ZZ Plant Care Guide. The bulbs are not on a even level, is that ok to separate the bulbs slightly to level them a little bit? Zamioculcas zamiifolia is one of the hardiest houseplants you can grow. ZZ Plants have a somewhat overblown reputation for being “poisonous,” some even going so far as to claim they cause cancer. Then insert it into your medium, cut end down. If so, you’ll want to water thoroughly and then allow your plant a couple of days to absorb water into the rhizome. Water in well til consistently moist but not soaking wet. Make sure it has drainage holes. Now that you have gathered all the necessary supplies to repot your ZZ, you can get started on actually moving the plant to its new home. Overall, zz plants are a slow growing. Finish repotting your plant and then gather up the collateral damage because you can easily propagate those pieces into new ZZ Plants! Instead, tip the container over and gently try to slide the plant out upside down, with the central stems threaded between your fingers as they hold the soil surface. Because ZZs are slow to grow, breaking a healthy stem is no small loss and may take years for a replacement to grow. This post will teach you … Allow the cut end to callus over for a few hours. Since rhizomes are slow, it is best to look at leaf cuttings as the source of material for propagation. The 1 on the far right has a string tied around it because I … Giving them more space allows the plant to continue putting out root growth, which benefits the plant, and often translates to more stem and leaf growth. Easy does it when it comes to watering the ZZ Plant. The ZZ plant has a unique look like none other. By following these instructions, you’re setting up your ZZ Plant with precisely what it needs to flourish in your home. It might seem like a small detail, but keeping your plants in the correct pot sizes really sets them up to thrive, and you often get to witness a burst of growth as they take advantage of their extra-roomy new digs. It is a good idea to start many cuttings with ZZ plant leaf propagation because some of them may not take off. Over time, and across many watering sessions, the soil can become depleted of nutrients and minerals needed for the plant to survive. For more information on dealing with root rot, click here. This is because the plant produces new rhizomes very slowly, and removing some frequently will damage the parent plant. These rhizomes store water, which is why the plant does well during droughts and places where forgetful owners live. best. With sharp scissors, clip the bottom of the stem, so you’re left with one smooth, clean cut. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Simply put the cuttings somewhere that you will remember to water them occasionally, and wait it out. The best mixture for rooting is often one that is almost soilless. Remove the ZZ plant with yellowing leaves from its pot to rescue it. Remember, if you know you are, or afraid you might be, susceptible to ZZ Plant sap, now is the time to slip on your gardening gloves to avoid skin irritation. Once you see roots growing from the bottom of the pot, you can begin gradually repotting the ZZ Plant into larger and larger containers. As I mentioned above, repotting allows for more space for the plant to spread its root system. Propagating ZZ plants is easy but can take up nine months or more. Check the rhizome in the pot. ZZ plant stems grow in a graceful, wand-like shape that starts thick and bulbous at … Leave healthy root intact, but be thorough with any diseased part. Repotting a ZZ Plant is actually a pretty straightforward process. It is not necessary to do, but if you are wanting multiple ZZ Plants in your collection, this is your chance to turn one into many. However, what do you do when they eventually outgrow their pots and look like they need to be transplanted? At best, it should have superior drainage. As I mentioned above, repotting your ZZ Plant affords you the perfect opportunity to assess whether or not you can divide your rhizome to create multiple new plants. This is also a good time to inspect the rhizome to see if you can divide the plant. I got a zz plant from my local store today, the nursery pot was very deformed by the chunky roots, so I decided to repot it. There is a rather large pro-terracotta crowd out there exalting the benefits of the clay pots. This ensures there is plenty of room for the roots to continue growing without getting rootbound. You can resume your regular watering schedule at this time, which, for ZZ Plants, means checking the soil dampness to ensure it is properly dried out between watering. They look like little bulbs under the dirt. Input your search keywords and press Enter. The first step to successfully repotting your ZZ is to decide if it is necessary. You do not need to do this for the health of the plant. Because you’ve already removed the plant from its pot and are checking for unhealthy roots, you should have a pretty clear view on where you might be able to divide the rhizome, as well. Just as it is important to plant them in a pot with a drainage hole, your ZZ also requires well-drained soil if you truly want to see it flourish. We are a member of several affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to external sites. This is also a great time to repot, since you can easily divide the rhizomes into separate containers, allowing all of them more room to grow. The ZZ plant is a great choice for office buildings and homes, and the crow-colored variety is no exception.. History and discovery of the ZZ raven. Propagating ZZ plants is as easy as separating these or you can try rooting leaf cuttings. Stems cuttings alone will not work well, but if you take a cutting with two leaves and a bit of stem, the rooting and growth is quicker than just a single leaf and no stem. It is common to find a ZZ plant in an office setting with low light and no fresh air. Once your plant has been trimmed of any unhealthy roots, you are ready to plant it into its new container. If the plant doesn’t want to come out easily, you can squeeze the sides of the container or use a butter knife to slide around the inside edge of the pot to loosen the soil before trying again. 166. The ZZ plant is easy to root from a simple cutting placed in water. Failure to do so will drown your ZZ Plant, resulting in the rotting of the roots. If there are spots of rot on the rhizome, you can actually excise those areas with a clean knife with little risk to the entire plant. report. Grab your ZZ and read on! First, hold the rhizome in your hand and look for any rhizomes separating from the main structure that have their own root and stem structures growing from them. View Entire Discussion (0 Comments) More posts from the rootporn community. Position your hand firmly on top of the soil, and turn the pot upside down if removing a ZZ plant from a 4- to 10-inch pot. If you find yourself adversely affected by it, take some extra precautions when repotting your ZZ.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'thehealthyhouseplant_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_6',113,'0','0'])); Wear gloves to avoid direct contact with your skin. Allow the roots to grow to about an inch long before transplanting your new ZZ Plant cutting into a potting soil mixture. ZZ Plants are professional survivalists, capable of handling weeks of neglect from us, often emerging as the sole surviving houseplant when we finally remember to water them. However, it does need time to dry out between watering, as overly wet soil can cause the rhizomes to rot and decay. If the soil is still wet from the last time you watered, this is not necessary. Tips & Tricks for Happy Leaves. For guidance, you can place it about six to seven feet away from a windowsill that is getting large amounts of light throughout the day. Additionally, checking to see if they have roots may actually kill the cutting, but if you have more than one you still have a chance of more ZZ plants. This is also a perfect opportunity to inspect your plant’s roots and rhizome to make sure everything looks healthy. Be the first to share what you think! The ZZ plant is an ancient one whose prehistoric appearance may remind you of a cycad, though they aren’t related. I did find this articlewhich debunks myths and explains the Zamioculcas zamiifolia is a plant from east Africa growing not in deserts, but in shady forested areas. Fill soil in around the roots, pressing gently with your palm to lightly compact. Some growers have mentioned the nine month period as the end of all your waiting, but it could take even longer if the cutting doesn’t have enough light and temperatures aren’t warm enough. Allow the cut end to callus over for a few hours. This can form a compacted, hard ball that comes out of the pot with effort, retaining the shape of the pot. When choosing where to place your ZZ plant in a room select a place with bright indirect light. While I can confidently say that the cancer claims are totally unfounded, I think it’s important to point out that ZZ Plants do contain calcium oxalate. But if you do want to repot your zz plant, just plop them in a larger pot and prune the roots a bit to avoid them getting root-bound. Sure, they can survive in pretty much anything you plant them in, but there is a big difference between surviving and thriving! no comments yet. However you decide to divide your ZZ Plant up, you will want to use a sterilized, sharp knife to make the cuts. However, most of us don’t have greenhouse conditions so the process could take nine months or more. … ZZ Plants have roots and rhizomes below the surface of the soil, and over time, they grow to fill the pot. It is such an easy plant that creating more of them to share with friends and family seems like a good idea. You will want there to be room for the roots spread throughout the pot evenly, with a couple inches of soil between your roots and the bottom of the pot. Place in a warm area with bright light during the day. They need to be in well-drained soil or the newly forming rhizomes will mold and fall away. The idea here is to make sure the plant is happy before moving it to a new environment. Re-pot once the growing season begins in the spring. Massive amounts of thick, fleshy roots grow off of these rhizomes & both they & the … Place in a warm area with bright light during the day. Otherwise, you may be surprised when you inevitably pull out a giant “potato” from the pot during transplant. In that case, you may want to consider potting it up between a year and 18 months.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'thehealthyhouseplant_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',110,'0','0'])); Rather than relying on a set time to repot your ZZ, a more accurate way of determining when you need to transplant is by periodically checking the roots and rhizome of the plant. As Zamioculcas zamiifolia was long and difficult to say, many nursery workers simply shortened it to ZZ. However, if you want more ZZ Plants in your life, division is an economical way to achieve that, and your plant is tough enough to handle it. You should find that your ZZ Plant loves the extra room you’ve given it, and you may even be rewarded with a rarely seen growth spurt over the next few months. This irritation typically shows up as itchy, red, sometimes painful, rash-like lesions on your skin. I have to cut the nursery pot to take the plant out. You should change the water every two weeks to avoid mold issues and clip away any mushy looking roots. Don’t overthink this one. Massive root/bulb on this ZZ plant I just got in the mail! Hopefully, before long, you’ll see new growth on your new ZZ babies. Typically, many houseplants put out enough growth in a season that they can be replanted every year. Like most things on the internet, you should take these “facts” with a grain of salt. If you notice any roots growing out of the bottom of the pot, or if you remove the plant from the pot and notice it’s beginning to get rootbound, it’s time to transplant. ZZ Plants don’t require much planning to be repotted, but one thing you should do is check the soil to see if the plant requires water. Above: A Zamioculcas is available in three sizes, from six to 10 inches; $26.99 to $91.99 at Ottawa Plants. A stem breaking off from the Zz plant's bulb, may prevent that particular bulb from reproducing. Regardless of whether you choose terracotta, plastic, or something else entirely, don’t forget that when it comes to ZZ Plants, drainage is the “be all, end all” of plant health, so make sure the pot has a drainage hole at the bottom. It will take about 3-6 weeks, but eventually, you should see the beginning of a new rhizome forming and a few roots branching out into the water. If the roots seem to be taking over the soil or the rhizome has grown within an inch of the side of the pot, it’s time to give your ZZ Plant some more space. It’s bulb-shaped stems and compact oval leaves offer a modern look. People most commonly come into contact with it through the sap when they are pruning or transplanting their ZZ Plants. Take your ZZ plant leaf cuttings from mature stems. The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is an excellent choice of low maintenance houseplant that will look fantastic in your home. ZZ plant is a slow growing, reliable performer that is doggedly loyal even when you mistreat it. These store water, which is why the plant can often be subject to over-watering, but does well during droughts and places where frequent watering is not always easy. You’ll want to avoid yanking on any stems to free your plant from the old pot. ZZ plants develop thick underground tubers that the plant uses to store water this allows the plant to go for long periods of time without water. The Healthy Houseplant is reader-supported. hide. Once it is drained, you can place your ZZ back in its regular spot in your home. Add more soil as you lightly pack around the edges of your planter and in between the stems of your Zz plant. It hails from the Southeast coast of Africa and has been an important houseplant in the industry for years. To make sure your soil medium is porous and well-drained, combine three parts quality, pre-mixed potting soil with one part cactus or succulent mix. Why Your Monstera Deliciosa Is Crying, Sweating and Dripping Water, How to Save a ZZ Plant From Root Rot: A Step By Step Guide, Can You Propagate Pilea Plants from Leaves? Improper Watering. If this does happen, you should make the most of it. A rootbound plant means that the roots have completely taken up the pot, often circling and creating a dense web of roots. This is because the ZZ plant might get top-heavy but these pots will withstand that. They do just fine in a small pot. Be sure to clean up any plant pieces, like trimmed stems or dropped leaves, so a curious pet isn’t tempted to take a nibble. Carefully place your ZZ Plant in the soil mound, making sure it is sitting at the right height. 100% Upvoted. Make sure the rhizome is just at, or slightly above, the soil line. ZZ Plant Care Guide Light . Kind of…. Choose a new pot, wash and dry the pot thoroughly. The rhizome root system of the ZZ allows it to hold on to water. Carefully scoop more potting soil around the plant until it has filled the container and your ZZ Plant is well supported. Be very patient. 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