I have a ZZ plant that I've had about 2 months. When I got it, a new stalk was waiting to open up. It's almost completely "unwrapped" itself and is a very light green color. I wok e up today and the new stalk had flopped. It's bent over like an elbow macaroni and the 3 older stalks are still dark green and standing nearly straight up. I had been watering rather infrequently (every 2 weeks) so I got nervous and watered. When I came home from work it was still drooping (unlike a peace lily which perks up very quickly upon watering). Does anyone know what's going on? I haven't fertilized, have it in a north facing window with constant indirect low light, and it's in an orchid bark soil base. Any help would be appreciated - I have read through all the past ZZ threads and haven't seen this topic before. Also, I'm putting Zamioculcas zamiifolia in my thread so the search engine finds it.
maybe it needs more light? or it might need more frequent watering since it's still developing. maybe take it out and put it in it's own pot - that might help.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia is a xerophytic plant and should be grown as a succulent. It does best in a south facing window and should be watered thoroughly no more than once a week to grow well. It should be grown in a graveley soil that drains well. I have three different forms of the plant and they thrive on neglect.
Sorry Steve, that is not totally correct. Botanists and curators from major botanical gardens have found this plant will grow extremely well under a wide variety of condition. These quotes were taken directly from a conversation between aroid experts on Aroid l, sponsored by the International Aroid Society: "Keep it well drained. It can be grown in an orchid compost (tough or graded bark mixed with an equiv vol of pet moss) or peat moss - perlite (5-0 mm) equiv mix or in sand (5-0 mm) - peat 3:1 mix. I got an over watered one, and I kept it dry for 2 months now it looks better." "It’s a Weed for me, you can stick a piece of a leaf in just about any soil & poof ,Ya got another plant real soon, as long as it’s watered regularly… some try to pass this off as a Cycad & charge a lot ,due to the name similarities care is variable as it can be grown as a house plant ,but outside ,some frost, no hard freeze ..will come back from it’s own roots if froze any regular potting mix will do fine , treat it like any indoor philo" "The plant is nearly bullet proof. If you grow it in a house it will grow very slowly. In a greenhouse it will grow like mad. Mine was 10 cm tall, in a room with no natural light and rare waterings after a year it looked the same. Moved to the greenhouse fed and watered it, and in a year it was more than a meter tall." "It prefers not too heavy soil with pH about 6. I use the universal flower soil available in every shop and my plant is 120 cm tall, puts new healthy leaves and once it bloomed. As a succulent it doesn't tolerate over watering. http://www.wschowa.com/abrimaal/araceum/zamioculcas/zamioculcas.htm" "I grow both forms of Zamioculcas zamiifolia, or is Z. lancifolia now considered a distinct species? They both grow in plain old potting soil that I let get almost dry between waterings, in East-facing windows with good morning sun." "My daughter gave me one about two years ago. I read everything i could find and according to what I can locate Zamioculcas zamiifolia enjoys drier arid conditions. Supposedly, it likes water in the rainy season and little moisture during the dry season. That just didn't fit into the way I grow aroids in my tropical atrium, so I just planted it! In fact, it is just feet away from my large Anthurium regale. The plant is watered as often as all the other tropical aroids and does just fine! It is in very loose soil with lots of sand added. But other than that, we don't do anything special. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the thing. But my daughter read it was an aroid so she got it for me. It may eventually not survive, but for several years it has tolerated my "tropical conditions" well." "Less is more' philosophy has always worked for the "ZZ" plant here in central Florida. Ritually, I water once a month and it is in it's 5th year and happy as a lark in the house. Those in the greenhouse had to get moved for there was too much humidity for them. They reside happily in the office now and on the same regime, once a month." "I agree with what (name removed) reported, both on what research will tell you the plant wants, some moisture and then a dry season, and on what his reality was, and mine as well. We planted ours in an upper planter pocket in the rain forest simulation at UNC Charlotte, where it was fairly well drained but pretty constant moisture as well, and it just thrived, flowered, the whole nine yards. It got some sun, but not much - just good bright light, well drained soil, and good moisture. It got real good sized for us under those conditions." Some of these folks are professionals and botanical experts. One runs a botanical garden. As a result, I'd say it is not critical how you grow Zamioculcas zamiifolia! Just put it in the soil and do your thing! In the wilds of Africa, the plant endures long periods of dryness followed by a wet rainy season. That certainly does not appear to be critical to keeping it alive. In fact, it seems the people who water it more actually have better results! BUT, the key appears to be in having well draining soil such as a cactus mix. I have been growing it for three years in my rain forest and the place is watered almost daily. The plant is extremely happy.
My ZZ has copped lot of rain in the last 6 months, on average it would at least rain considerably 4 times a week,as we finally got a wet season again and has been growing great guns. Prior to that we had a drought and it hardly got watered at all!! It still grew fine. So it will survive under a variety of conditions as Steve has pointed out Ed
I'm having the same problem. I've lost 3 stalks this way. The most recent was a new sprout (1 - 2 weeks). I water it infrequently but enough I think. It's quite indoors and never gets direct sunlight, but the room itself is well-lit. Everything else with this plant looks fine. Another new sprout is now taller than the rest. I purchased the fully grown plant from a well-respected local specialist back in November; I have no idea of the composition of the soil. What causes an entire stalk to just break off?
