Complete guide to zamioculcas zamiifolia plant care

If there's a plant that can cope with neglect, it's the zamioculcas zamiifolia (or the zz plant, if you're after less of a tongue-twister). Cassie, our zz plant, is made of hardy stuff. There's not much to remember if you want to keep your zz plant happy and healthy, but these are some of our tops tips:

• Water very infrequently and let the soil dry out completely
• A zz plant will cope with very little light, so put it wherever you please
• For an extra growth spurt, feed your zz plant with liquid fertiliser in spring and summer

The ZZ plant, or zamioculcas, is native to Central Africa, but has spread across much of the eastern side of the continent too. It’s used to extremes of weather, surviving long periods of drought and then intense downpours. The ways it’s adapted to those conditions are the reason it’s such an excellent, easygoing houseplant. In various parts of Tanzania, the juice of the ZZ plant is used to treat earache, inflammation and ulceration. It’s a regular little green nurse.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia plants do just fine most light conditions. They'll most enjoy bright, indirect light but will happily tolerate shady spots and low light rooms. As with all plants, they won't survive in total darkness and will need some natural light. Avoid direct sunlight, as this will scorch the leaves.

Water your zamioculcas zamiifolia plant when the soil has dried out completely. Allow the water to completely drain before refilling the pot. She won't need regular watering, particularly in winter.

Use a well-draining, cactus-friendly potting soil. This mimics the soil and environment found in their natural habitat.

Feed your zamioculcas zamiifolia plant once a month in spring and summer with a liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia plants prefer temperatures between 18-27°C. In the winter, keep your plant away from cold draughts or open windows.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia plants don’t require high levels of humidity, so you won't need to worry about misting.

Prune your zamioculcas zamiifolia plant as needed to maintain its shape and remove any dead leaves or stems when you spot them. This will help encourage new growth.

You can repot your zamioculcas zamiifolia plant every two years, or when the roots become pot-bound. If you notice that the roots are starting to push out of the top and bottom of the nursery pot, or are tightly spiralled inside the pot, it's probably time to repot.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia plants can be propagated by division or by stem cuttings. You can find out more about propagation here.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia plants can be susceptible to mealybugs, spider mites, and root rot. Clean your plant regularly and check for pests - if you spot them, treat them with an insecticide. For root rot, try to let the soil dry out completely before watering again.