New ZZ Plant - Questions and Concerns

9 years ago

Picked up this ZZ Plant at the Philadelphia Flower Show this weekend.

Has anyone planted these in gritty mix? I am switching all my succulents but am debating on if I should with this new addition to the family.

The roots are growing out of this pot all over the place so I definitely need to go up in size, but not sure how much.

I know they are slow growers and generally pretty forgiving to neglect - is it a myth that these can go without light and water for a prolonged period of time? I'm not planning on neglecting it but things happen.

Any additional information would be lovely.

Thanks!

-Erica

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Comments (4)

MsGreenFinger GW
9 years ago
I think it will be just as happy in gritty mix as any other succulent.
I would go one size up only, even if it doesn't really matter when using the gritty.
They can go for a time without water, as they are succulents (or kind of) but without light branches will stretch for light and become limp.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
9 years ago
As you should see when you repot, these plants have large, bulbous, moisture-storage roots. This is what enables them to survive times of drought, and why they can easily rot if kept moist. Being smushed tightly against each other and the sides of the pot can also cause problems. For any plant, a porous mix with plenty of oxygen while moist will help eliminate the risk of rotting roots and facilitate healthy growth.
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I was going to guess that the moisture control mix has some kind of water-holding agent & suggest against using it. I'd also suggest not potting these up too large, the combination of too large a pot & too wet a mix can surely invite rot. From my observations, these plants prefer smaller pots, they do fine rootbound or tight in their pots. They don't grow big roots, rather a potato-like tuber & some roots from there. The 3 or 4 I have I've grown each from single leaves or a single fat water-retentive stem (don't know what they're called). I grow them mostly in unglazed clay & give a light to medium watering once a wk (the pot it's in can't take a heavy watering). I don't remember what mix I'm using (I make my own), but am guessing it's something like Cactus & Succulent mix combined w/ perlite or pumice (abt 30% of either) to ensure the fast ddrainage.
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yep, i read exoticrainforest site too and put them in dappled sun light and when they were producing sev stalks started watering a LITTLE more. and guess what? got yellow leaves pretty soon - tubers started rotting. it prolly is like sansevieria - IF you put it in 90-95F and in partial sun it can be watered well. but that's a very big IF. if you don't have temps over 80F - don't water it more. and certainly not in winter, when most people have cooler conditions. you def need to let it fully dry out to the bottom before you water. look at my plant - how densely the leaves are set and how fat the bases of stalks are. too much water produces weak spindly 'soft' growth (unless you have above-mentioned hot conditions).
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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.
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In addition to the location/sun issue, I think its' pot situation is similar to this Anthurium. The pebbles are a top dressing, I'm assuming, a thin layer on top? Quite attractive, but they can slow drying quite a bit vs. exposed soil. I wonder if having the pebbles so close to the crown is more likely to aid rotting at the crown. I've not had great results trying similar setups before, but ZZ plant wasn't one of them. Fairly new to this plant but can report that being in somewhat dappled sun in the morning, until about 11:30 is not causing sunburn. If the sun shines on the plant at some point each day, I think that would help warm the rocks and bake the surface dry, which should make rotting much less likely to occur, as well as offer the natural detoxifying effects of UV rays. I might also give the crown a little more space/air by moving the pebbles away from that area.
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tlbean2004
9 years ago
I have had one of these for about 4 months. They are not always slow growers. I have 3 new stalks growing already and just discovered a new one last week. also, earlier on when i watered it, i lost 2 stalks to rot. So be careful with the watering. I was doing it every month, but im gonna wait 6 weeks this time. I will bump up the watering in the summer.

Good luck!
ehuns27 7a PA
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the replies.

With that you said, Tiffany, I'll probably go up a few sizes and use the gritty mix.

Good to know about winter watering, tlbean, thanks!

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New ZZ Plant - Questions and Concerns

Comments (4)

MsGreenFinger GW

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

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tlbean2004

ehuns27 7a PA
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New ZZ Plant - Questions and Concerns

Comments (4)

MsGreenFinger GW

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

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tlbean2004

ehuns27 7a PAOriginal Author

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ehuns27 7a PA
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