ZZ plants are great because they can grow and do well even if you neglect them. It makes them a real popular choice for indoor gardeners. Or those new to gardening and plants in general.
But that doesn’t mean you can neglect them without them eventually having problems. There’s a limit to how much they’ll take. And when they begin to get stressed from that neglect or poor care they’ll show you that they’re unhappy.
So if your ZZ plant isn’t looking as perky or happy as it was and you’re concerned it might be dying this guide will take you through what might be going on and what you can do to save it.
Understanding Your ZZ Plant’s Needs
ZZ plants are from East Africa and would have grown amongst rocky soil and experienced droughts. And as just mentioned – they do well even when neglected.
Which is great if you’re a bit forgetful or busy. But if they’re not happy they’ll let you know.
Key Needs of a Healthy ZZ Plant
- Light: Bright, indirect light is best. But they can also manage if they only get low light too.
- Water: Let the soil dry out completely between each time you water. Overwatering is a real problem for ZZ plants and you need to be careful of it.
- Humidity: Room temperature is best. Don’t put your plant near extreme heat or cold drafts.
- Temperature: Keep between 60 to 75°F (15 to 24°C).
- Soil: A potting mix that drains well is best. Something like a mix thats designed for cacti or succulents.
1. Yellowing Leaves
Yellow leaves are the biggest sign that you’ve overwatered your plant. ZZ plants store water in their rhizomes, which means they can cope without being watered for long periods.
But if you give them too much water it will suffocate the roots and this can cause the leaves to turn yellow (and the roots will eventually rot too).
What to Do
- Stop watering immediately: Let the soil dry out.
- Check drainage: Make sure the pot your ZZ plant is in has enough drainage holes. It should never be left to sit in water either.
- Inspect the roots: If you’re worried about root rot then take your plant out of its pot and have a look at them. If they look brown, black or mushy then there’s a good chance they’re rotting.
- Trim and repot: Trim away the rotted parts and then repot the plant with fresh and, most importantly, dry soil.
2. Brown Leaf Tips
Brown tips of the leaves usually means your ZZ plant isn’t getting enough water or is suffering because of low humidity. They may be able to deal with a lack of water for a while but they still need it at some point.
Solution
- Check to make sure the soil isn’t too dry. You should only be watering when the top of the soil, around 2 inches down, is very dry.
- Try to water consistently. If you’re watering inconsistently it can stress the plant.
- If your home is very dry then you might want to try misting your plant, especially in the winter.
3. Drooping Stems
If the stems of your ZZ plant are bending or drooping it’s probably not getting enough light. They like bright, indirect light, although they can cope with the light being quite low. If they’re not getting enough light over a long period of time the stems will weaken and then start to lean or even fall over.
Steps to Fix
- Move the plant to a spot that gets brighter light. A window with filtered light is best.
- Rotate your plant on a regular basis so every side and part gets light on it.
- If you can’t give your ZZ plant enough natural light then use a grow light to help it out.
4. Black Spots on Leaves or Stems
Blacks spots can be a sign of bacterial or fungal infections. These usually develop because of either overwatering or a lack of air flow around your plant. And if you don’t treat them the bacteria or fungus can spread.
Prevention and Treatment
- Cut the affected leaves or stems and remove them.
- Stop watering as often and make sure the pot your ZZ plant is in has enough holes to slow the water to fully drain through.
- Move your plant somewhere that gets a better circulation of air.
5. Sudden Leaf Drop
There aren’t many things more worrying than seeing your ZZ plant shedding it’s leaves seemingly overnight. It’s usually a sign of stress, mostly down to changes in the temperature, being moved and relocated or a strong draft hitting it.
What to Check
- Make sure your plant isn’t near heating vents, air conditioners or anywhere that gets cold drafts.
- Don’t let the temperature fluctuate too much. ZZ plants hate sudden changes.
- Don’t overreact and overwater or use too much fertilizer. Let the plant have a chance to adjust to the changes.
6. Slow or Stunted Growth
If your plant doesn’t have enough nutrients or isn’t getting the right amount of light it can slow its growth. If your ZZ plant hasn’t sprouted any new stems in months then that’s a sign something could be wrong.
Action Plan
- Give your ZZ plant a balanced fertilizer once every 6 to 8 weeks when it’s growing (the spring and summer).
- Make sure it’s getting enough light. It will grow much faster in brighter light.
7. Root Bound Plant
ZZ plants can outgrow their pots. This can cause the roots to become bound which will make them unable to take up the necessary amount of water and nutrients.
How to Spot and Solve
- Check to see if the roots are growing out of the drainage holes.
- Repot your ZZ plant into a pot that is around 1 to 2 larger that the current one.
- Be careful as you’re doing this as you don’t want to damage the roots or the rhizomes.
8. Pest Infestations
It’s fairly rare for ZZ plants to be affected by pests but it can happen. The likes of spider mites or mealybugs can attack them and they may be more susceptible to this if they’ve been stressed by other issues.
Treatment Tips
- Wipe the leaves with a cloth and sim to remove any of the pests you can see.
- Spray your ZZ plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil every week until the pests are gone.
9. Foul Smell from Soil
A nasty smell coming from you plant is a big sign the roots are rotting. It usually happens when the roots are sitting in waterlogged soil for too long.
Steps to Recover
- Unpot the plant and look at the roots. If you see any that you suspect are rotting trim them away. Look for mushy and dark sections.
- Repot the plant in fresh soil that drains well and make sure you don’t overwater it afterwards.
10. Wrinkled or Shriveled Leaves
This is a big sign of dehydration. As mentioned before ZZ plants still need some watering even if they can cope with much. If you don’t give them any it won’t be long before they look wrinkled and unhappy.
Rehydrate the Plant
- Water thoroughly and make sure that all the excess water drains away completely.
- Figure out a schedule for your watering. But be sure to let the soil dry out between each time you do.
Quick Troubleshooting Table
| Symptom | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Leaves | Overwatering | Dry soil, trim the roots, then repot |
| Brown Tips | Underwatering | Water consistently |
| Drooping Stems | Low Light | Increase the light |
| Black Spots | Fungal Infection | Remove any affected parts and get the air flowing around it more |
How Often to Check Your ZZ Plant
Regular care goes a long way to stop any if problems from developing. So it’s a good idea to check your ZZ plant once a week to see how it’s doing.
During this time look at the soil and how moist it is, the leaves to see if they’ve changed in any way, and also rotate the pot so every side gets enough light. For plants that tend to grow slower than others (like ZZ plants) checking on them like this will mean you catch any problems early.
Final Thoughts
If you’re aware of these issues and are taking action to look for them then you can deal with any problems quickly and keep your ZZ plant doing well for many years.