I want my ZZ to look like the last image shown, however it keeps getting thinner and losing stems/leaves.
I water once a month, however the soil stays somewhat damp, so sometimes I go longer than a month without watering. It gets sufficient light, right next to patio window.
by Salt_Regular_327
21 Comments
Take it out of the hamper. š Or at least prop it up on a couple phone books.
I think itās confused why it has to try so hard. Really, zzās are the laziest ass plants Iāve known.
Seems like itās not draining very well if the soil is still damp when you water it the next time. Iād change it to well draining soil.Ā
the soil of the pot should be at the same height as the top of the cache pot
Why is it so low in that big pot š get her some high heels
Itās probably staying wet for so long because the big pot around it is retaining the moisture I would let it reallly dry out between waterings
The light isn’t sufficient because the larger pot around it is blocking most of it. The soil is staying moist because it’s dark down in that pot, the sun isn’t getting to it to help it dry out between waterings. Lift it up, the stems will straighten as they get more sun and become stronger.
I mean, step 1 is what’s it doing alllll the way down the bottom of that pot?
I don’t know anything about zzplants but there is no plant that flourishes from half way down a planter. That shades them you know. So not so “full sun”
It also traps humidity etc which can cause upset
The problem is that the straw is just simply the wrong size for your your mega cup.
Oh boy, if the soil is remaining damp for more than 2 weeks the roots don’t have the chance to breathe. I suggest changing out the soil for something better draining, definitely take it out of that big old pot. That cover pot seems harmless, but it’s limiting the soil’s ability to dry adequately, and blocking the plant from light. I also suggest moving the plant to a spot that has better light exposure, if available.
Plants primarily photosynthesize from their leaves, not the stem. The pot isnāt affecting the plant with regard to sunlight as stated in other comments, it has more than enough leaf surface area exposed if thatās the location you keep it in.
1) Your plant might need fertilizer. The leaves are pale & thin while the veins are green – this is often due to nutrient deficiency if those arenāt new leaves or itās not overwatered. They love to be neglected but eventually they do need food.
2) The pot is potentially trapping moisture at the top and bottom, keeping the soil to moist for too long while also preventing airflow to the soil surface which is needed for the root system.
3) Prop it against a wall to hold it up and rotate it daily. Or you could just let it flop a bit if itās not in danger of snapping, the plant will strengthen with proper care. Mine is dramatic and will flop all the way over overnight when thirsty.
And the plants in the photo you posted are more full because they probably have many rhizomes. Yours is just young.
Donāt know- I watered my ZZ plant ONCE and 90% of it died
The pot is killing me as much as the plant
I water mine every 6 months and itās doing okay. I tried watering it more often and it started looking like yours. Zz has thick leaves, thick stems and also it has these water capsules (I donāt know what theyāre called) so it can survive with drought well.
The top of the plant needs to be at the top of the bucket. Itās got too little light and too much water. Let it get bone dry before watering. In that bucket, everything is staying too moist and ZZs hate that. If itās up high enough, it will be better.
You really canāt grow a ZZ with those rocks though, for the same reason – they hold in moisture and they canāt tolerate their feet wet.
The plant will perk up once the roots recover from probably rotting, and it gets sufficient light.
These plants THRIVE ON NEGLECT and that pot is 100x too big
Let it get fully dry. I have one that was in the same pot for like 8 years. I would routinely let it go months with no water at all (depression) and never fertilised it and it was in a dark corner (didnāt know plants need light) and it looked pretty decent despite all that ā much healthier than your photos. I recently repotted and the roots were very strong and healthy except for being extremely packed into the pot. Now that I know more about plants the one thing Iām doing with it is making sure I let it completely dry out so I donāt kill it with kindness just cos I donāt ignore it for months at a time anymore.
ZZ wants to be in a tight pot, if it is to lose it will grow thin.
Put them in a pot they just dit and when the roots than have restriction they will put out long thick stalks
Maybe change the soil and check your pot for drainage issues. Also perhaps loosely tie the long stems to a stake or even consider chopping some off. I had a lot of really good growth after getting rid of a few sad ones. Being that deep in the hamper is not ideal.
1. check for root rot
2, repot into a smaller pot so the soil doesn’t remain damp for too long.
3. make sure the potting mix is freely-draining. Water till excess water comes out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, into the saucer, and then toss out that excess water, so the roots/bottom of the pot doesn’t sit in it for ages and ages.
4. do that all first, then feed with fertiliser (seaweed solution, or good old fashioned worm tea)–go easy on this, make it weaker than the recommended dose at first, and see how you go.
Light seems fine.
Add amendments to the soil ie. chunky perlite or pumice so the soil can drain better.
Water once a month that’s too less. You must water at least 3/4 times a month. Plant requires morning sunlight for growth. You can’t keep it indoor forever.