ZZ plant care: watering and light
The ZZ plant stores water in rhizomes under the soil and in its thick stems. That’s why it can go weeks without water — and why it dies so quickly when it gets too much.
ZZ plant needs water roughly every 12 days in summer and every 24 in winter (north-facing window, in a 16 cm plastic pot with a drainage hole). Before watering, always check with a finger in the soil: if it’s still damp, wait.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Zamioculcas zamiifolia
- Also known as
- Zanzibar gem
- Preferred light
- Low indirect light
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Tolerates drought
- Yes
- Tolerates shade
- No
- Where it lives
- Indoors
Where to put it
It tolerates low light like few other plants: a hallway with some daylight, or an office under artificial light. With more indirect light it grows faster and sends up new stems more often. Avoid strong direct sun, which yellows the leaves.
How to water
Wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again. If in doubt, wait a few more days: a ZZ plant forgives too little water far more readily than too much. In dark spots, waterings are even further apart.
Common mistakes
Yellow or soft stems near the soil are the classic sign of too much water and rotting rhizomes. Wrinkled leaves, on the other hand, are asking for water. There’s no rush to repot: it likes snug roots.
How many days between waterings, spot by spot
| Where it lives | In July | In January |
|---|---|---|
| South- or west-facing window | 7 days | 13 days |
| East-facing window | 8 days | 15 days |
| North-facing window | 12 days | 24 days |
| Hallway or corner with no window | 18 days | 34 days |