones cut away.
An occasional yellow, dropped stem on an otherwise healthy plant can be normal aging. A whole plant yellowing at once usually points to water, a pot without drainage, or a cold draft.
Pots, drainage and water
A ZZ plant keeps its water in thick rhizomes under the soil, which makes wet soil the main risk. The pot is where that gets decided.
- Rocks on a pot collar hide the rim of the liner and the soil line.
- The plant stays in its liner, a nursery pot with drainage holes, so water can leave the soil.
- A filler under the liner sets the height so the rim sits just below the top of the decorative pot.
- The decorative pot has no hole. Water that drains from the liner collects here, and has to be emptied.
My pot has no drainage hole. How do I water?
Keep the plant in a liner with holes inside the decorative pot. Water in a sink, let it drain, and put it back.
There is water at the bottom of the pot.
Empty it. Rhizomes sitting in water turn soft, and the stems collapse from the base.
The pot looks like it is bulging. Is it time to repot?
Yes, once the rhizomes push against the sides. Move up one size and keep the mix well draining.
Which pot suits a ZZ plant?
Any pot with a liner that drains. A snug fit is fine, since the plant is slow growing.
Is a zz plant toxic to cats and dogs?
ZZ plants are toxic to cats and dogs. All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and can cause drooling, vomiting and swelling. The sap can also irritate skin, so wash your hands after pruning. Pet-safety information here follows the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
ZZ plant in offices
ZZ plants are a common choice for offices without much daylight, and they cope with the watering gaps that come from shared responsibility.
In the plant list for a recent office install of about 120 planters, ZZ plants were among the larger lines: about 18 plants, mostly 14 inch with some 12 and 10 inch.
Plants in your office?
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About Plants for Friends
Plants for Friends designs, installs and maintains interior plants for commercial spaces and homes across San Diego County, Orange County and Los Angeles County. Every project starts with a walkthrough of the actual space, light, scale, traffic and access, before anything is chosen.
Since 2021, our team has completed more than 200 projects for clients including Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, JLL, Bristol Myers Squibb and ClickUp.
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