Thanks PerL.
I appreciate the response. I don't think I watered the poor dear enough. It got pushed behind a taller plant inadvertantly and wasn't watered for over a month. I think it just shut itsself down. I repotted in a larger pot, and crossed my fingers.

I hope it lives, I am getting into having gardening to do while it's cold and blustery outside. I usually only have plants outside of my home, but have been intrigued by houseplants lately.

Laura H.

Great! I think you'll enjoy the ZZ. I've known a few folks who keep them and just love 'em. I have not tried them yet... I have too darn many plants right now (considering the light in my house) and family concerns. But I hear the ZZ is pretty undemanding and rewarding. And that they grow quickly enough to burst a pot! I will have one eventually, I'm sure. Word has gotten out that I have a soft spot for aroids. And gesneriads. And Sansiveira. And begonias. And...

LOL! I have started quite a collection of my own. My faves are Succulants and Cacti though. I wish I lived in Arizona amongst all those Giant ones.

Do you have a greenhouse? I want one SO BAD. In Florida the weather is milder than most places, but we still get that hard freeze and loads of frost due to the humidity levels. I still haven't figured out how to keep a lot of my outdoor plants alive. Hence my reason for searching out this forum! Gardening just gives me a sense of peace. I also have horses with necks that reach out beyond the fence like Giraffes, so I have to be cautious of where I Plant things.

Laura H

I agree that you should keep your plant. I would repot the root mass into a pot slightly larger than the original.

In their natural habitat(East Africa, I believe), ZZs die back during periods of drought, and regrow when the rains return. I think by letting it get too dry, you might have simulated the dry season a little bit too authentically. In proper indoor culture, they don't usually die back.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia are succulent, and do not need a lot of water, but they do need some, on a fairly regular basis.

well, while we're on the topic of zz's, may I sneak a question in...
my zz looks fine... nice color, firm/fleshy foliage, no yellow, or brown anywhere, but it doesn't seem to be growing. I've had it nearly a yr now, and I have yet to see a new stalk emerge. It gets plenty of light too. It doesn't seem to be using much water. I know they are light water users, and can tolerate low light, but really I've got this little guy in pretty optimum conditions... any suggestions?

stogeo:

I'm right there with you. No leaf gain, no leaf losses, and it's been something like 10 months since I bought mine.

I don't have any answers. But I feel your pain.

frustrating, isn't it?! they are such cool plants!
I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps mine is in a pot too large? I know they sort of like to be a little tight in their pots, so maybe that's what's going on here?
I know it's not dead... I rotate my plants on a regular basis, and I've noticed this zz will grow toward the window(light)... so clearly there IS life in the pot.
Perhaps I should be brave and ease it out of the pot and investigate?

I placed mine outdoors for the summer and it doubled in size (number of leaf stalks)....they sure do like the fresh air....

If your zz isn't growing but seems healthy, just be patient. They're not fast growers. You might see something soon, since they tend to put out new stalks a lot in the fall or winter, just the opposite of what you would expect. They grow faster in good light, although they will live in low light if you keep them dry enough.

If you have any stems that are showing yellowing leaves, cut them off near the soil. That seems to spur a new stem for me sometimes. Hang in there!

Wow. I remember when I frequented this forum a few years back, folks were just discovering Zamiocaulus and were going nuts for them, saying they grew like crazy. (most that I see at retail are popping their pots.) I just love those pinnate leaves.

Laura, I did once have a greenhouse, but had to move across the country about 5 years ago, and it didn't fit in the car with my rabbits, cat, and my Gesneriad cuttings. Darn it. I loved the thing. It even developed that nice earthy smell they get. I had an 'Alice duPont' Mandevilla that twined all over the place and I remember its blooms right at nose level... they smelled like some kind of candy (y'know, I think it was those Circus Peanuts). I have not had a fragrant one since, so I think the smell was imaginary. I advise this kind of greenhouse to other hobbyists... it came from a company called Farm Wholesale, but it was a retail purchase.
It was easy to build (but be sure to have a ladder over 6'), and had a PVC frame. For what it was, inexpensive too.
Excuse the digression. I did love that greenhouse.
Someday I'll put one up here.

Hi Laura,

You've got to have some patience w/ these plants. Contrary to what someone suggested above, ZZ are not fast growing plants, in fact, they can actually be quite slow-growing.

I have a nunmber of them, which I started from either single leaves, or by rooting a single shoot (that fat, bulbous stem). Mine often put on lots of new growth in Sept., usually a new shoot or 2 & when they come up, they often grow 8-10" before unfurling a leaf.

I'd suggest giving it good bright indirect light, not too big a pot & water every couple of wks, it should do just fine.

Mine I had for almost a year before getting new growth.
Recently just had to repot it as it wasn't absorbing water, the rootball was compacted and it has bounced right back in about 10 days.
Here's an old picture of it. I water about every 4-5 weeks.
It's about 4 feet wide and doesn't fit on the window seat anymore.

{{gwi:110331}}

Oh, my! That's gorgeous, and lookit all the new shoots! You do nice work! Thank you for showing us.
-perL