ZZ plant with yellow leaves: causes & remedies

Yellow leaves on your ZZ plant often indicate improper care. Here, you can learn what to do about yellow leaves on your Zamioculcas.

When your ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is not doing well, you can often tell immediately by its yellow discoloured leaves. Learn how to deal with discoloured leaves and find the because below.

A Zamioculcas with yellow leaves urgently requires rapid first aid measures, because the plant is damaged and at risk of dying. The because is usually always a care error.

Causes of yellow leaves on ZZ plants

If the leaves of a ZZ plant turn yellow, then attention is required. After turning yellow, the leaves will wither and fall off. The reason for this in the vast majority of cases is too much water. The Zamioculcas is prone to waterlogging and root rot. In more severe cases the stems even begin to bend just above the surface of the soil.

ZZ plant with yellow leaves: countermeasures

Although repotting is generally done in the spring, the ZZ plant must immediately be removed from soil that is too damp. Remove your Zamioculcas from the pot and inspect the roots for damage. Anything that is squishy brown and rotten should be removed. You can now repot the rest of the plant in fresh soil. Be sure to use dry soil and mix it with about one-third sand. Thus, the substrate becomes more permeable and water can drain better. Your ZZ plant should now not be watered for at least a week, so that the roots can recover. Water sparingly even after that. For faster recovery, you can also move the plant to a brighter location.

Remedies for root rot on Zamioculcas:

• Remove plant from pot
• Investigae root ball for brown or soggy roots
• Remove affected parts of the root
• Mix dry soil with one third sand
• Repot plant in fresh substrate
• Do not water for some time
• Place the plant in a brighter place
• Watering more sparingly in the future than before

To ensure that your plant does not lose its leaves, here is everything you need to know about proper ZZ plant care.