The reason a ZZ plant dies is usually due to root rot from over-watering and slow soil drainage. ZZ plants are drought tolerant and need the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between watering periods. If the soil is constantly wet, the bulbs of ZZ plants will rot and the leaves will turn yellow and die.
ZZ plants need light, indirect plants to thrive and occasional rotation to maintain even growth, as they can become long with a droopy appearance if given enough light.
like him The leaves of ZZ plants turn brown.it is usually because they are exposed to temperatures below 55°F (12°C) or are in too much direct sun.
Read on to find out why your ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia also known as emerald palm) is dying and how to implement the solutions to revive it…
ZZ Does the plant turn yellow? (too much water)
- Symptoms. Yellowed leaves and fallen branches.
- causes. Too much water, slow-draining or compacted soil, or pots without drainage holes in the bottom.
The ZZ plant is native to East Africa and a significant portion of its homeland is in the seasonally arid regions of Kenya. Therefore, the ZZ plant has several key adaptations to tolerate drought conditions, similar to succulents like aloe vera.
These include relatively small waxy leaves that are meant to reduce surface transpiration (water loss) in dry climates and high temperatures, and fleshy rhizomes that store water.
The branches are also relatively thick and fleshy, as they are used to store moisture reserves as a survival strategy in times of drought.
Because ZZ plants are very well adapted to dry conditions, the ZZ plant is particularly sensitive to excess water, moist soil without poor structure, and standing water in saucers and trays under the pot, leaving the unbearably wet soil for the survival of the ZZ plant.
Wet soil causes the rhizomes of the ZZ plant to rot and prevent the roots from absorbing nutrients and moisture (due to reduced root respiration), causing the leaves to turn yellow.
The ZZ plant is particularly vulnerable to the effects of overwatering in winter, as the plants go dormant due to fewer daylight hours and therefore need much less frequent watering, compared to most plants. interior.
How to Save a Yellowing ZZ Plant
The key to saving a yellowing ZZ plant is to mimic some of the conditions of its original environment by allowing the soil to dry out before watering, reducing the frequency of winter watering, and making sure the ZZ plant is planted. in a well-drained potting soil. .
- Let the top 2 inches of soil dry out between each watering (which usually means watering every 2-3 weeks) in spring and summer.. Smell the soil about as deep as a finger’s length to gauge when the 2 inches of soil is drying out, then water thoroughly. This watering style replicates the typical drought followed by a deluge (of rain) that the ZZ plant typically experiences in its native environment.
- In winter, water ZZ plants only once a month (if needed) to prevent yellowing of the leaves.. ZZ plants can tolerate drought better than too much water, so if in doubt, skip watering for a week or 2 in the winter and the ZZ plant should be much happier.
- If the soil is compacted, repot your ZZ plant in a more porous potting mix.. Regular potting mixes can retain moisture too long for the ZZ plant to tolerate, which when combined with too much water can lead to root rot and yellowing of the leaves. Mix about half regular potting soil with half succulent and cactus soil, perlite or vermiculite. This will keep the soil porous and well-drained, reducing the risk of root rot and preventing the leaves from yellowing further.
- Check your ZZ plant pot for clogged drainage holes and empty saucers, trays or decorative outer pot for excess water.. Good drainage is essential for ZZ plants, so if excess water cannot be drained off efficiently, the leaves will continue to yellow and the ZZ plant will likely die.
Once the soil has had a chance to dry out properly, the roots can breathe better and the ZZ plant can recover. However, if the soil is soggy for too long, the roots and rhizomes are more likely to rot and the ZZ is unlikely to revive.
ZZ Leaning, drooping, or leggy plant (branches droop toward sunlight)
- Symptoms. The branches hang sideways.
- causes. Branches crave more light (due to scarcity) or grow to become the strongest light source.
ZZ plants are adapted to growing under the canopy of other vegetation, so they can burn in bright direct light and prefer indirect light.
While ZZ plants are shade tolerant and the leaves can even stay green in low light conditions, they do best in brighter, but indirect, light rather than deep shade.
In deep shade, ZZ plants grow long and drooping as they crave more light to meet the plant’s energy needs.
In too much shade, the ZZ plant directs its energy toward growth to find light as a survival strategy, often causing branches to weaken and droop.
Even in brighter conditions, if the ZZ plant remains in the same position, branches may grow towards the light if the plant is not rotated regularly to ensure even light exposure.
how to save it…
Once the branches have drooped significantly, these individual branches usually do not stand upright and regain their appearance.
However, if the branches of the ZZ plant are simply sagging or stretching out, move the ZZ plant to an area with bright indirect light and rotate the plant about 1/4 time per week for even light exposure and more uniform growth.
Reviving non-growing ZZ plants?
ZZ plants are natural. very slow growers, even when their conditions are optimal and all their growing needs are in phase to thrive.
The slow growth rate is because the ZZ plant grows for months in arid, unpredictable climates with often severe droughts. In fact, ZZ plants were neglected for 4 months without watering and experienced no significant adverse effects.
Slow growth is a way to retain water in dry climates, allowing the ZZ plant to thrive in habitats where most plants would struggle.
The ZZ plant also enters a dormant state in winter in response to lower temperatures and fewer daylight hours, during which time it does not grow significantly.
ZZ plants are pushing research into increasing the growth rate of propagated ZZ plants too slowly for commercial growers to adequately meet consumer demand.
To increase the growth rate of your ZZ plant, place it in a room with bright indirect light and use a medium-strength all-purpose houseplant fertilizer in the spring and summer.
ZZ Plant leaves turn brown (temperatures below 55°F)
- Symptoms. The leaves turn brown at the tips or brown and yellow.
- causes. The most common cause is low temperatures or too much direct light.
ZZ plants are native to warm tropical climates and live year-round in a mild to warm temperature range and therefore cannot tolerate cold temperatures that cause leaves to turn brown.
In the ZZ plant’s preferred temperature range is 75°F to 85°F, but it can easily tolerate temperatures outside of this range without ill effects such as brown leaves.
is at temperatures below 55°F(12)°C) and temperatures above 105°V (40°C) the leaves turn brown as a sign of stress.
When placing your ZZ plant, watch out for drafts and avoid contact between the leaves and cold glass, which can be much colder than room temperature at night.
Once the ZZ plant has moved, it should recover. However, the brown leaves may fall off, but if conditions are right, there should be new growth in the spring.
The leaves can also burn from too much direct sunlight.
ZZ plants grow under a canopy in the dry forests of Africa, where they are protected from strong sunlight. Move the ZZ plant to an area with bright indirect light so it can recover.
Scorched leaves will not return to a healthy green color, so wait until you see new growth in the spring and cut off the brown leaves for cosmetic reasons.
Key learning points:
- A dying ZZ plant is often the result of root rot from overwatering and slow soil drainage. ZZ plants need the soil to dry out between each watering. If the soil is too wet, the leaves will turn yellow with a withered appearance. ZZ plants turn brown and then die in cooler temperatures. 55°f.
- ZZ plants droop if they don’t get enough light. While ZZ plants can tolerate shade, they will often bend over and tend toward the strongest light sources if placed in a particularly dimly lit area. Place ZZ plants in a room with bright indirect light and rotate the plant 90° weekly for even growth.
- ZZ plants grow very slowly, even in spring and summer, and usually do not grow noticeably during hibernation. Grow ZZ plants in bright, indirect light and use a half-strength fertilizer to increase growth rates. The slow growth rate is an adaptation for growing in drought-stressed areas.