How to Grow ZZ Plant
ZZ Plant At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Houseplant
Sun Exposure
Partial Shade
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to 12°C
Plant Family
Araceae
Growing Season
Year Round
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
When you repot in spring, tip the plant out and gently pull apart the fat, potato-like roots, keeping a stem or two on each piece. Pot each piece in a fast-draining mix and wait a week before watering so any broken roots can heal. This is the quickest way to a new plant.
The ZZ plant is the houseplant for forgetful owners and dim corners: its fat roots store water, so it shrugs off drought and low light. Too much water is the only thing that really harms it, and it grows slowly, so new plants take patience.
When To Start
ZZ Plant grows all year in the right spot, so there is no window to wait for.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant ZZ Plant?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your ZZ Plant Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your ZZ Plant Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Pot up your ZZ plant in a mix that drains fast
About 0 days after you plant it
See if your ZZ plant needs a bigger pot
About 365 days after you plant it· every year· optional
Divide your ZZ plant or root a few leaves to make more
About 120 days after you plant it· every year· optional
Check the soil of your zz plant: water when the top 3 cm feel dry.
About 7 days after you plant it
How is your ZZ plant settling in? Let the soil dry out fully between waterings.
About 30 days after you plant it
Checking in on your ZZ plant. It grows slowly, and bright, indirect light helps it along.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
ZZ Plant's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Bright light without direct sun is ideal for a ZZ plant, but it copes with dim corners too.
- 2Plant it in a fast-draining mix, like cactus mix, in a pot with drainage holes.
- 3Water only when the soil is dry all the way through, about every 2 to 3 weeks, and less in winter.
- 4Feed with a little compost tea 2 or 3 times in spring and summer, since it needs very little.
- 5Yellow leaves almost always mean too much water, not too little, so let it dry out longer.
- 6Every part of the ZZ plant is poisonous to people, cats and dogs if chewed, and its sap can irritate skin, so keep it out of reach and wash your hands after handling it.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
90 cm
Mature Height
60 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
How to Harvest
- 1Wipe the glossy leaves with a damp cloth every month or two to keep them shiny and clean.
- 2Cut off any yellow stems at soil level with clean scissors.
- 3Repot in spring only when the fat roots crowd the pot or bulge its sides, about every 2 to 3 years.
- 4Keep it above 12°C (54°F) and away from cold drafts in winter.
- 5Wear gloves when you trim or divide it.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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