ZZ plants are notorious for being low-maintenance, easy-to-care-for houseplants that even gardeners with the blackest of thumbs can keep alive. All they need to thrive is adequate light, and a good watering every couple of weeks. However, don’t worry too much about forgetting to water your ZZ plant—ZZ plants grow from rhizomes which help them to store water under the soil, making them a ‘drought-tolerant’ plant.
ZZ plants have naturally shiny leaves that can begin to look dull over time as dust accumulates. Never clean the leaves of a ZZ plant with a commercial leaf shine as it will clog the pores of the plant! Instead, gently wipe away dust and debris with a damp washcloth to restore its shine.
Light
ZZ plants are tolerant of a wide range of lighting conditions which makes them well-suited to indoor growing. While ZZ plants can ‘technically’ survive without any natural light, they do best in bright, indirect light and can quickly become leggy when not given enough light. Avoid direct sunlight as this can scorch the leaves of a ZZ plant.
ZZ plants are not overly picky about their potting medium as long as it is well-draining. Most standard potting mixes should be sufficient for your ZZ plant. If additional drainage is required, mixing in perlite or sand will help.
Thanks to their thick rhizomes, ZZ plants are extremely drought-tolerant and can handle infrequent watering. In general, ZZ plants should be watered once the soil dries out completely—usually once every week or two depending on their growing conditions. But if necessary, ZZ plants can survive months without water, so it is better to under-water your ZZ plant than to over-water it.