This will be a great option if you’re looking for a houseplant to light up your space. It is a tropical perennial plant. ZZ plant i.e. Zamioculcas zamiifolia is popular with the name of Eternity plant. It belongs to the family Araceace. One of the zz plant benefits is its aesthetic appeal, it comes with forest green, lush, oval-shaped leaves with an upright stem and ZZ plant flower is yellow-brown. Its bloom time is in spring. Full-grown zz plant size is 2 to 3 ft tall and wide. Its hardiness zones are (9-10) USDA.
ZZ Plant Care
The biggest tip to be a great gardener is that you already have it in yourself- the ability to fall in love with plants and nature. This plant has some requirements to look after although it is well low maintenance
1. Light
It needs Sun exposure – bright to low indirect light though it can also survive without sunlight if given adequate artificial light, remember too much direct light damages its lush green leaves.
2. Soil
A standard potting mix with pH 6 to 7, well-drained
3. Water
A piece of Good news for you! It is drought-tolerant, and it has rhizomes that store water. You can deep water your plant once a week or water only when the soil dries out. Missing watering for weeks is no problem for it but overwatering would be a huge problem, so when in doubt just skip it.
4. Temperature and Humidity
They cannot withstand cold temperatures, no more than 45 degrees F, Higher humidity is their friend when the temperatures are cold.
5. Fertiliser
It doesn’t need frequent or strong fertilisers, a fertilizer diluted to half its strength can be used once or twice while the plant is in its growing season.
ZZ Plant Propagation
How to propagate ZZ plant? – It can be propagated by division or by leaf-cutting
Division can be convenient as it’s easy to do while repotting
- Pull apart the rhizomes, separate them, and repot them individually in different pots.
- Try to separate a bunch of roots and not just one for fast and optimal growth of the new one.
Propagation with leaves can be a lengthy process
- Cut a stem with at least 2 leaves that are healthy and vibrant from a disease free plant.
- Place your cutting in a well-drained potting mix
- Rhizome can take six to nine months to form.
ZZ Plant Varieties
- Zamioculcas zamiifolia raven – It has a distinct dark purple foliage
- Zamioculcas zamiifolia variegated – distinct green foliage with unique white and yellow variegation which sadly fades away if light is not adequate.
Common problems
- Leggy growth
Although it can adjust a lot but it at least needs 2 hours of daily indirect light or else its growth becomes leggy.
- Yellow leaves
It’s plant leaves turning yellow is another big but common problem which degrades its beauty, the main cause of this is your over love i.e. overwatering. This is your sign to cut back on watering.
ZZ Plant Benefits at Home
It’s benefits are many ranging from being an air purifier to protecting good energies-
- It purifies air by lowering the level of toxins such as carbon dioxide, xylene, toluene
- Low maintenance, does not need much light or water
- It is nontoxic to pets and humans, so be carefree while leaving your pet at home
- It is a slow-growing plant, you can sit back and enjoy its beauty without any headache of repotting it repeatedly.
- In some cultures, it has some medicinal benefits also according to feng shui this plant is a protector of good energies.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQS):-
Q1. What are some disadvantages?
Ans. It is toxic to pets if ingested, dust accumulates fast on its big green leaves, if you want a fast-growing plant to fill up the space this plant is no no as it will take its time to grow.
Q2. Do zz plants cause cancer?
Ans. No, it doesn’t cause cancer and is only a myth though it contains calcimoxylate crystals which irritates if skin or eyes comes in contact with its sap.
Q3. Why does the Plant turn black?
Ans. It may be due to root rot, overwatering, poorly drained soil, or pests like spider mites.
