Zamioculcas zamiifolia
ZZ plants are increasingly popular houseplants due to their low-maintenance needs. With just a few simple steps, you can keep your ZZ plant happy and healthy. Here's how to care for a ZZ plant:
ZZ plants do best in bright, indirect sunlight. They can also tolerate low light levels, but too much direct sun can burn the leaves. Place your plant near an east- or west-facing window for optimum lighting conditions. If you notice the leaves turning yellow, it likely means that the light is too intense and you should move the pot out of direct sunlight.
ZZ plants prefer well-draining soil with lots of organic matter such as compost or peat moss. A good potting mix should have equal parts of perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss or coconut coir. This will help ensure that the soil isn’t too dense or waterlogged and allows excess water to drain away easily.
ZZ plants don't need a lot of water – in fact they’re quite drought tolerant – so it’s important not to overwater them as this could lead to root rot. The best way to tell if your plant needs watering is to feel the top layer of soil; when it feels dry, it's time to water your plant. Be sure to use lukewarm tap water rather than cold tap water as this helps reduce shock to the roots when watering.
ZZ plants prefer average room temperatures between 65–85 °F (18–29 °C), but they can tolerate wide temperature fluctuations from 50–95 °F (10–35 °C). They don't require high humidity levels, but regular misting with distilled or filtered water will help keep their leaves looking lush and green.
To give your ZZ plant an extra boost, use a balanced liquid fertilizer once every two months during spring through fall and skip fertilizing during winter when growth slows down significantly. Overfertilizing can lead to nutrient burn so be sure not to overdo it! Additionally, make sure that any fertilizer used does not contain nitrogen as this can cause leaf problems with ZZ plants such as brown tips on the leaves or even complete leaf loss.
