What Your ZZ Plant’s Leaves Are Trying to Tell You – and How to Fix Common Problems
Don't let disease or care mistakes kill your ZZ plant! Yellow leaves, brown leaves, and leaf spots are signs of underlying problems that can be fixed.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia is a popular houseplant. Also known as the ZZ plant and the eternity plant, this is an easy and attractive tropical plant. Native to East Africa, the ZZ plant can grow up to four feet tall and has glossy, oval leaves, typically dark green.
The ZZ plant demands little and is hard to kill, but that doesn’t mean it won’t develop some issues without proper care. Holes in ZZ plant leaves, yellowing, and curling can all be signs of fixable problems.
Here are some of the foliage issues you might encounter and what they mean.
Stunted or Pale Leaf Growth
Stunted overall growth and leaf growth in a ZZ plant typically mean one of two things. Either it isn’t getting enough sunlight, or it is being overwatered. When overwatered, plant roots suffer, and this can impact growth.
Sunlight is also necessary for strong growth. While the ZZ plant has a reputation for being a low light houseplant, it does need light to thrive. If you want more than just a surviving plant, make sure it gets bright but indirect sunlight.
Pale leaves often go hand-in-hand with stunted growth and often indicate issues with sunlight. ZZ plants are known for deep and vibrant foliage colors, from dark green to golden and variegated, and even newer varieties with rich purple leaves.
The last thing you want is a pale ZZ plant. Lackluster color usually indicates a plant is not getting enough light, so consider moving it or using some supplemental artificial light from a grow light. If pale leaves are accompanied by some brown areas, they might be getting too much light. Never place a ZZ plant in direct light. They evolved to grow in the indirect and dappled light of tropical forests.
Yellowing Leaves
On a ZZ plant, yellow leaves might mean several things. When leaves turn yellow, it’s typically a response to stress. The stress could be over- or under-watering, too much direct sunlight, or a lack of nutrients.
Overwatering can lead to root rot, which, in turn, causes yellow leaves. This could be your problem if the soil is consistently moist and the stems look mushy. Too little water can also cause stress. Water your ZZ plant only when the soil has mostly dried.
If your ZZ plant is sitting in direct sunlight, this could be the cause of its yellow leaves, which will ultimately scorch and turn brown. Move the plant to a spot with indirect or filtered light.
Yellowing might mean a nutrient deficiency. Lack of nitrogen causes older leaves to yellow. Potassium deficiency tends to turn the edges of leaves yellow. If the veins of older leaves are yellowing, the problem could be magnesium deficiency. When new leaves turn yellow, iron chlorosis is often the culprit.
A simple soil test kit like this one from Amazon is a great way to narrow down which nutrient may be lacking. Try a fertilizer with the appropriate missing nutrient to solve the yellowing problem.
Drooping or Wilting Leaves
Saggy, droopy leaves on a ZZ plant almost always indicate a problem with watering. Too little or too much water can both cause leaves to wilt. It should be easy to see the issue by checking the soil. You can also look at the stems or roots to see if they are mushy or even rotting from overwatering.
If watering isn’t the issue, your plant might be suffering from too much sunlight or the effects of dry air. Add humidity to houseplants in winter by using a pebble tray. Using a humidifier like this Dreo cool mist humidifier from Amazon can help if the pebble tray isn't enough. Also be sure your plant is in the right spot for its light needs.
If you see cottony-white pests on your wilting leaves, the issue is a mealybug infestation. You still might have an underlying water issue, though, as they tend to go for stressed plants. Use running water to dislodge the pests and an insecticidal soap if that doesn’t do the trick.
Browning and Curling Leaves
ZZ plant leaves turning brown usually indicates that they are getting too much direct sunlight. Bright, direct light is too intense for the leaves, which evolved to grow in indirect light. The leaves may react to too much light first by yellowing and eventually by scorching and turning brown and crispy.
ZZ plant leaves curling often accompanies the browning caused by intense light. The edges or tips will probably turn brown first and begin to curl under. They will feel crispy and dry. Move your plant to a place with less light that is not so direct.
Holes in Leaves
If you’re seeing holes in your ZZ plant’s leaves, you might have a pest. Slugs, snails, and caterpillars can chew large holes through leaves, but this damage is much more likely to occur outside. For houseplants, this type of damage is more likely to be caused by smaller, sap-sucking insects, like spider mites. They make small holes in leaves when they pierce them to feed.
The holes might be the result of a fungal infection if you’re seeing other signs of this type of disease: powdery patches, fuzzy gray patches, dark leaf spots that look mushy, dry spots with concentric rings, and a hole in the center.
Prevent and manage fungal infections by ensuring your plant has good air flow, avoiding watering that gets leaves wet, and avoiding overwatering. You can also trim off damaged leaves to prevent the spread of the fungus. For a more persistent infection, try making a natural fungicide. You can also find a ready-made product like Garden Safe Fungicide with neem oil on Amazon.
ZZ plants are rewarding and easy houseplants, but they can develop foliage issues. Give them an appropriate amount of water and indirect light, and check for pests and disease regularly to prevent discolored, curling, or droopy leaves.
