Are you looking for a small plant with tolerance for shade and droughts? Let us introduce you to another Aroid, the Zenzi ZZ plant. This is a dwarf cultivar of the famous Zamioculas zamiifolia plant. Moreover, it gets about 2 feet tall on maturity.
Leaves are small, oval-shaped, and fleshy in the deep-green shade and irregularly thick surface. These curled leaves grow on sleek and cylindrical stems, making the plant look nothing lesser than a miniature jungle.
Go ahead and get it for decorating your tables, shelves, or simply make a floor pot. Apart from enhancing the beauty of your surroundings, it provides the added benefits of air purification. All this without demanding any green thumb! Interesting? Let us learn more about the care and propagation of the beautiful ZZ Plant Zenzi.
Zenzi ZZ Plant Classification
Family: Araceae
Genus: Zamioculcas
Species: Z. zamiifolia
Cultivar: Zenzi
Genus Zamioculcas:
To your surprise, this is a genus comprising of a single species, the Zamioculcas zamiifolia. This plant belongs to East Africa, South Kenya, South Africa, and the regions between them. This species is popular for indoor decorative plantations. Loddiges first described the plant in 1829 under the title Caladium Zamiifolium. Later, H. W. Schott added the plant to the genus Zamioculcas. The current name was finally given by Adolf Engler.
This plant is extensively cultivated and hybridized to create a variety of cultivars including the Zamioculcas Zenzi Plant. The genus is known by a variety of different names including Zanzibar gem, ZZ plant, Zuzu plant, Emerald plant, aroid palm, and the eternity plant.
Other Names
- Dwarf ZZ plant.
- Dwarf Zamioculcas zamiifolia Zenzi plant.
Zenzi ZZ Plant Features
Size:
This dwarf plant grows at a moderate growth rate. Moreover, it remains around 1 foot in size on maturity.
Leaves:
The shiny thick leaves grow on top of the stems. Each mature leaf is about an inch or two in size.
Flowers:
The plant rarely produces tiny flowers on the lower side of the plant body. You may rarely see a Zenzi ZZ flower, especially in the indoor growths. The flowers are spathe types with non-prominent spadix.
Toxicity:
The foliage contains a high ratio of calcium oxalate crystals. This makes them toxic for all including pets and us. The sap causes irritation on the skin and in the eyes. Secondly, accidental ingestion may result in diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Using gloves is a good and prudent choice for handling the Zenzi, its parent, and all the cultivars. Moreover, make sure you don’t let kids and pets mingle with these plants.
Zenzi ZZ Plant Care
This is an easy to grow plant requiring minimum maintenance.
Quick Guide:
Water: Mild drought tolerance.
Light: bright to low indirect light.
Humidity: Average.
Fertilizer: Low.
Let us dive deeper into understanding the care and requirements of the plant.
Water Requirement
The plant shows mild drought tolerance. So, you can forget to water for a month or more, and this resilient little peep will not protest. Nevertheless, regular watering results in form of healthy foliage. In general, it demands to be watered when the soil starts to dry out.
Keep an eye on the plant to understand the watering schedule. In summer, once to twice a week is enough. On the other hand, once in seven to fourteen days is enough to keep the dwarf alive on colder days. Over-watering is harmful, just like the majority of other plants. The tuberous roots are susceptible to root rot. The chances of killing your Zenzi with over-watering are much higher as compared to under-watering.
Sunlight Requirement
Your dwarf ZZ can withstand a variety of light levels including shade. Just select any place with bright to low indirect sunlight. This peep stays equivalently happy in fluorescent light, making it perfect for indoor plantation. Avoid direct sunlight as it can scorch out the delicate foliage.
Temperature Requirement
The plant likes to stay on average to cool temperatures. 15 to 24 °C is an ideal temperature range. Howbeit, it can withstand a temperature as low as 8 °C.
Soil Requirement
Use a quick-draining soil that can provide good aeration to the roots. A common houseplant growing mixture is a simple and convenient option. In addition, we have found good results by mixing 60% potting soil with 40% cactus soil.
Humidity Requirement
The normal humidity level of the growing zone is enough to keep the foliage happy. Howbeit, it would love to stay in a humid atmosphere. On dry days, you can lightly mist the foliage to combat dryness.
Fertilizer Requirement
These dwarfs don’t like to ‘gulp’ food. Just use a mild fertilizer preferably in liquid form once a month in the growing season. Stop fertilizing before the weather gets cooler in the fall.
Pot requirement
The ZZ Zenzi likes to stay root-bound. Select a small-sized pot with drainage holes at the base. Put a tray under the pot to avoid any mess on your shelf or table.
Pruning Requirement
Cut and remove the unhealthy or older leaves. This will enhance the health and outlook of the plant. Make sure you don’t remove a large number of leaves at once.
Repotting Requirement
In the initial 3 years, a yearly re-potting enhances the growth of the plant. Once mature, these dwarf plants don’t need frequent repotting. You can keep them in the same pot for about more than 3 years.
Growth Zones
The plant is hardy in USDA growth zones 10 and 11.
Propagation of the Zenzi ZZ Plant
The common methods of propagation include;
- Leaf-cuttings.
- Division of Rhizomes.
Season:
The middle of the spring is the ideal time to make some new plants.
Propagation by Rhizome division:
- You need to select a well-grown mature plant of the age of more than 2 years. The best time to propagate the plant is while repotting in the spring season.
- Loosen the soil around the base. Gently take the tuberous roots out of the soil.
- Take a sterilized knife. Cut and separate the 1/3rd part of the rhizome along with the attached foliage.
- Plant both of the divisions in their places.
- Keep the newly planted one in low indirect light. Water the soil mildly by spraying. This new division will take almost a month to adjust independently. After a month, you can simply follow the basic care as described in the previous section.
Propagation by Leaf-cuttings:
This process is rarely used because of its slow speed. It may even take more than a year to get a good size ornamental plant.
- Cut 4 to 5 healthy leaves from the plant.
- Pot or place them in a pot with a moist quick-draining potting mixture.
- Cover the pot with polythene or plastic to avoid moisture loss. Place the set up in a warm spot with low indirect light.
- We have to wait for the root development. This is quite slow and may even take as long as 9 months to a whole year.
- During this time, just mist the soil mildly to keep it moist.
- Once the roots are developed, you can plant them in a proper pot. Let it grow to finally enjoy a healthy plant.
Zenzi ZZ Plant Problems
This dwarf plant is a cultivar from one of the most resilient houseplants. Common pests and diseases hardly affect them. Howbeit, unsuitable care, and watering cause a few issues.
Leaves turning brown
If the leaves are getting brown in a considerable number, you need to observe your watering schedule. If the leaflets feel a bit soggy to touch, there are prominent chances that you are over-watering.
Immediately cut the water for around three weeks. See the effect of this change and manage the schedule accordingly.
Leaf tips turning Brown
This is mainly because of inadequate moisture in the atmosphere. Consider misting or adding a humidifier in the room.
Leaves turning Yellow
Yellowing and shedding off some of the older leaves is a normal phenomenon. However, if you see large a large number of leaves getting yellow and falling off, over-watering is a possible culprit.
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Summary
Zenzi ZZ Plant is a dwarf cultivar of the famous Aroid family. The plant is a perfect indoor plant with tolerance for shade and drought. The mature height of this exotic peep remains around 2 feet. Oval-shaped, dark-green, thick, and shiny succulent leaves grow on the top of cylindrical stems. You can grow this plant in pots and containers to decorate your table, shelf, or a corner on the floor.
Moreover, they can be chosen for outdoor plantation in USDA zone 10 and 11. The plant can tolerate different levels of indirect light including shade. The schedule includes watering when the soil is partially dry. The Zenzi Plant ZZ is toxic in nature. So, it is better to wear gloves before handling them. In addition, avoid keeping the plant in the range of kids and pets.
