ZZ plants do not need a lot of care to grow, but sometimes if you do not pay attention or care to them, you might face issues like yellowing, curling, or brown leaves. Yellowing leaves means something is wrong with your plant because you do not fulfill its survival requirements. The main reasons behind the ZZ plant leaves turning yellow include inaccurate watering routine, lack of nutrients, pest and disease attacks, etc.
However, with proper knowledge, care, and prevention, you can get rid of such situations. If you are suffering the same scenario, then read this complete guide for all these issues, their symptoms, and solutions. Let’s get started!
What Causes ZZ Plant Leaves to Turn Yellow
The yellowing ZZ plant leaves are because of various reasons; let’s look at all of them:
- Over or poor exposure to direct sunlight
- Over or under-fertilization
- Root rot
- Underwatering
- Lack of nutrients
- Improper temperature conditions
- Humidity level
- Pests and diseases
| Why does the ZZ plant leave turning yellow? | Symptoms | How to fix it? |
| Over or poor exposure to light | Leaf scorch, dropping and yellowing leaves | Place the plant where there is no direct sunlight; the light must be low to moderate. |
| Root rot | Stunted growth and yellow-brown leaves | Remove the rotten roots and repot the plant. |
| Overfertilization | Burning and yellowing leaves | Flush the plant with a lot of water and remove the excess nutrients through drainage holes. |
| Lack of nutrients | Yellow leaves | Fertilize the plant with rich nutrients and water-soluble fertilizer. |
| Improper temperature conditions | Curling, drooping, and wilting of leaves after turning yellow | Immediately move the plant to the place where it can get the required temperature. |
| Pests and diseases | Wilting and yellow leaves | Use insecticidal soaps for pests and hydrogen peroxide solution for diseases. |
| Humidity level | Dryness and yellowing of leaves | Place the plant pot in a tray filled with water and pebbles to raise the humidity level. |
| underwatering | Stunted growth and yellow leaves | Pour the water slowly into the soil and let the water go out from the drainage holes. |
No, let’s go into the details of each one:
1. Over or Poor Exposure to Direct Sunlight
One of the main reasons for the yellow leaves of the ZZ plant is overexposure to direct sunlight. ZZ plant needs low to moderate sunlight to keep its growth healthy and happy. It can be grown amazingly in dark places due to its low light requirement. If they are placed in direct sunlight for longer, the leaves of the ZZ plant will start yellowing and burning.
Direct sunlight has many benefits for the ZZ plant, and if you do not provide enough sunlight that the plant needs, the plant will wilt and die. ZZ plant needs bright but indirect sunlight to grow, but if it is getting too much sunlight or too light sunlight, the plant leaves will become yellow or brown and slowly damage the whole plant.
2. Over or Under Fertilization
Over-fertilizing or not fertilizing also causes issues like the leaves of the ZZ plant turning yellow. Dilute water-soluble fertilizer is a must for the ZZ plant once a month during its growing seasons. If you fertilize the ZZ plant more than once a month, the excess salts will cause burns on the plant’s leaves. On the other hand, if you do not fertilize the ZZ plant for many months, it will also make the leaves turn yellow.
ZZ plants can survive in poor soil even if it does not have enough nutrients for the plants; they can bear it. Even if you do not fertilize the plant for a few months, it can survive, but if too many months have passed, the leaves will start wilting. You will see yellow foliage as a result of under or over-fertilization.
3. Root Rot
Root rot is another common problem for ZZ plant leaves to turn yellow. There are many reasons, including poor drainage systems and too much plant watering that causes root rot. Soil-borne fungi are also one of the most common reasons for rotten roots.
If the ZZ plant’s roots are rotten, they will not be able to absorb essential nutrients for the plant; then, the plant will not get the nutrients it needs for better growth. As a result, the leaves of the plant will start wilting and losing their chlorophyll. Rotten roots also lead the plant to death if you do not fix the problem timely.
4. Underwatering
Underwatering is also one of the common causes of yellow leaves of the ZZ plant. ZZ plant can tolerate many weather conditions but does not tolerate underwatering for longer. If you see the browning, yellowing, or falling of ZZ plant leaves, it might be due to the underwatering.
Underwatering is a problem that mostly occurs when summer temperatures are hot. In summer, the soil becomes drier quickly than usual, especially when the temperature is too hot. So, you must frequently water in summer to ensure the plant gets the proper watering. If the plant faces underwatering conditions, you will see yellow leaves first.
5. Improper Weather Conditions
Improper temperature is also a cause of yellow leaves. If the temperature drops and the plants are still placed in a position where the temperature is not suitable, it will cause the yellowing of leaves and lead the plant to death. But if the temperature is too cold for the plant, it will suffer damage due to frost.
If the temperature is too hot for the plant, the hot air and too-hot rays of sunlight will burn the plant and its leaves. The leaves will start losing their color and turn yellow or brown. On hot days, the soil will also dry quickly, which will also cause damage to the plant if you do not water it accordingly.
6. Lack of Nutrients
ZZ plant does not require much feeding, but if you do not provide it the nutrients it needs for happy growth, you and your plant will suffer loss. Due to the lack of nutrients, the plant leaves will turn yellow or brown. Most of the time, ZZ plants need to be fertilized twice a year, once in summer and once in spring.
If your ZZ plant has been growing in the same container or pot for many years, it may be suffering from the lack of nutrients because it has absorbed all of them from the soil. You must fertilize the ZZ plant to provide the nutrients and essentials it needs for growth. After a few months of under-fertilization, the plant leaves will start wilting and yellowing because the soil will become nutrient-less.
7. Pests and Diseases
The plant leaves may turn yellow because of pests’ infections and diseases. Many types of insects can harm the ZZ plant and like to stay in the soil. One of the most common pests in the ZZ plant soil is spider mites; they absorb all the nutrients and water from the soil. Pests in the soil make the soil agitated, which results in the yellowing of leaves.
Many diseases can harm the ZZ plant, like fungal disease. It is one of the common diseases that is mostly found in plants. Root rot is also a disease that occurs due to overwatering, which leads the plant leaves to become yellow and die after a few days. You will see black, mushy, or brown leaves as symptoms of diseases.
8. Humidity Level
ZZ plants love a humidity level of 40 to 50, so if it is less or higher than this level, it will cause problems for the ZZ plant. If the humidity level is low, the plant will often face dryness; as a result, the soil remains dry too often, and the plant leaves turn yellow.
If the humidity level is too high for the plant, remember that the plant will immediately die within a few days. Over humidity or low humidity, both cause problems for the ZZ plant, like yellowing its leaves. Overly humid conditions are not appropriate for the plant, which causes soil dryness.
How to Prevent ZZ Plant Leaves From Turning Yellow
Here are the solutions to prevent the above-mentioned issues:
1. Water the Plant Accordingly
ZZ plant does not have many caring requirements, but it needs watering once every two weeks in summer. In winter, you have to water the plant after every three weeks. The plant does not need a lot of water to survive or thrive and does not survive if the drought period is too long.
If you see the yellow leaves of your ZZ plant, it will be good to consider its watering routines. If the plant is suffering from overwatering, then quit watering it immediately. Overwatering will cause various issues; let the soil become dry and wait until you see the soil dry from above 2 inches. If the plant is suffering underwater, ensure to water it immediately and make the soil moist and well-drained.
2. Place in A Proper Light
If you have placed your ZZ plant near the window where it gets direct sunlight, move it to the darker place now. However, if there is no darker place in your house, place it near the window with a sheer curtain or blinds. If you have planted the ZZ plant outdoors, moving it to a shady place like under the tree or patio would be better.
Too much sunlight is not beneficial for the ZZ plant; direct sunlight will make the plant leaves yellow. So, place your ZZ plant where it cannot get any sunlight; it needs low to moderate light for better and more efficient growth. If you place the plant in a darker place, then the immediate solution will be to use an LED grow light bulb to provide the lighting.
3. Flush the Excess Salts of Fertilizer
If you are facing a salt burn in your ZZ plant, you have to flush the excess salts from the plant immediately with a lot of water. All the excess salts will be removed or flushed out of the plant through drainage holes with water. So, ensure to use dilute fertilizer that is water soluble, which will help flush the extra salts from the plant to prevent the plant from burning.
If there is a lot of salt in the soil, repot the plant immediately into the new pot with rich and new potting soil. If the plant faces nutrient deficiency, fertilize it once a month with a dilute and water-soluble fertilizer. It will provide all the nutrients to the plants that they need. Slightly rich and acidic soil is best for the ZZ plant, so feed the plant with balanced liquid like 10-10-10 or 20-20-20.
4. Use Insecticidal Sprays for Prevention
If there are pests and diseases in the plant and soil, use insecticidal soaps, neem oil, and horticulture oils to treat the sap-suckings. If the plant faces fungal diseases, use a hydrogen peroxide solution of around 20% to the root area to avoid the diseases and prevent the plant.
It will be good to check your plant roots to see if there is any disease. If the roots are black, brown, or mushy, they are rotten, and you must repot the plant immediately. If the plant does not drain, stop watering it and ensure that the pot in which it is growing must have a lot of drainage holes.
Tips to Prevent ZZ Plant Leaves From Turning Yellow
Here are some instructions and tips that you must follow to ensure the better growth of your ZZ plant and to protect it from yellowing leaves and dying:
1. The ZZ plant needs a darker but moderate sunlight area to thrive; place it where it gets filtered sunlight.
2. Repot the plant after every 1-2 years to provide more fresh nutrients and new potting soil to the plant.
3. Regularly clean the plant leaves with alcohol-dipped cotton to prevent diseases.
4. Check the soil every week to keep updated about the rotten root disease. If the problem stays longer and you do not notice it, it will make your plant die.
5. In winter, slow down the watering process, and in summer, water the plant more often whenever you see its soil dry.
6. Do not water the ZZ plant in the early morning because the plant does not like direct sunlight, so the soil will not dry before nightfall.
Conclusion
If your ZZ plant is turning yellow then you must know that various reasons lead to this situation of the plant. The main reasons include inaccurate watering and sunlight, lack of nutrients, and pest and disease attacks. If you have the proper knowledge to troubleshoot the problem and the possible cause behind it, you will surely fix the issue and revive the glory of the plant. You must follow the solutions you have read in the article to protect your plant from diseases and other problems. Stay connected with us for more valuable information.
FAQs
1. How Can You Make ZZ Plant Greener?
Fertilize your ZZ plant every 3-6 months; the plant will get the nutrients and organic materials that it needs for growth. Remember to choose nitrogen-based fertilizers for the plant to keep it green. Nitrogen boosts the chlorophyll of the leaves, and the leaves become greener and greener day by day.
2. Can You Stop the Plant from Becoming Yellow?
Yes, it is possible if the plant is in the early stages of turning yellow. You can resolve the issue by following the solutions mentioned in the article about providing the proper sunlight, watering, and preventing diseases. Check the problem with the plant and then resolve the issue according to the requirement.
3. How Often Should I Water My ZZ Plant?
You need to water after every two weeks during the summer season and after 3 weeks during the winter season. However, this watering routine may vary according to the climate of the area.