The full form of ZZ is Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, which can also be termed the Zanzibar Gem. This tropical plant is mostly found in Africa. Sometimes it is also called a ZuZu plant. It is relatively hard having a hard root system as well and can be touched with proper care. Some people also referred to it as an eternity plant or an emerald palm.
This article discusses how to propagate the ZZ plants and answers the question of how long does it take to propagate a ZZ plant. That is why people love this plant and it is kept in rooms and offices. It can be grown in indirect sunlight and can survive even with inadequate amounts of water. People often used the propagation method to regrow this plant.
Table of Contents
Definition of ZZ Plant
The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, Zanzibar Gem or a ZuZu plant is often kept in houses, offices and other areas which add much to decoration. It is relatively hard having a hard root system as well and can be touched with proper care. Unlike other delicate plants, it can be easily propagated.
Some people also referred to it as an eternity plant or an emerald palm. On account of its hardness, it is considered low-maintenance. Not much water and sunlight is required for its growth. Exposing it to indirect sunlight and a moderate amount of water is enough for it. The effective season for its growth is neither spring nor fall; it is the middle between the two.
Propagation of Plants
Generally, plants can be propagated in numerous ways. It is often a difficult process for fragile plants and plants may lose their own lives. Propagation is a replication of desired traits and getting rid of unwanted traits. It is a kind of cloning through which you can grow more of the same species and rejuvenate an older plant. It gives more plants without buying new owns. Propagation may occur in different ways, like cutting and division.
Propagation of ZZ Plant
Propagation of the ZZ plant is relatively easy because of its hard nature. It has a hard root system, hard stem and hard leaves. So it allows you to propagate it. Now the question is How to propagate the ZZ plant? It can be propagated in water and in soil as well which is done through two major ways; cutting and division. The former is done through either stem cutting or leaf cutting. The latter is facilitated by the division of two years old strongly developed roots.
Advantages of ZZ Plant Propagation
Among the different advantages of ZZ Plant Propagation the major ones are: -
- It can give you more new plants with the same.
- You can rejuvenate an older ZZ plants.
- You can grant it a new and healthier growth through its propagation.
- It also saves the money of buying new ones.
Methods of ZZ Plant Propagation
You can propagate a ZZ plant in either soil or in water. The ways followed in its propagation are cutting and division. Stem and leaves are cut down and regrown in either soil or in water. The propagation through division can only be facilitated by roots. Healthier roots are picked up that must be two years older and regrown in either soil or in water.
Water Propagation
Water propagation is an effective way of propagating the ZZ plant. You just need clean water in a clean and sterilized transparent beaker. Cut healthier glossy leaves or stems from the stem very carefully and try to leave as little bit of stem as possible with the leaves.
For leaves, don’t cut the main stalk. Collect leaves or stems and stand upright in a beaker of water. You should replace the water in every week to facilitate smooth and healthier growth. You will notice the leaves or stems growing new roots after a few weeks suspended in water.
Advantages of Water Propagation
The advantages of water propagation are: -
- You can easily observe the new growing roots in water.
- It takes less time than the soil propagation method.
Disadvantage of Water Propagation
The one and only major of water propagation is that the newly grown roots are relatively weaker than those grown in soil. It is just because of the unavailability of nutrients and less time taken in growth.
Soil Propagation
Follow the same steps for cutting and picking up leaves or stems as taken in water propagation. The only difference is that you need clean and fertile soil in a water-draining beaker and stand upright for the leaves or stems in the soil. Water the soil for just a week or after two weeks. The new roots will start out growing much healthier and rejuvenated.
Advantages of Soil Propagation
The clean and fertile soil used in this propagation gives useful and required nutrients to the newly growing roots. So the plant arises with relatively extra strength than that grown in water.
Disadvantages of Soil Propagation
The disadvantages of soil propagation are: -
- You cannot easily observe the new growing roots in the soil.
- It takes more time than the water propagation method.
Safety Measures
You have to follow some preservative measures to cut leaves and stems or divide roots and repot them. Without taking these measures into consideration you may face a high risk of fungus and bacterial growth. So always use sterilized equipment while wearing hand gloves. Taking water and soil should also take extra vigilance.
Material Needed to Exercise Safety
- A sharp sterilized knife or garden shears
- Potting mix
- Hand gloves
- Clean Pots or containers
- Clean Water
- Mixed Soil
- ZZ plant leaves
What to do before planning to propagate ZZ plant
Before starting the process of propagation you are directed to have a close glimpse of your targeted ZZ plant which is to be propagated. Firstly, examine the plant carefully, if it is showing any symptoms of damage or disease like yellow leaves, leave the process. Secondly, select a dense stem and dark green leaves. Leave a 4-inch piece of stem that you can put in soil or water.
A). Propagation through Cutting
The best propagating way of the ZZ plant is cutting. It is an easy, clean and affordable way. You can cut stems or leaves and put them in either water or soil. So you can propagate a ZZ plant only through leaf and stem cutting. Here is a detailed guide for you, just follow the guidelines and start propagating a ZZ plant.
1. Leaf Cutting
Follow the following steps to propagate a ZZ plant through leaf cutting.
- Step 1: First of all collect all the required materials like a sterilized shear cutter or a scissor, hand gloves, Potting mix, clean pots or containers clean water and mixed Soil.
- Step 2: Look for dark green leaves which must be healthier and strongly developed.
- Step 3: Cut the leaves in the right spot, leaving as much of the stem associated with the leaves as possible. Don’t cut the main stalk.
- Step 4: Now that you have the collection of leaves, put it in water or soil upright.
- Step 5: Keep the container warm and in indirect sunlight.
Leaf Cutting Propagation in Water: -
Follow the following steps to propagate a ZZ plant through leaf cutting in water.
- Step 1: First of all collect all the required materials like a sterilized shear cutter or a scissor, hand gloves, Potting mix, clean pots or containers and clean water.
- Step 2: Look for dark green leaves which must be healthier and strongly developed.
- Step 3: Cut the leaves in the right spot, leaving as much of the stem associated with the leaves as possible. Don’t cut the main stalk.
- Step 4: Now that you have the collection of leaves, put it into a transparent water beaker upright.
- Step 5: Change the water every week and enjoy the process of new rooting.
- Step 6: Keep the container warm and in indirect sunlight.
- Step 7: You can replace the water beaker with a big pot after some time.
Leaf Cutting Propagation in Soil
Follow the following steps to propagate a ZZ plant through leaf cutting in soil.
- Step 1: First of all collect all the required materials like a sterilized shear cutter or a scissor, hand gloves, Potting mix, clean pots or containers and mixed Soil.
- Step 2: Look for dark green leaves which must be healthier and strongly developed.
- Step 3: Cut the leaves in the right spot, leaving as much of the stem associated with the leaves as possible. Don’t cut the main stalk.
- Step 4: Now that you have collected the leaves, put them into a pot of mixed soil upright.
- Step 5: Water the pot of mixed soil and enjoy the process of new rooting.
- Step 6: Keep the container warm and in indirect sunlight.
- Step 7: You can replace the small pot with a big one after a few weeks.
2. Stem Cutting
Follow the following steps to propagate a ZZ plant through stem cutting.
- Step 1: First of all collect all the required materials like a sterilized shear cutter or a scissor, hand gloves, Potting mix, and clean pots or containers. Clean water and mixed Soil.
- Step 2: Look for a stem that must be healthier and strongly developed.
- Step 3: Cut a stalk from your ZZ plant toward the base of the stem in the right spot.
- Step 4: Take the collected stems and stand them upright in a water beaker or in a soil pot.
- Step 5: Keep the container warm and in indirect sunlight.
Stem Cutting Propagation in Water
Follow the following steps to propagate a ZZ plant through stem cutting in water.
- Step 1: First of all collect all the required materials like a sterilized shear cutter or a scissor, hand gloves, Potting mix, and clean pots or containers. Clean water and mixed Soil.
- Step 2: Look for a dark green stem which must be healthier and strongly develop.
- Step 3: Cut a stalk from your ZZ plant toward the base of the stem in the right spot.
- Step 4: Take the collected stems and stand them upright in a water beaker.
- Step 5: Change the water every week and enjoy the process of new rooting.
- Step 6: Keep the container warm and in indirect sunlight.
- Step 7: You can replace the water beaker with a big pot after some time.
Stem Cutting Propagation in Soil
Follow the following steps to propagate a ZZ plant through stem cutting in soil.
- Step 1: First of all collect all the required materials like a sterilized shear cutter or a scissor, hand gloves, Potting mix, and clean pots or containers. Clean water and mixed Soil.
- Step 2: Look for dark green leaves which must be healthier and strongly developed.
- Step 3: Cut a stalk from your ZZ plant toward the base of the stem in the right spot.
- Step 4: Take the collected stems and stand it upright in a soil pot.
- Step 5: Water the pot of mixed soil and enjoy the process of new rooting.
- Step 6: Keep the container warm and in indirect sunlight.
- Step 7: You can replace the small pot with a big one after a few weeks.
B).Propagation through Division
Propagation through division is also an effective and useful method. It does not need any extra effort and can be easily done in an attempt. Plants should be mature enough; 2 years old that it can grow a new one healthier and strong. It is the most reliable and fastest method of propagation.
Following are the steps to be noted for division propagation: -
Propagation through Division in Soil and in Water
The separated roots with bulbs can be propagated in water as well as in soil. The process is the same for both water and soil. In the former, after the initial phase, the roots are placed in water while in the latter the roots are put in clean mixed fertile soil.
Advantages of Propagation through Division
- It is the most reliable and fastest method of propagation.
- It does not need any extra effort.
- It can be easily done in an attempt.
Preservative Measure after Propagation
Here are some preservative measures to be taken in order to complete the propagation method properly. If not taken it may damage and decay the whole plant.
a). Water
After placing the stems, leaves or roots in the soil, do not water it repeatedly. Giving excessive water may rot the root and yellow the leaves. Find the right balance of watering because overwatering can lead to root rot, while under-watering can because the ZZ plant to wilt.
b). Temperature
The optimum temperature for the ZZ plant is above 60 degrees C. If the temperature falls, use a plastic cover for the green hour effect. Avoid placing it in cold areas.
c).Soil
Use a well-drained pot of soil and use only clean, mixed and fertile soil. If the case is not so, your plant may decay. Avoid using too much soil and dirty soil.
Conclusion
To sum up the article, Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, in short ZZ is a native plant in Africa and is also found in America. It is relatively hard having a hard root system as well and can be touched with proper care. Some people also referred to it as an eternity plant or an emerald palm. How to Propagate a ZZ Plant?
It is propagated through cutting and division, its stem and leaves are cut down carefully and placed in water or soil which grows new roots and finally becomes a new plant. While in its propagation through division, its roots are carefully separated with bulbs and are placed in water or soil for new plant growth.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you grow a ZZ plant from a cutting?
Yes, you can easily grow a ZZ plant by cutting carefully the stem and leaves. Cut the leaves in the right spot, leaving as much of the stem associated with the leaves as possible. Don’t cut the main stalk. For stem cutting, cut a stalk from your ZZ plant toward the base of the stem in the right spot.
Can you split a ZZ plant?
Yes, you can split a ZZ plant through different processes. It is a relatively hard-bearing hard root system, glossy leaves and a firm stem and can be touched with proper care. If your plant is healthier, well developed, 2 years old, free of disease and not yellow you can easily spilt it with sterilized equipment wearing hand gloves on.
What to do with a broken ZZ plant?
If your plant breaks itself due to some reason or you broke it while cutting or dividing it, don’t worry. Take sterilized equipment carefully cut the stem and roots if these are not damaged and place in water or soil. If the roots and stems are broken you have still a chance to propagate it by separating the roots with bulbs and putting them in water or soil.
Which is the best Propagation Method?
After going through the whole article one may raise a question which is the best propagation method among them? To answer, the best one among them is the division method. Propagation through division is an effective and useful method. It does not need any extra effort and can be easily done in an attempt.
Plants should be mature enough; 2 years old that they can grow a new one healthier and strong. It is the most reliable and fastest method of propagation.
How long does it take to propagate a ZZ plant?
The time varies somewhere between 6 to 9 months to give a decent amount of appearing roots. However, if you do propagate with short cutting in a light mix, could give you quick and good results.
