---
title: "Help! I barely touch my ZZ and she’s been perfect for 3 years. Now…"
description: "Help! I barely touch my ZZ and she’s been perfect for 3 years. Now she’s losing a ton of leaves. Her soil really dried out quickly right after I watered her…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/G7sqKDeznRavdR6pWoChhD"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Lo"
published: "2024-12-19T02:10:05.757055Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bietQkiKSR4V9kCj5sMgm0mjb9BlrbOeMgEd5oOLxFA/7izu8v1kS9K5C0egD4EFpg.webp?size=large"
---

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# Help! I barely touch my ZZ and she’s been perfect for 3 years. Now…

_Posted by Lo on 2024-12-19_

Help! I barely touch my ZZ and she’s been perfect for 3 years. Now she’s losing a ton of leaves. Her soil really dried out quickly right after I watered her last time (3 weeks ago-ish). How do I proceed? She has a grow light and I water once a month or so.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bietQkiKSR4V9kCj5sMgm0mjb9BlrbOeMgEd5oOLxFA/7izu8v1kS9K5C0egD4EFpg.webp?size=large)

## 12 comments

### Aria commented on 2024-12-19

How are the roots / rhizomes?

#### Lo replied on 2024-12-19

Haven’t looked 😬. I’m a beginner and not sure what ZZ roots and rhizomes should look like

### Aria commented on 2024-12-19

No worries! 😊 Here’s a photo—the rhizomes are the bulb-like things that store water.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/r-zheNPkzBDyGfkXpEYhPfvZ5IR-QhLRnqQI7FMwsDo/QhBMf49CRe2SWPu_GDNe8Q.webp?size=large)

### Aria commented on 2024-12-19

Since you’ve had the plant for 3 years, I assume the roots/rhizomes may be a little crowded.

#### Lo replied on 2024-12-19

So does that mean sizing up a pot if they look crowded?

#### Aria replied on 2024-12-19

Yes and 1-2 inches larger than the root ball

#### Lo replied on 2024-12-19

Thank you!

### 9s commented on 2024-12-19

have you tried some fertilizer? 3 years, sounds hungry 🤤

#### Lo replied on 2024-12-19

I haven’t but I was planning to on my next watering!

#### Lo replied on 2024-12-19

Also I haven’t seen new growth in a looong time, do I fertilize or wait?

#### 9s replied on 2024-12-19

Oooof that’s definitely a hungry plant then!! Feeding is a great way to get a plant going again

### KJM commented on 2024-12-21

Sounds like it definitely needs more space. Either bump it up in pot size or divide the plant into several smaller pots. Go easy on the fertilizer because this time of the year is their slow grow time. I suppose that depends on where you live but most places this is the slow grow time and not much fertilizer is needed.

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