8/31/2023 0 Comments Dark spots on zz plant stem![]() I have kept mine in a cold bathroom over winter before, and it was totally fine, so they can definitely tolerate lower temperatures BUT any sniff of frost will kill them. ZZ plants are from the tropics so they do best in warm temperatures, preferably above 15 oC/60 oF. They won’t die if you ignore them, but they won’t grow either. There’s a bit of a room that ZZ plants are one of those plants that thrive on neglect, but I haven’t found that to be the case. I keep one of my ZZ plants in a self-watering pot and it’s thrived, and I had one in terracotta that was fine but refused to grow until I moved it. Plants that have evolved to deal with drought don’t tend to be, simply because the ones that can utilise any water available to them will be more likely to survive and pass on their genes. Make sure the soil is dry before watering – I like to use a moisture meter.Īs for water quality, they’re not that fussed. ZZ plants are quite easy to overwater – not because they have delicate roots, but because we usually keep them in dark rooms so the water doesn’t get the chance to evaporate. Their tubers store water so you can leave the soil to get bone dry. ZZ plants like to be watered deeply but infrequently. However, I’ve noticed that if you keep them in higher humidity they grow faster and the new growth unfurls faster. ZZ plants are very tolerant of low humidity, which isn’t surprising due to the thickness of the leaves – the only plant I can think of that like high humidity and have thick leaves are Hoya. ![]() Oh, and they’re not particularly prone to pests, but mealybugs can be partial to them, so showering them down can be a good way to deter mealies and ensure there aren’t any hiding in the crevices. So the occasional shower is better than never dusting them. I spend a weird amount of my time explaining to people that plants don’t really like getting wet, so showering them regularly isn’t a great idea BUT I make an exception for ZZ plants because they have little leaves that take an AGE to clean. One of the main things that can impede light getting to plants (besides putting it somewhere where there isn’t any) is dust. If you’re condemning your ZZ plant to a dark corner, at least give it a grow bulb. ![]() After a while, they get very long and leggy, and can’t support their own weight. There are myths that you can keep ZZ plants in the dark, or in windowless bathrooms, but no plant can survive that for long. However, they come from Tanzania and Zanzibar which experience some drought, so below their thick, glossy foliage they have big tubers that they use to store water. ZZ plants have pretty thick, dark, waxy leaves, which suggests that they occupy a spot on the rainforest floor (which they do). I think it’s funny that people class them as slow growing when actually they grow pretty quickly when given a decent chance.Ī lot of people are under the impression that ZZ plants aren’t closely related to other house plants, because they’re the only plant in their genus, but they’re aroids, like Monstera, peace lilies, Philodendron, and Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma. ZZ plants are one of the most maligned plants in the house plant hobby because they’re one that’s relegated to living in the darkest spots in the house. ![]()
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