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Does this mean it’s being overwatered because I really do let it dry… | Pests, diseases and problems | Communauté Planta

Yanni

Does this mean it’s being overwatered because I really do let it dry out.

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7 commentaires

  1. Zack

    Yes, zz plants have these big bulbs in the soil that hold onto water and releases it when the plant needs it so make sure you let it completely dry out. I only water mine once a month.

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    • Zack

      Oh I’d also check for rot on the bulbs. They shouldn’t be squishy they should be hard. They usually are an inch under the soil.

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    • Yanni

      I tried checking the bulbs and it doesn’t seem mushy or anything, but I didn’t go deep enough to actually see the roots

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    • Yanni

      Should I get rid of this one stem?

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  2. Madison

    It could mean that it’s being overwatered and that’s definitely the most common cause for ZZ plants, but it could also be lack of light (which often goes hand-in-hand with overwatering because too little light=not enough water being dried off in the soil) or pests. ZZ Plants are actually a little more pest resistant than some other plants due to the waxy coating on their leaves, but it’s still worth checking for them to be safe. If it is overwatering, which is my guess as well, don’t feel bad; it’s really easy to do with ZZ plants, but you may want to do a repot to check on and treat the roots. Trim off any dead or squishy roots and bulbs with clean scissors, the spray the roots thoroughly with 3% hydrogen peroxide to prevent the spread of any fungal infection. Make sure the hydrogen peroxide really is diluted to 3% on the label. Then repot back into a chunky, well draining soil mixture (I use equal parts cactus soil, perlite, and orchid bark) and make sure the pot/planter is the right size (no more than 1-2 inches bigger than the root ball- even if this means sizing down it will be best for the plant overall). If the planter is too big for the roots, they won’t be able to soak up all the extra moisture and will rot. ZZ Plants need to truly be 100% dry before watering again because of those bulbs that Zack referenced. I like to make sure my soil is truly dry by taking a wooden skewer, sticking it all the way down into the soil until it touches the bottom, and leaving it in there for 1-5 minutes before taking it back out to look. If there’s any moisture on the skewer or if any moist soil clung to it, it’s not ready to be watered. If it comes out completely clean and dry, that’s when I know to water it.

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    • Madison

      You didn’t say what kind of light it receives, but I’d also consider increasing the amount of light it’s receiving. Even though ZZ plants are marketed as low-light tolerant, they really do best in bright indirect light or with grow lights, and low light conditions can lead to overwatering because the plant doesn’t use up as much water from the soil.

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    • Yanni

      All of my plants are in a big window. This one just happens to be on the floor so it’s not in the light, but I could raise it with one of my plant stands.

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