Need some DG friends help here!
ZZ plant: It's mostly stumps where branches have been sawed off, yet seems strong and healthy enough. It was in an office. It's now at my house, and since arriving, put up new two branches arrow straight up. It's packed into its pot. The "plant people" used a pruning saw to trim it.
That's all I know. Haven't got a clue from here. The owner didn't know either and gave it to me.
Do I divide it's base, which is just a circle of many stumps with 7 to 9 good branches left, and 2 new branches on the perimeter, and repot?
Feeding ? light needs? needs mist? Help?!!!!
ZZ plant - now what do I do?
Google is your friend!
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=ZZ+plant&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
It's a low light plant that will tolerate moderate light, no direct sun. Misting is useless for any plant IMHO. Unless you're going to do it every 10 minutes 24/7.
Water once totally dry.
PK, heh? Lordy, I grew up on Spring Road, almost to Wappingers Falls. mom raised me to "think Vassar" I rebelled and went to Wellesley!
Oh WOW - that photo on google link - Mine fills to overflowing a 3 gal pot!! Well, it likes the low light, that's for sure. It's in a south facing tree shaded window!
Small world! Hi from "Po-town"!
I've Been Moved shipped a wholebunch of workerbees here to Research Triangle Park in 1966 - we came with 'em and now it's home
ZZ will tolerate light sun. We have ours on the porch where it gets sun mostly in the winter for a few hours as it is on the south side. I also used to be one of those "plant people" that cares for office plants professionally. I think it is a myth that this is a low light plant. I think it exists in low light but doesn't produce very healthy new growth. It also does not need misting as it is like a succulent. You might want to divide it, but you don't have to either. I think dividing is a taste issue. If all the stumps form new growth, the plant will be more attractive IMHO if undivided.
will the stumps put out new? wow - I'm used to roses, where you trim the cane stumps to the crown to make room for new ones. This is a succulent?!!! Unbelieveable! thanks y'all! It can go out by our pool for the summer.
Assuming that the plant had no root rot or other issues prior to its "pruning", yes the stumps should put out new growth. There's no telling exactly what happened to it to make them prune it like that, and the plant may have been slowly dwindling in the interior to the point that the reserves in the stumps have really been zapped. I don't know that it is a true succulent, but it is definitely "succulent-like."
hmmm the stumps are almost down to what I would call "the crown" and it fills the pot. Think it might need bigger pot? It can go outside in, say, another two weeks poolside in the shade.
Don't know what cause them to amputate, but saw one that had fallen off,and it looked much like a Christmas Cactus would when it's under stress, where it just withered in the middle like.
These "plant tenders" are very nice ladies that do it for a firm. they don't have a greenhouse. They take inventory of sad plants and order replacements. When they come, they delivery all within 30 hours and dump sad plants in trash. I'm not doing well rejuvenating them, but I AM trying. they don't compost - no room in the trucks, and they don't want old plants contaminating the new. I don't remember them doing much fertilizing, just spraying for insects and leaf shine.
well, every now and then a branch falls off?
but there's several new branches started - they get huge very fast.
I've just been reading about this zz in the plant files. A really interesting plant and it appears will be easy to root..........just lay a leaf in the sand and keep it moist. Here is mine which is spending the summer outside. Got it as a freebie at a plant swap.
yup - that looks like a ZZ - got mine as a freebie from an office plant place. They sure are nice, aren't they?
The best thing about ZZ's is they need very little water. I have let mine go for over a month without a drop and there were no consequences. I did a bit of research a few years ago and learned that the "stems" are really elongated leaves and what we see as leaves are leaflets. That is what you would use to start a new plant but it is a long, drawn out process taking many months.
They look so awkward when they are young but they grow into stunning and very architectural plants.
Yes I let my ZZ's go dry for a month or so. Even when I do water them I give them very little. I have rooted the whole "leaf" but never tried to root a leaflet. I did read it takes a super long time. Easier to root the whole stem or "leaf".
I'm in the process of rooting 3 leaves. They must of took, they've been firm for 2 months now!
Great. Keep us posted on your progress.
ok - I'm game - I'm going to try a "leaf" since I have one available. It'll be the first "cutting" I'll ever root! LOL
You go for it !!!!!!!
A neighbor, whose home has those tall cathedral ceilings,was asking about what kind of plant to get for a spot that only gets light from a skylight that is 3 stories up. I suggested a ZZ and her plant thrives in that situation and is always in bloom. The flowers are sort of non-distinct, a muddy white color and shaped like an aroid flower. They stay low and sort of snake around the base.
flowers? FLOWERS???? I didn't know!
Me either.
I have had a zz for years and mine has never bloomed. I tell my neighbor to get one and her's blooms often. Go figure. Naturally it is not in bloom right now but when it starts again I'll post a picture. The flowers are really not attractive.
This reminds me of a thread about Aspidestra flowers a while ago. I never knew they bloomed either.
well, if they are not good looking, that's better. I've always thought amophallus flowers are interesting looking - not attractive but interesting - but they can really stink! don't like stinky.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia (zz plant) is a member of the aroid family. It is native to tropical East Africa. In the Miami area it can be an invasive plant. It spreads underground by its roots and is very difficult to get rid of. We've been trying to eradicate it from our rainforest (Fairchild's).
Wow, I learn something new about this plant all the time; I had no idea it ran like that.
And here I am trying to keep one alive! It has put out a lot of growth.
Did anyone ever say how to divide it? I'm thinking I need to repot it, but like it the size it is now. wouldn't mind having two.
And if I repot it, do I do so like it was a Christmas cactus, in potting soil, or like a hens&chicks, in cactus mix?