Guidelines for Maintaining a Vibrant ZZ Plant: Ensure Rich, Robust Leaves for Your Indoor Space
Craving a lush, low-maintenance indoor garden? Look no further than the ZZ plant, an upright, architectural marvel with shiny green leaves that'll make your living space pop. Native to eastern Africa, this tropical houseplant is gaining popularity for good reason. Let's dive into the expert tips for ensuring your ZZ plant thrives.
How to Care for Your ZZ Plant
Making your ZZ plant an evergreen beauty is all about strategy. Here's what Jo Lambell, founder of Beards & Daisies recommends:
- Temperature: This plant prefers indoor temperatures between 18-26°C (65-80°F). Keep it away from cold drafts, direct heat sources, and out of direct sunlight.
- Humidity: The ZZ plant prefers average household humidity but can tolerate dry air.
- Watering: Let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Water every 2-3 weeks, but less in winter months. Overwatering can lead to root rot.
- Soil: Plant in a well-draining soil mix (potting soil with perlite works great).
- Light: ZZ plants thrive in low-to-bright, indirect light and dislike direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.
Pro Tip: Sparingly mist your ZZ plant with water to add a glossy sheen to the leaves.
Cultivating Your ZZ Plant
Ready to grow your own ZZ plant? Here are the steps from gardening expert Tony O’Neill:
- Find a container with drainage holes
- Fill it with a well-draining soil mix
- Plant the ZZ ensuring the root ball is at soil level
- Put it in a spot with bright, indirect light
- Water sparingly, allowing soil to dry out between waterings
- Remember to fertilize every 6 months
ZZ Plant Propagation
Once your ZZ plant is happy and growing, you can propagate it for more foliage love!
About the Experts
Jo Lambell, the founder of Beards & Daisies, shares her passion for plants through her 10-year-old business that offers an extensive selection of indoor plants. Jo is the author of "The Unkillables," a book full of tips for keeping your houseplants healthy.
Tony O’Neill, a gardening expert and best-selling author, runs a popular YouTube channel with 438,000 subscribers and a website, simplifygardening.com, dedicated to sharing his gardening knowledge and love for sustainability. Check out his books like "Simplify Vegetable Gardening," "Composting Masterclass," and "Your First Vegetable Garden."
Shop Your ZZ Plant
Price: £15 Size: 13 cmAn instant green flourish for your home with this pre-grown Zamioculca Zamiifolia Houseplant from Amazon.
Price: £40 Size: 80 to 100 cmMake a statement with this elegant potted ZZ plant from Plants For All Seasons for your indoor plant corner.
Price: £14 Size: 30 to 40 cmPerfect for small spaces, the tiny but mighty Perfect Plants ZZ Plant from Amazon will add a pop of green to your bookshelf, WFH space, or bathroom.
FAQs
Where Should I Place My ZZ Plant?Position your ZZ plant where it receives bright, indirect light (e.g. near a north-facing window or a few feet away from a south or west-facing window). Avoid placing it in direct sunlight or dark corners.
Should I Mist My ZZ Plant?ZZ plants don't require misting as they can develop leaf spotting or fungal problems due to their dense foliage. However, a gentle misting every now and then can add a shiny sheen to the leaves.
- The texture of the glossy green leaves of the ZZ plant adds an artful touch to your home-and-garden lifestyle, especially when it thrives in the decor of a bathroom or living space.
- When arranging a trendy indoor garden, consider the ZZ plant as a statement piece that complements other houseplants, similar to how pieces of art complete a room's decor.
- To maintain the lifestyle of a happy, healthy home, care for your ZZ plant by following expert tips such as providing it with indirect light, well-draining soil, and proper watering intervals.
- Create a lush, low-maintenance indoor collection by propagating multiple ZZ plants, giving your home-and-gardening hobby a boost and adding more texture to your indoor space.
