Plant care, sensed

ZZ plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Zamioculcas is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, containing the single species Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It is a tropical herbaceous perennial plant, and is native to eastern Africa, including Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Its common names include Zanzibar gem, Zuzu plant, emerald palm, ZZ plant, aroid palm and eternity plant. It is commonly grown as a houseplant, mainly because it has attractive glossy foliage and is easy to care for. Zamioculcas zamiifolia is winter-hardy in USDA Zones 9 and 10.

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Wikimedia Commons contributors

The sensor knows

What Orabee watches for on your zz plant.

Each target is sourced from horticultural guidance, quoted in full so you can see exactly where the numbers come from.

Ambient temperature
18–26 °C (64–79 °F) is best; not below 15 °C
“It may survive outdoors as long as the temperature does not fall below around 15 °C (60 °F); though best growth is between 18 and 26 °C (64 and 79 °F) while high temperatures give an increase in leaf production.”
From Wikipedia: Zamioculcas
Light
Bright indirect; tolerates low light
“When grown indoors, the plant prefers bright indirect light but will tolerate low light conditions.”
From Wikipedia: Zamioculcas
Overwatering
Keep it dry; overwatering causes tuber rot
“Overwatering may destroy this plant through tuber rot.”
From Wikipedia: Zamioculcas

Orabee, translated

What each face means for zz plant.

The mascot on the e-ink screen reflects what the sensor sees. Here’s when each expression shows up, and why.

Happy

Warm room, bright indirect light, soil kept dry.

“When grown indoors, the plant prefers bright indirect light but will tolerate low light conditions.”

Drowning

Soil staying wet; overwatering causes tuber rot.

“Overwatering may destroy this plant through tuber rot.”

The grounding

Wikipedia’s care notes for zz plant.

Quoted in full so you can see exactly what every Orabee target above is anchored to. Sourced from Wikipedia, released under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Cultivation

It is cultivated as a houseplant. Dutch nurseries began wide-scale commercial propagation of the plant around 1996. Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Dowon,' commercially known as 'Raven', is licensed by Costa Farms.

Temperature

It may survive outdoors as long as the temperature does not fall below around 15 °C (60 °F); though best growth is between 18 and 26 °C (64 and 79 °F) while high temperatures give an increase in leaf production. In temperate regions, it is grown as a houseplant. Overwatering may destroy this plant through tuber rot.

Light

Due to its strong green leaves, it is especially suitable for open, bright rooms. When grown indoors, the plant prefers bright indirect light but will tolerate low light conditions. However, lower light is not optimal for an extended period of time.

Soil

The substrate used must be well-drained and contain nutrients. It can be composed of a mixture of tanned ox manure, washed river sand and red earth (1:1:1). For indoor plants, use a well-drained potting soil mix.

Water

Zamioculcas zamiifolia contains 91% water in the leaves, and 95% water in the petioles. It has an individual leaf longevity of at least six months, which may be the reason it can survive extremely well under interior low light levels for four months without water. Zamioculcas zamiifolia roots are rhizomatous and have the ability to store moisture, thus aiding the plants in their drought resistance.

Plant facts

Scientific name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Common name: ZZ plant
Good to know: BeginnerLow-lightDrought-tolerant

Care guidance from Wikipedia, released under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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