Zz. No, that is not misspelled. Nor have I fallen asleep while
writing this. Zz really is one of the common names for Zamioculcas
zamiifolia, which is also known as zz plant or aroid palm to those
who prefer names to initials.
Zz. No, that is not misspelled. Nor have I fallen asleep while writing this. Zz really is one of the common names for Zamioculcas zamiifolia, which is also known as zz plant or aroid palm to those who prefer names to initials.
Zz has become available only during the past few years, and is becoming increasingly popular as a houseplant because of its remarkably glossy, richly dark green foliage and its resiliency to neglect.
Zz needs only minimal sunlight and infrequent watering. It prefers to be too dry than too wet, and should be fine if watered only as the surface of the soil dries.
Zz might drop a few leaflets from their pinnately compound leaves (composed of several small leaflets arranged on a single rachis, or ‘leaf stem’) as a warning if they get too dry. If severely dry, Zz might drop an entire leaf. Yellowing leaves typically indicate too much water. Saturated roots easily rot.
It is normal though for leaflets to yellow and fall from the lowest leaves as new leaves develop at the top. A lower rachis that stays green and swollen after all the leaflets have fallen off continues to help sustain the plant, so should remain attached until it starts to shrivel.
It is then best to ‘break,’ rather than cut away the fading rachis.
A happy zz eventually needs to be repotted because the tuberous rhizome can get quite plump. Tuning the plant as it grows will promote more symmetrical growth.
If fertilizer is used, it should be at about a quarter, and no more than half of the recommended dilution.
Tony Tomeo is a consulting horticulturist and arborist for New Image Landscape of Fremont. His weekly radio broadcast, “New Image Garden Report,” can be heard at 8:10am on Friday mornings on KSCO, 1080 AM of Santa Cruz. Tony can be reached at (888) 226-9191 or ttomeo@newimagelandscape.com.
