On lists of the most low-maintenance houseplants available, the humble ZZ plant always appears near the top. These easy-care beauties are not fussy, even when it comes to something as essential as watering.
Accustomed to drought in their native habitats, ZZ plants don’t need to be watered often. Depending on their environment, they generally only need water once every couple of weeks once the soil has dried out completely. These plants are sensitive to overwatering and need good drainage to thrive.
Read on to learn all about how often to water ZZ plant!
How much water do ZZ plants need?
ZZ Plants have one of the lowest water needs of any houseplants (excluding members of the succulent family). In their native habitats, they are used to long periods of drought, so handle a missed watering – or a few – quite well.
Their low water needs are thanks to the water-storing rhizomes below the soil. These large vessels draw up moisture through the roots and transport them slowly around the plant as needed. When the soil is dry and no rain (or in this case, watering) occurs, they simply continue to use the reserves beneath the soil to keep the plant going.
Even when lacking water for several weeks, the ZZ Plant will show no signs of struggle. You should wait until the soil has dried out completely before watering again – usually once every three weeks or so.
This timing will obviously depend on the environment your plant is placed in. When temperatures and sunlight are higher, evaporation will increase, meaning the soil will dry out more quicker. In low-light areas or over winter, you can extend the watering time to around once per month or even more. Instead of following a strict schedule, test the soil often and pick up the pot to determine when the soil has dried out completely.
What happens when you overwater a ZZ plant?
Although they are tolerant plants, one thing Zamioculcas zamiifolia cannot stand is overwatering. The succulent rhizomes are incredibly sensitive to overwatering and can quickly rot if the soil becomes waterlogged.
If you water when the top layer of soil is still moist, you may expose your ZZ Plant to a common condition known as root rot. Various fungi, encouraged by the excess moisture and lack of oxygen in the soil, begin to rot the rhizomes, unable to store water or service the plant anymore. If not resolved quickly, these problems will only spread to kill off the entire plant.
Make sure you avoid overwatering by waiting until the soil has dried out before watering again. Also check the drainage levels in your chosen pot and in the soil to stop excess water from hanging around and causing damage.
If you do accidentally overwater, leave the soil to dry out and check the performance of the plant. If signs of rot are still evident, repot immediately, removing as many affected parts of the plant as possible. Plant in fresh soil to stop any fungus from spreading in the new pot.
What happens when you underwater a ZZ plant?
Due to their extreme drought tolerance, signs of underwatering in a ZZ Plant are rare. These plants can go weeks or even months without watering, showing absolutely no signs of struggle. However, if you do forget about the plant completely, you may notice a few issues.
Start looking for signs in the leaves. An underwatered ZZ Plant may begin to turn yellow or more commonly brown due to the lack of moisture in the foliage. These leaves will quickly shrivel and fall off the plant, especially when disturbed.
In these extreme cases, the soil has likely become compacted, making any future watering efforts futile. Rather than watering from the top and allowing most of the water to run off, try bottom watering.
Place the pot in a sink or container filled halfway with water and wait around 30 minutes for the soil to soak up as much moisture as it needs. If the pot is too light, you may need to use rocks to weigh it down. After 30 minutes, allow any excess to drip from the container before returning the plant to its previous home.
More ZZ plant information
The common name ZZ Plant refers to the alliterative scientific name Zamioculcas zamiifolia, also known as the Zanzibar Gem. In their native habitats, you’ll find their long stems in the forests and fields of Eastern Africa. But most often, the ZZ Plant resides in a pot in our homes – one of the most popular houseplants on the market.
ZZ Plants are appreciated first and foremost for their beauty. No other houseplant looks quite like the Zanzibar Gem, with long arching stems (technically part of the rhizome) and compact, glossy leaves in a stunning arrangement. There are also several cultivars, such as the almost-black Raven, to diversify your houseplant collection.
But beyond their looks, ZZ Plants are also beloved for their ease of care. Very few plants are as fuss-free as this one, tolerating tons of neglect and surviving through the harshest of conditions. This is the ideal plant for beginners or tough areas of the home where other houseplants struggle to grow.
This ease of care extends to their watering needs, requiring little attention throughout the year to grow their best.
