Good Evening! I have had this beautiful plant for years, its been growing and repotted a fair few times and has always been positioned in the exact same spot (infront of the fireplace with a fair amount of direct sunlight with a good water every two to three weeks) I have recently moved house however and the new sprout at the front has started to turn yellow! I have had many sprouts over the years and they usually grow very fast and very dark green so I'm wondering why this is now happening? could it be because we've positioned her next to the bookcase (which blocks the light) or do you think she needs repotting again for expansion? Sorry I have tried to google and downloaded a plant app for help but they came up with contradicting answers so I thought I should ask on this forum! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Many thanks
by megipegijeli
19 Comments
That poor plant it just getting absolutely no light in that spot
It needs light. Is it possible to supplement with a grow light? That would help a ton. Still not optimal long term, ZZ’s love sun light.
It’s in a cave. Needs more light.
Is it being punished? Why is it in that dark spot?
It can survive even in low light. Someone took a test and put it in a closet for a year and it was still living, although growth was slow. But you can’t water it that often when it’s in low light. I’d check the roots, could be root rot. These rot very easily and when their “potato” turns mushy, there’s nothing to do.
I hear all the chat about light, but it needs a pot that drains! Insufficient light causes other problems, yellowing leaves is more often s sign of root stress.
Zz roots need access to air as well as water, so think damp soil, never wet. Too much water means the roots can’t support the foiliage, so growth stops and leaves drop. A fungal infection will develop in the soil quite naturally, and eventually infect the weaker plant.
I would give it the same sized plant pot, with good holes at the bottom so you can get rid of excess water, and set it inside your beautiful ceramic pot.
The sprout could just be dying back because of the stress of a move/change.
You said it had direct light before and that big change in light levels could be stressing it out as well.
It can survive in lower light but if that’s not what it’s used to it would kill back the new growth.
the bookcase is blocking all of its light!! pull it forwards!!
Nobody puts Baby in a corner! Get a grow lamp
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How has nobody mentioned that you water it every 2-3 weeks?
That is absolutely overwatering for a ZZ. Yes it’s getting no light and that needs to be fixed, but the yellowing is from overwatering. Even in full sun I water mine every 1-2 *months*. They THRIVE on neglect. It’s safest to wait until the stems get a little wrinkly, and then give it a big deep soak.
I think it’s healthy, just a little shocked from its new home. I have one too about that size. It looks like it’s reaching to the right for light. Can just turn it for that. It looks a little tight in there, try to keep the leaves from touching the wall. May just pull it out a little, turn it, and trim off the yellow and maybe the brown leaf one too. Good luck!
Daylight.
ZZ plants and shake plants are the most low light tolerant plants there are so no it’s not a light issue. Honestly if it’s just that one stem that’s yellow I wouldn’t be too worried. It’s if everything else starts to deteriorate that I’d be concerned.
Are you waiting until it’s fully dry to water? It could just be acclimating to its new environment. The only time I’ve seen yellowing happen is when it’s a watering issue. So if you’re overwatering it could be root rot. If you’re under watering just make sure you water more frequently. Always make sure you’re fully saturating the soil. (Overwatering is about the frequency in which you water not the amount of water you give the plant when you do water).
Move it forward like one foot lol.
Also you’re watering too often.
Nobody puts baby in the corner!
Just cut that stem
Don’t you have a darker corner you can put it in?
Overwatering and insufficient light turn ZZs yellow.