How to Water ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Reviewed by Kiersten Rankel M.S.
Quick Answer
Water your ZZ when the soil is bone-dry through the pot, typically every 14–21 days in spring and summer. Stretch to once a month or longer from late November through February.
ZZ plants store water in fat potato-like roots underground and tolerate long dry spells. The biggest mistake is watering on the calendar.
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How Often and How Much to Water
Adjust the sliders below for your pot size, light, and setting. The numbers assume a free-draining cactus or succulent mix and a pot with drainage.
Setting
Every
9days
Use
1cup
Your Watering Rhythm Across the Year
Soil dries faster in the growing season, which varies by region. Slow down watering in the off-season to avoid overwatering.
Pacific
Mountain
Midwest
Northeast
Southeast
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Growing season
Growing season
9days
Resting season
3–4weeks
How to Water Your ZZ Plant
Soak deeply, drain fully, then forget about it for weeks. ZZ plants want their underground water-storage organs to fully recharge, then a long dry stretch.
1
Pour room-temperature water at the soil line around the base of the stalks.
2
Soak slowly until water runs out the drainage holes. That tells you the rootball is fully wet.
3
Empty the saucer after 10 minutes so the underground roots aren't sitting in standing water.
Should You Water Your ZZ Plant Today?
Always check the soil before you pour. ZZ plants survive months of drought but rot within days if their underground roots stay wet, so the goal is bone-dry soil before each watering.
Hold off
Soil feels any moisture 2 inches down
Stalks look firm and held upright
Leaves glossy and plump
Pot feels heavy when you lift it
Soil sits tight against the pot wall
Ready for water
Soil bone-dry 3 inches down
Stalks bending or splaying outward
Leaves looking dull or slightly wrinkled
Visible gap between soil and pot wall
Pot feels almost empty
If Something Looks Off
Underwater and overwater both make a ZZ plant sulk, but the symptoms are very different. Soggy soil is the main risk and the more common failure mode.
Underwatered
Soil
Bone-dry through the pot for several weeks and pulled away from the sides
Leaves
Leaflets yellow from the tip down and drop from the lowest stalks first
Pace
Very slow decline that recovers within a few days of a soak
Next steps
Set the pot in a basin of room-temperature water for 30 minutes if the soil has gone hydrophobic
Otherwise soak slowly from the top until water runs out the bottom
Expect new growth to resume within 2 to 4 weeks
Existing yellowed leaflets won't reverse and will eventually drop. New stalks come from the underground roots once watering stabilizes
Overwatered
Soil
Stays dark and damp for over 2 weeks. You may also see fungus gnats hovering above the soil
Stem
Stalks soft and yellow at the soil line and easy to pull out
Leaves
Whole stalks turn yellow at once and droop over without warning
Pace
Sudden collapse that worsens even after you stop watering
Next steps
Stop watering immediately and move to a bright airy spot
Pop out of the pot and check the underground roots; trim any soft mushy ones back to firm white tissue, keeping any healthy plump ones intact
Repot in fresh dry cactus or succulent mix in a clean pot with drainage
Wait at least 3 weeks before the first watering and only after the soil is bone-dry through the pot
Remove any stalks that have rotted at the base
Got More Questions?
My ZZ plant hasn't grown in months. Should I water more?
Almost always no. ZZ plants are slow growers, especially in low light, and a stretch of no visible growth is normal. Watering more is the most common cause of root rot in ZZ plants.
Check what is actually limiting growth. If light is low, that is the bottleneck and more water won't help. Move closer to a window, hold the watering steady, and expect new spears every 2 to 4 months in spring and summer.
Why are stems splitting on my ZZ plant?
Splitting stalks usually mean the plant has taken in too much water and the underground storage roots have swollen past the stem's capacity. The stems may also yellow and rot at the soil line.
Stop watering and let the soil go bone-dry through the pot. If the splitting is severe, depot and check for rot, trimming any mushy roots and repotting in fresh dry mix.
Should I water less if my ZZ plant is in low light?
Yes, much less. A ZZ in low light may go 4 to 6 weeks between waterings even in summer because the plant simply cannot use the water it has.
Check the soil with your finger 3 inches down before each watering. If you feel any moisture at all, hold off another week. Low light plus normal watering equals root rot, every time.
Is tap water OK for ZZ plants?
Yes. ZZ plants are not sensitive to chlorine or fluoride at typical municipal levels. Cold water is fine but room-temperature is gentler in winter.
How long can my ZZ plant go without water if I'm on vacation?
ZZ plants are the champion vacation plant. An established ZZ in any size pot handles 6 to 8 weeks easily, especially if you give it a deep soak before you leave.
For trips longer than 2 months, ask someone to check at the halfway point but it almost certainly does not need water.
Are self-watering pots a good idea for ZZ plants?
No. Self-watering pots keep the soil in the moisture range that ZZ plants hate the most. Constant low-level wetness rots the underground roots within months.
A standard pot with drainage and a saucer is the right setup. The plant wants long dry stretches, not steady moisture.
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About This Article
Kiersten Rankel M.S.
Botanical Data Lead at Greg · Plant Scientist
Editorial Process
Watering guidance verified against Zamioculcas zamiifolia growth data from Greg's botanical database, cross-referenced with USDA hardiness zone data and published horticultural research.
48,315+ Greg users growing this plant
USDA hardiness zones 9b–13b