How to Grow and Care for ZZ Plants

ZZ plants, also called Zanzibar gems or eternity plants, are native to tropical regions of Africa that experience both wet and dry periods, leading to wildly fluctuating growing conditions. This makes them very forgiving houseplants! Their maintenance needs are pretty low, making them a great indoor plant for beginners or those who forget to water their plants (we've all been there).

These tropical plants have a playful upright growing habit with long stems covered in cute little leaflets. Fun fact: each stem is actually one single leaf! Traditional ZZ plants can get as tall as 3 or 4 feet, though some may get even taller under the right conditions. They come in several colors including black and variegated green with white spots. There are also dwarf varieties such as Zenzi, which only grows to about 1 foot tall.

ZZ plants grow best in lots of bright, indirect light but also thrive under the fluorescent lights of offices and commercial buildings. Just don't place them where they will receive direct sunlight since it can cause the leaves to scorch.

ZZ plants prefer to stay on the dry side, so it's best to use a soil that'll provide adequate drainage. Miracle-Gro® Tropical Potting Mix is formulated with lava rock for this very purpose, and it's also less prone to fungus gnats (it doesn't contain compost or bark, which provide shelter for these pests).

1. Select a container that is no more than 1-2 inches wider than the plant's root ball.
2. Fill the bottom ⅓ of the pot with Miracle-Gro® Tropical Potting Mix.
3. Place the plant in the container so that the top of the root ball is about an inch below the rim to leave room for watering the plant.
4. Fill in around the root ball with more potting mix.
5. Thoroughly water the plant, let it drain, and move it to its permanent location in your home or office.

ZZ plants store water in their fleshy roots, so they're not thirsty plants. After planting, only water ZZ plants when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. It's much more common to overwater than to underwater these plants, so when in doubt, keep them on the dry side. Don't leave your ZZ plant sitting in drainage water which can lead to root rot. About 20 minutes after watering, remove any excess water from the saucer.

ZZ plants do not require a lot of fertilizer to thrive. However, a regular boost of nutrients during their active growing seasons–spring and summer–helps keep them strong and healthy. Use Miracle-Gro® Tropical Houseplant Food which is specially formulated to promote lush foliage in tropical plants. Remember to follow label directions.

Each ZZ plant stem is actually a big leaf with a center rib and leaflets. That means it won't re-sprout if chopped off in the middle. If a whole leaf is looking rough, you can prune it back to the soil line and other leaves will re-sprout.

Using propagation to increase your ZZ plant population requires a lot of time and patience. The fastest way to create more plants is to simply divide the root ball of your existing plant into multiple plants. However, you can also try propagating your ZZ plant using leaf cuttings. To use the leaf cutting technique, using clean sharp scissors or a knife, cut a leaflet as close to the stalk as possible. Dip the cut tip of your leaflet in rooting hormone and stick it into a small container filled with moistened Miracle-Gro® Seed Starting Mix about ½-inch deep. Place your cuttings in a spot that receives bright, indirect sunlight and let the soil dry out almost completely before rewetting. In about 3 months, your leaves should start to form a small rhizome, and with more time a shoot will begin to grow.

Most common ZZ plant issues are related to watering, so they're an easy fix!

• Drooping. If your plant or its leaves are dropping, this most likely means that you need to water your plant more often. Make sure you're checking your plant's soil frequently and not letting it get too dry.
• Brown or yellow leaves. Leaves that are turning brown or yellow could be a sign that you are watering your plant too often. Prune back damaged leaves and wait a week before you water it again.

ZZ plants are a fun and forgiving houseplant that don't mind being ignored. Get started with this unique indoor plant today!