You’ve invested in a stunning ZZ Plant since you’ve heard how wonderful and simple to maintain they are. A few months later, you notice that although it’s still alive, nothing new has been accomplished. Not even one inch has been grown till now.
What’s going on? Why is your ZZ Plant failing to grow?
Don’t worry, you are in the right place. Because in this article, we will discuss the common causes of your ZZ plant not growing much and what you can do to encourage it to produce to its maximum potential. So, continue reading till the end!
How quickly does a ZZ plant grow?
Even when we all claim to appreciate low-maintenance plants, the truth is that we all become a little irritated when we don’t receive much in return. To demonstrate that we are good plant parents, we like to observe a little development or change in our plant.
ZZ Plants have many advantages. They are excellent foliage plants that give your home a stunning appearance. ZZ Plant is a relatively slow-growing plant that demands certain circumstances to thrive, despite being renowned for being exceptionally easy to maintain. To get the most growth out of your ZZ Plant, the right lighting, maintenance, and fertilizers are required.
You’ll be disappointed if you purchased a little ZZ and expected it to fill a huge pot or space in a year. You’ll need to modify your anticipation of ZZs. A ZZ Plant cannot develop like a monster, just as we shouldn’t expect a kid to become an adult all of a sudden. ZZ Plants grow very slowly.
There are occasional success stories of people with plants that grew 12 inches in a single season on blogs and forums, but those are the exception, not the rule. It typically takes years for your ZZ to experience that level of growth. You probably won’t see much growth at all in a year—maybe just a few inches. Nevertheless, don’t let it stop you from caring for your ZZ Plants.
How do seasons play a major role in the ZZ plant’s growth?
The time of year is one of the first factors to take into account while troubleshooting the lack of growth in your ZZ Plant.
The seasons have an impact on indoor plants just like they do on all outdoor plants. Some seasons are both ideal for growth and dormancy. Also, you’ll notice that almost every plant you own enters a dormant stage over the winter.
The plant switches into survival mode when it goes dormant. As soon as spring arrives, it will be prepared to encourage new growth. Before February or March, when you might notice a new stem or branch growing on your ZZ plant. Also, if you don’t provide your plants with the right care, you could unintentionally scare them into shutting down because plants frequently adopt dormancy as a survival strategy. Despite their hardiness, plants can nevertheless suffer from complete neglect. For your plant to avoid going into an early dormant condition, provide enough light, nutrients, and water.
How light is an important factor for your ZZ plants?
Everyone is aware that how much light your houseplant receives determines how well it will grow there. Any south-facing window in a plant enthusiast’s home is likely to have a lot of houseplants clustered around it. Some plants, however, might be particular about the kind of light they prefer.
ZZ Plants can survive practically anywhere, but you must be aware of their “Habitable zone” for light exposure if you want to promote development. The right amount of light, but not too much. For optimum growth, ZZ plants prefer bright, indirect light. In essence, the plant will grow more in response to more light being provided. But here, indirect light is crucial. Make sure you’re keeping ZZ plants sheltered and not placing them right up against that south-facing window because ZZ plants burn or dry out in direct sunlight.
How soil is also an important factor for the growth of your ZZ plants?
Another obvious explanation for why your ZZ Plant may not be developing is that it is not receiving the right nutrition from the soil. ZZ plants can only use the nutrients in the soil around them, much like the majority of plants. The plants won’t be able to force new growth successfully if the soil is old or depleted.
The ZZ Plant grows slowly naturally, so occasional feedings of high-quality liquid fertilizer are more than enough to keep the soil rich with nutrients for the plant to consume.
To make sure your ZZ has sufficient nutrients to work with, fertilize it twice or thrice during the growing season. Your ZZ will continue to develop alone according to its timeline.
How to restart your ZZ plant’s growth?
Yes, it is possible to restart your ZZ plant’s growth if it is in its dormant state. But how is it possible?
Let us find out the steps that you must follow to boost your ZZ plant’s growth which we have mentioned below!
1. Check the seasons for ZZ plants
Keep in mind that most indoor plants hibernate in the winter. Your ZZ might simply have to wait until the spring to push any new growth. Provide bright filtered light which is ideal for your ZZ plants.
What does that exactly mean? A bright room generally has windows that face the south or east, which let in a lot of light or just a lot of sunlight!
No, it’s neither sunlight nor a lot of lights. Make sure your plant is receiving indirect light and is located away from all those sun-bleached periodicals, a little bit back from the window.
2. Feed your ZZ plants properly
Think about the soil that your plant is growing in. The soil may be exhausted and unable to supply the appropriate nourishment required for development if you have an older plant that has been kept in the same container for a long period.
Only during the growth season, fertilize with a liquid fertilizer (once a month).
3. Keep the ZZ plants warm
ZZ Since plants are native to considerably warmer climes, a reduction in temperature might cause them to go dormant. ZZ plants will grow stunted by temperatures below 45°F and typically prefer temperatures between 65°F and 75°F.
Overwatering this plant is a common mistake because this plant is quite good at controlling its hydration. Make sure the soil dries out between waterings to prevent stem and rhizome rot, which stunts development and is brought on by excessive water.
4. The toxicity of ZZ plants
This plant includes calcium oxalate crystals, therefore you should handle it carefully. Skin discomfort or even severe conditions like stomach aches may result from this. Keep the plant out of reach as it is particularly harmful to cats and dogs due to the oxalate crystals.
If you keep ZZ plants out of the reach of curious dogs and young children, they are still safe to have in your house. To reduce contact with the plant, wash your hands right away after tending to your plant or put on gloves.
5. Pests issues in the ZZ plant
Aphids that feed on the sap from ZZ plants are a pest problem in ZZ plants. If you start to observe strange yellow stains or patches on your plant, you may have an aphid infestation. You might need to check more closely since aphids readily mix in with foliage (especially since they like to hide under leaves). By cleaning the leaves with a bar of moderate soap and hot water solution, you may get rid of the majority of bugs.
6. Overwatering can be a problem
Overwatering is the primary cause of mortality for ZZ plants. Never water a plant before allowing the top three inches of soil to dry up. If the plant’s leaves start to fall off, it is badly underwater. If you see that your ZZ plant’s leaves are yellowing and dropping off, you could be overwatering it. So, be careful and check before watering your ZZ plants by inserting your finger inside the soil!
7. Have patience with your ZZ plants
Giving your ZZ everything it needs to grow is crucial, just as with any responsible plant parent. You may ensure that you’re laying the groundwork for success by paying attention to these tips. Just keep in mind that it will happen when your ZZ Plant is ready, so be patient.
FAQs
Q1. When should my ZZ plant be fertilized?
Ans. In the spring or summer, treat your plant once or twice using a diluted liquid fertilizer and properly follow the given instructions before fertilizing.
Q2. When should ZZ plant pruning be performed?
Ans. ZZ plants don’t need much trimming. Throughout the year, remove any yellow leaves and trim back any overgrown stalks. Wear gloves, please!
Q3. What is the Optimum time to report the ZZ plant?
Ans. Unless your plant is outgrowing its present container, you shouldn’t need to repot it. The optimum time to repot ZZ plants is in the spring. Select a pot with enough drainage that is one size larger. Take the ZZ plant out of its pot. If necessary, clean up and trim the roots. Replant with potting soil that drains nicely in a fresh container.
Q4. What is the most effective strategy to propagate the ZZ plant?
Ans. The ZZ plant may be multiplied by submerging a mature stem in water and watching for roots to emerge. The second approach is splitting the plant into two or three smaller ones.
Conclusion
The almost unbreakable ZZ plant is the ideal complement to any space in your house or place of business. As long as you bear in mind to keep it out of direct sunlight and to let the soil dry between waterings, taking care of ZZ plants is very simple. Keep it up high and out of reach if you have dogs or children in the house to guarantee everyone’s safety. This plant grows slowly. Your plant may not reach its full potential for several years. Giving your ZZ plant the ideal circumstances for light, water, and temperature will aid in its growth the best.
We hope our article was informative to you and helped you to learn about the growth of ZZ plants.
If you have any further doubts in your mind, feel free to comment down below so that we can cover them in our next article. Also, if you like this article, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family!
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