--- title: "Does anyone know if this is normal on a zz plant? It looks like bark.…" description: "Does anyone know if this is normal on a zz plant? It looks like bark. But not sure if it’s a disease or pest I need to treat? The plant looks healthy otherwise…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/M3SMDyxSeRP0kMmKrkXw54?language=nl" community: "Pests, diseases and problems" author: "Alina" published: "2025-01-13T15:20:33.063423Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/FzkcveZo6iXNTmrOihzNiYTDLQzpiVfsEjlM8YV7HFk/r6T6zM3jRCiDBPgZfOmiLQ.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=nl) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md?language=nl) # Does anyone know if this is normal on a zz plant? It looks like bark.… _Geplaatst door Alina op 2025-01-13_ Does anyone know if this is normal on a zz plant? It looks like bark. But not sure if it’s a disease or pest I need to treat? The plant looks healthy otherwise and has new growth. ![Bijlage 1 van 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/FzkcveZo6iXNTmrOihzNiYTDLQzpiVfsEjlM8YV7HFk/r6T6zM3jRCiDBPgZfOmiLQ.webp?size=large) ![Bijlage 2 van 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/FzkcveZo6iXNTmrOihzNiYTDLQzpiVfsEjlM8YV7HFk/-GMTvgIFRPiQXipC5E0D2w.webp?size=large) ![Bijlage 3 van 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/FzkcveZo6iXNTmrOihzNiYTDLQzpiVfsEjlM8YV7HFk/iyYXVbTZSAe-bt5BDuE8XA.webp?size=large) ![Bijlage 4 van 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/FzkcveZo6iXNTmrOihzNiYTDLQzpiVfsEjlM8YV7HFk/NELeCWCWRuabdd5mi2Hqpw.webp?size=large) ## 11 reacties ### Alyssa reageerde op 2025-01-13 Woah, all I can think is some type of fungi given the pattern and growth ### Plantgirly reageerde op 2025-01-13 What does it feel like? Does it scrape off? Looks like scarring, except for the growth on the leaves. If it’s scrapes off, I recommend getting a fungicide. ### KJM reageerde op 2025-01-13 It looks like a fairly mature plant. I'm wondering if it's a natural occurrence as the plant matures. I'm not really sure about that but it definitely does not look like the insect scale. I'm not real sure about fungus either, possibly. I've put a call into a friend of mine who is quite accomplished in the area of house plants. If he says anything interesting I'll let you know. ### KJM reageerde op 2025-01-13 My friend responded to me and he has not seen that on any of his plants nor come across it in his experience. I did a Google search on bark like appearance on a ZZ plant. I think it's helpful. It said, "a bark like appearance usually refers to rough dry and sometimes cracked areas on the stems, often indicating a sign of underwatering where the plant is not getting enough moisture in the stems are starting to shrivel and become textured like bark" ### KJM reageerde op 2025-01-13 I hope that is helpful ### Sunny reageerde op 2025-01-13 Looks like the scarring from flat mites! They are difficult to see without a microscope and easy to transfer to other plants. They chew the leaf surface leaving the scars. They terrify me. Google “flat mites treatment“ online. They can be treated with beneficial insects and chemicals. I’ve never had to deal with them. But, I’m always checking for them on my hoyas since they can prevent blooms. Good luck. 🍀🍀🍀 ![Bijlage 1 van 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/wefqOljjhEOiS9LRzOB1-QhxkVJiB4A5DGumXhnNrhs/mkG111uzRYWCHGdzQqTksA.webp?size=large) ### KJM reageerde op 2025-01-13 Is there fine webbing in the leaf axles and close to the stem? I don't see any but that would be a definite sign that there are mites. ### Alina reageerde op 2025-01-13 First of all, thank you so much to everyone who has responded! I hope you can all see my comment, not sure if I have to reply to each of you individually or not! To answer some of the questions asked, yes it does scrape off! I just tried it with my nail and it does come off. There is no webbing or anything on the leaves that I can see with my naked eye. I got the plant around 8 months ago from Trader Joe’s. It was already a pretty mature, established plant when I got it. It already had this “bark/scarring” at that time. It just seems to have gotten more prominent now. It’s not spreading to other leaves. Like i said in my original post, there is new growth now and has been since I brought it home. Every time I water the plant (and when I first brought it home) I put it under the shower and rinse the leaves off. ### Alina reageerde op 2025-01-13 Should I treat it with something just in case? Will it damage the leaves if do? ### Alina reageerde op 2025-01-13 This is what it looks like after scrapping some of it off ![Bijlage 1 van 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/FzkcveZo6iXNTmrOihzNiYTDLQzpiVfsEjlM8YV7HFk/ty1fnGhbSfeG47JRSDn7XQ.webp?size=large) [Meer reacties](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/M3SMDyxSeRP0kMmKrkXw54.md?cursor=mBMiZRFcGhhQb3N0cy5HZXRBbGwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX2H3X7kPdGA&language=nl) --- _De Planta-community (https://getplanta.com). Iedereen kan meelezen. Om te posten, reageren en liken, download de Planta-app: https://getplanta.com/download_