Common ZZ Plant Problems Although ZZ Plant is a die-hard and resistant plant, if you don’t take care of it properly, your plant will face some serious problems including: ZZ Plant Leaf curling, ZZ plant brown leaf spots, black spots on ZZ plants stem, ZZ plants leave yellow leaves, ZZ plants slow growth and leaves turning black. In the following we will discuss all the above-mentioned problems and suggest possible ways to overcome them. Note that the main reasons for this problem is overwatering and lack of drainage hole.
There is a famous quotation that “killing ZZ plant is way harder that keeping it” so when it comes to Z Plant Problems, it shows that you haven’t kept it properly Second common source for Z Plant Problems is pests and diseases. Pests such as Spider mite and aphid can infest and create ZZ plant problem.
Since the ZZ plant is a slow growing plant, to have a good and fresh plant you should provide it with a proper condition and pay attention to ZZ plant watering. Meanwhile don’t forget that ZZ plant is poisonous so keep them away from kids and pets. So be sure to read the zz plant toxic article.
What are the common problems of ZZ plant?
Lower leaves turning yellow indicate overwatering or underwatering; Leaves brown and burnt tips shows insufficient environmental humidity; small leaves illustrate lack of fertilizer and low light. ZZ plant stop growing is a result of weak soil; ZZ plant stem turning black happens due to overwatering and root rot. powdery mildew is a result of mealybug infestation and the list goes on. In this article an attempt has been made to cover and explain all the common problems of ZZ plant with detail and help you learn all the important factors for Diagnosing Your ZZ Plant problems. So read this article to the end.
What are the problems and diseases of ZZ plant?
In this part we will about common ZZ Plant Problems and diseases and in the second part of the article we will cover some of the common pests and blights of the ZZ plant Note that if you provide ZZ plant with proper conditions this plant will never face any trouble. We have talked about ZZ plant care in which you can get familiar with all the ZZ plants requirements. Also, in the last section of this article we have briefly discussed about these requirements.
1 Why does my ZZ Plant have yellow leaves?
Most common problem that ZZ plant struggle with is ZZ plant leaves turning yellows. The main reason for this problem is overwatering. ZZ plant has succulent roots that means it has Rhizome that stores a lot of water; too much water and swampy soil will lead to root rot.
The same problem may happen due to lack of drainage hole. After watering ZZ plant, make sure that the excess water is removed from the saucer; otherwise, this will cause leaves turning yellow and brown and finally root rot. Check the drainage hole once a month and make sure it is not blocked.
To determine the best time for watering, use a psychrometer or touch the soil and in case 1 to 2 inches of it was dry, you can start watering ZZ plant. Instead of your finger you can use wooden stick too. You should decrease watering during the cold seasons of the year
2 Why are ZZ plant leaves turning brown?
As mentioned above this problem can happens due to overwatering. If the leaves first turn yellow then brown it is absolutely because of overwatering.
3 How to get rid of rotted roots and stems of ZZ plant?
Now imagine that your plant has root and stem rot. What should you do about it? In this point you will need to make a cutting of your plant and put it in soil or water to get new roots. If the rhizomes are still undamaged, you can transfer them to a new pot with light soil. But use fungicide after this transfer
4 What is the reason for browning of leaf tips of ZZ plant?
This problem mostly happens as a result of moisture deficiency in the environment. ZZ plant prefers the normal humidity level of the room and if the temperature is hot and dry, the tips of the leaves will start to turn brown. In order to overcome this problem, you can use methods like spraying, using humidifier, and creating island.
If you want to use the spraying method, boil the water and let it get cool then use the water for spraying. We suggest that you read the browning of leaves tips article.
5 What is the reason for pale and skinny leaves of ZZ Plant?
This is one of the Common ZZ Plant problems that occur due to low light and nutrient deficiency in the soil. Although ZZ plant is resistant to low light, in such situations the plant will just survive and it won’t have a proper growth; so, it’s for the best to put the plant in a place with its medium and filtered light; also, you can use growth light to provide the suitable environment for ZZ plant.
if the plant does not receive enough light, the stem and leaves will get thinner gradually will lose their color. If the light is good for your plant, then feed the plant once a month with special fertilizers for ornamental plants.
6 What is the reason for ZZ Plant Problems of black spots it’s stem
You may face this problem and wonder why does ZZ plant’s stem are turning black? The main seasons for this problem are overwatering, lack of drainage and fungal disease; so, make a cutting of it.
If the problem is a result of fungal disease, use fungicide
7 Why does brown spot appear on ZZ Plant’s leaves?
The reason for this problem is also overwatering and fungal disease. If you are sure that the problem is due to overwatering, reduce watering and check the Rhizomes. But you have watered the plant correctly then use fungicides like Mancozeb.
8 why ZZ plant stem is bending?
Another problem of ZZ plant is the bending of the stems, the main reason for this problem is the lack of light, so move your plant to a place with good light. In addition, another reason for this problem could be the small size of the pot, so in this case, you should repot it with a bigger pot (just one size bigger).
9 why do ZZ plant’s leaves curl?
Among common diseases of ZZ plant is leaf curling, this problem can happen due to high temperature, excessive drying, pests and diseases that you must investigate. Also, exposure to hot and cold wind can also be one of the reasons for this problem. If it is not due to watering and temperature, be sure to check the back of the leaves to see if there are any signs of pest infestation or not. If you find anything, spray fungicide on the leaves.
10 What is the cause of ZZ plant’s reduced growth?
ZZ plant generally has slow growth; you might think there is a problem with your plant but it has its natural growth. This plant first increases its roots to produce more shoots. Note that the lack of light will also affect the growth of your plant.
What should I do if ZZ plant suddenly stops growing? If your plant has been growing well until now and it suddenly stops, it could be due to nutrient deficiency or the small size of the pot, so it is better to feed it with special plant fertilizers.
11 Do pests threaten ZZ plant?
Yes, it is true that this plant is resistant and less insects and pests attack it, but there are still hard-living creatures that cause problems for ZZ plant, spider mites and aphids are the main pests of this plant.
Aphid infestation to ZZ plant
These tiny creatures can be invisible on the leaves for a while and gradually stop the growth of the plant. If you see sticky substances on the leaves, know that your plant is suffering from this disease and must be treated with pesticide or spray the combination of soap solution (washing liquid) + alcohol + water on the leaves of the plant to kill the pest.
spider mite infestation and ZZ Plant Problems
When the weather is hot and dry (mostly in the cold seasons when you use heating devices), this pest will create spider webs under the leaves, and this means you have to save the plant immediately. The first thing to do is to move the infested pot away from other pots and then spray the plant with acaricide.
There is also a simple method to get rid of spider mites, in which you wash the whole plant with water and then put a plastic over the whole plant and move it to a place with a lot of filtered light after 2 to 3 day the pests will be gone.
What are the correct care for ZZ plant?
Due to its resistance, this plant is one of the plants suitable for the workplace. If we do not provide the right conditions for each plant, they will have many problems. ZZ plant is no exception to this rule, and we will tell you some of its main needs below.
How much should we water ZZ plant?
This plant is very sensitive to watering, so try to water it whenever the soil in the pot dries up to a depth of 1-2 inches. If the pot is big, the soil in the pot should dry more than 3 inches. Drainage of the pot is also very important.
In general, this plant prefers low watering and is very resistant to drought. Pay attention to watering, as you saw above, ZZ plant diseases happen mostly common due to overwatering.
What is the appropriate light for ZZ plant?
This plant is resistant to low light, but it does not mean that it does not need light to grow, the best place to keep ZZ plant is a place where there is indirect light. The lack of light causes the leaves to become pale and the distance between the leaves to increase
What is the appropriate soil for ZZ plant?
This plant needs a soil with high drainage, which you can use ready-made combinations of leaf mold or Perlite, you can also use cactus soil.
What is the perfect temperature for ZZ plant?
The normal room temperature is good for her and 65 to 70 degrees is perfect, but if the temperature is higher, you must provide it with good humidity.
How to propagate ZZ plant?
This plant can be propagated by two methods: stem cuttings and leaf rooting, which we discussed in another article which I suggest you read.
What is the proper fertilizer for ZZ plant?
This plant does not need much fertilization, but if you want it to grow well, you can use high potassium and phosphorus fertilizers once a month during the growing season, which is from early spring to late summer.
When to repot ZZ plant?
Because of its low growth, you don’t need to repot it every year, let the plant grow fully and create good pups for you, and whenever you see the pot is full or the lant has stopped growing, repot it.
Can agricultural fertilizers be used for ZZ plant?
Yes, but you should pay attention that the amount of fertilizer should be low, for example, use Super Potash fertilizer once a year for this plant, but it is better to use fertilizers for houseplants, such as Crystallon 12-12-36. We have thoroughly reviewed fertilizer for zz plants in a separate article, which I suggest you read.
In this article, we tried to talk about the problems and diseases of ZZ and how to treat it, I suggest that you also read the materials that we reviewed on the site about the keeping other houseplants and their problems. If you have any question, please inform us and our experts will answer it ASAP.