ZZ Plant: Indoor Foliage Air Purifying Plant: Details and Care Tips
ZZ plants have been around the planet earth for a long time. However, this plant has gained its fame from a publication released in the year 1829. Known for the dark, wide, and green leaves, the ZZ plant can be the best indoor plant. The beauty of the plant makes it the favorite of the plant lovers. It is also a low maintenance plant that does not demand hours of your time.
Quick Details of ZZ Plant
| Other Common Names | Zanzibar Gem, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, Zammia |
| Type | Indoor |
| Maintenance | Medium to Low Light |
| Flowering | Rarely flowers. Flowering happens only in natural conditions. |
| Light | Low to medium indirect sunlight |
| Water | Low |
| Temperature | Good Tolerance Level to Temperature. Loves warm humid conditions |
| Soil | Well drainage soil which can hold some amount of moisture. |
| Fertilizer | Liquid fertilizers such as sea weed solution |
| Habitat | Eastern Africa |
| Toxicity | This plant contains calcium oxalate crystal which makes this plant mildly toxic. Normally it impacts only if chewed or swallowed. Keep this plant from the reach of small kids and pets. |
| Common Diseases | Up to an extent plant is pest free. Root rotting and yellow leaves can be the problem if not cared properly. |
| Scientific name | Zamioculcas zamiifolia |
ZZ Plant Buying Instructions
- ZZ Plant is a slow growing plant. So take the plant of your required size if you are taking for decoration purpose.
- As this plant is mildly toxic so make sure you have a right place in your house to keep the plant out of reach from small kids and pets
- Take bushy plant having multiple shoots coming out from the soil
- Leaves of the plant should not be yellow
Overview of ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant belongs to the family of Araceae. It is a tropical perennial flowering plant native to the parts of Eastern Africa.
It is an herbaceous plant with glossy leaves which makes them suitable as an ornamental plant. It can grow up to a height of 17-23inches (45-60cm). It is an evergreen plant. The leaves and petiole have an ability to store high content of water. The leaf can survive up to a period of five to six months thus helping the plant survive extreme conditions without water.
It has a succulent rhizome which helps in storage of water during summer.
ZZ plants have a very low maintenance and can survive without water and proper sunlight for months together thus making it suitable for both homes and offices. The dark green waxy leaves reflect the light thus adding beauty to the plant and the room.
Usage and Advantage of ZZ Plant
- Needs very little maintenance.
- It acts as an air purifier.
- The plant has an ability to detoxify the air by removing toxins like like xylene, toluene and benzene.
- Very minimal to no attack of pest.
- ZZ plant is used as a medicine in the Mulanje District of Malawi and in the East Usambara mountains of Tanzania. Juice from the leaves of the ZZ plant is used to treat earache.
General Care for ZZ Plant
Soil: ZZ plant required well drainage soil. But soil should be able to hold some amount of water as well. 40% Coco Peat, 20% Compost, 20% River Sand and 20 % Garden soil can be a good potting mix for ZZ plant.
Water: Water the plant only when top layer is completely dry. Do not over water the plant. Over watering can kill your ZZ Plant. ZZ Plant can survive without water for weeks but can not tolerate wet soil.
Sunlight: It required low to medium indirect sunlight to grow which makes this plant a perfect indoor plant. Leaves of your plant can turn to yellow If over exposed to the sun.
Temperature: Can survive to wide range of temperature but likes warm humid conditions.
Special Care: Keep the leaves of the plant clean for better look and keep rotating the pot for overall uniform growth is all the direction.
Fertilization: Any liquid fertilizer can work. Sea weed can be the best fertilizer for the plant. You can use NPK 20-20-20 in liquid form as well.
Pests and other problems for ZZ Plant
Root Rotting: This caused due to over watering. Please control watering to the plant and provide some amount of indirect sunlight.
Aphids: Aphids link sap from the plant and they can damage your plant. Sometimes Aphids hide behind the leaves of the plant so look for Aphids very carefully. If you notice Aphids, wipe your plant leaves with wet soft cloth or with mild soap solution.
Propagation of ZZ Plant
Propagating ZZ plant is very easy and there are 3 different ways in which a ZZ plant can be propagated.
- ZZ plant can be propagated from leaves. Take a leaf cutting and insert the base of the leaf in cocopeat. Once roots are develop transfer it into the soil.
- Also, you can put healthy stem in water and when roots are developed, shift the plant is pots with soil. Keep changing water while growing roots from the stem.
- Dividing the plant from ribozome is the best way of ZZ Plant propagation. You can divide your plant in two or multiple parts from the root and plant in different small pots.
