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Can anyone help me figure out what wrong with my zz plant?? I bought… | Pests, diseases and problems | Planta community

Avery

Can anyone help me figure out what wrong with my zz plant?? I bought this plant a few months back in a similar glass jar with the same cork top and lava rocks as picture. It seemed mostly healthy when I bought it, with the exception of two small white spots on one of the leaves. Shortly after buying it the original glass broke on the bottom so I had to transfer it to this other jar. Since then it’s seemed mostly fine but hasn’t grown at all, I keep it on a bookshelf across the room from my west facing window and I keep both my blinds open all day so it receives bright but indirect light all day. The last few days I’ve noticed it looking yellowed so, thinking it needed more light I was placing it in brighter spots throughout the day, including my south and west facing windows. Now today it looks even more yellow and I’ve noticed a brown spot, which I assume is sun damage from the last two days. I’m just not sure how to help this plant anymore? The only things I can think of are to change the water or container, remove some of the rocks, or entirely repot the plant in a terracotta pot. This is my first zz so I’m just not sure, any ideas??

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2 comments

  1. Adrian

    As ZZ’s are extremely drought tolerant plants, perhaps they consider the water propagation as overwatering. You could try propagating it and letting it develop enough roots by putting it in a small pot with perlite, then watering the perlite, and adding water when the perlite dries out (about every 2-3 days). If the plant already has developed roots (if you’re unsure, you can attach a photo of the roots and I can try to see if they’re developed enough), or already has a rhizome, try potting it in well-draining cactus and succulent soil (I would avoid miracle grow’s soil for this plant, as their stuff holds moisture for too long for such a drought tolerant plant) in a small pot with drainage holes (terra cotta or plastic pots work well for this plant). Hope this helps!

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    • Adrian

      Given how yellow the leaves have become, you might wanna check the roots for rot as well. If they’re dark and mushy, not light and firm, the roots have rotted. If you still wanna save it, trim the rotted roots as far up the root as possible, then soak the roots in a mix of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 2 parts water for 20-30 minutes. Gently pat the roots dry with a paper towel, then place in the perlite or succulent soil.

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