Zamioculcas zamiifolia, commonly known as Zanzibar gem and ZZ Plant, is a tropical plant native to Eastern Africa.
It is an evergreen perennial that can grow up to 1.5 m (5 ft) tall with long, leathery, glossy leaves.
The ZZ plant is a popular houseplant due to its easy care requirements and tolerance to low light levels.
One of the most common problems with ZZ plants is yellowing leaves.
Several factors can cause ZZ plant yellow leaves, but several solutions exist.
Why are ZZ Plant Leaves Turning Yellow and How To Fix It?
ZZ plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) are known for being tough, drought-resistant, and low-maintenance.
However, even the most resilient plants can experience problems from time to time – like yellowing leaves.
While it’s not usually a cause for alarm, it can be frustrating to see your beautiful plant start to lose its color.
By understanding why ZZ plant leaves turn yellow, you can take the necessary steps to get your plant back to its vibrant self in no time!
Here are 10 possible causes of yellow leaves on ZZ plants, along with solutions to fix the problem:
1. Too Much Water
ZZ plant leaves can turn yellow for various reasons, but the most common cause is too much water.
ZZ plants are native to arid regions of Africa, and as such, they are adapted to survive in dry conditions.
When ZZ plants are watered too often, the roots become waterlogged and begin to rot. This can cause the leaves to turn yellow and eventually drop off.
How To Fix It
If you think your ZZ plant is getting too much water, the best solution is to stop watering it for a while and let the soil dry out.
It is better to underwater a ZZ plant than to overwater it.
Once the soil has dried out, you can resume watering as usual.
ZZ plants need to be watered about once a week or when the top inch of the soil is dry.
2. Not Enough Water
ZZ plants are native to arid regions of Africa, so they’re used to going long periods without water.
When grown as houseplants, they need much less water than other common houseplants.
However, they still need some water to stay healthy. If you don’t water your ZZ plant regularly, the leaves will start to turn yellow and eventually drop off.
How To Fix It
If your ZZ plant is not getting enough water, the best solution is to water it more regularly.
ZZ plants need to be watered about once a week or when the top inch of soil is dry.
Water the plant until the water starts to drain out of the bottom of the pot.
3. Not Enough Light
ZZ plants are known for their vibrant, green leaves.
However, if the plant does not receive enough light, the leaves will begin to turn yellow.
This is because the plant cannot produce chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis.
While ZZ plants can tolerate low-light conditions, they will not thrive in complete darkness.
ZZ plants need bright, indirect light to thrive.
How To Fix It
If your ZZ plant is not getting enough light, moving it to a brighter location is best.
ZZ plants need bright indirect light to thrive.
When growing ZZ plants indoors, place them near a window where they will receive plenty of indirect sunlight.
A west- or east-facing window is ideal.
4. Too Much Sunlight
ZZ plant leaves turn yellow when they get too much sunlight.
ZZ plants are native to Africa, where they grow in shady areas.
As a result, they are not used to direct sunlight and can quickly become sunburned.
The leaves will turn yellow due to sun damage, and eventually, the Zz plant leaves will start to fall off.
How To Fix It
If your ZZ plant is getting too much sunlight, moving it to a shadier location is best.
When growing ZZ plants indoors, place them near a window where they will receive plenty of indirect sunlight.
A west- or east-facing window is ideal, as it will provide the plant with plenty of light without exposing it to direct sunlight.
5. Nutrient Deficiency
ZZ plant leaves turning yellow can be a sign of nutrient deficiency.
ZZ plants are known to tolerate low light and water conditions, but they still need nutrients to stay healthy.
Without the proper nutrients, ZZ plants will lose their vibrant green color, and their leaves will turn yellow.
This problem can result from several things, including poor soil quality, insufficient fertilizer, or not enough nutrients in the water you’re using to water your plant.
How To Fix It
If your ZZ plant is deficient in nutrients, the best solution is to fertilize it regularly. Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
You can add a slow-release fertilizer to the potting mix when repotting your plant.
When watering your ZZ plant, use only filtered or distilled water to avoid adding too much chlorine or other minerals to the soil.
6. Pest Infestation
Yellowing leaves on your ZZ plant can also be a sign of pest infestation.
Aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and other pests are attracted to the plant’s sap, which can cause the leaves to turn yellow.
ZZ plant yellow leaves result from the damage the pests cause as they feed on the plant.
How To Fix It
If your ZZ plant is infested with pests, treating it with insecticidal soap or neem oil is best.
You can also try wiping the leaves down with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Be sure to check the plant regularly for pests and treat it as soon as you see any.
If the infestation is severe, you may need to throw away the plant and start with a new one.
7. Disease
Yellowing leaves on your ZZ plant can also be a sign of disease.
One of the most common diseases that affect ZZ plants is root rot.
Root rot is caused by too much moisture in the soil, which can result from overwatering or poorly draining potting soil.
The plant’s roots will start to rot and won’t be able to absorb the nutrients the plant needs.
As a result, the leaves will turn yellow and eventually drop off.
How To Fix It
If your ZZ plant suffers from root rot, the best solution is to repot it in a fresh, well-draining potting mix.
First, remove the plant from its pot and check the roots. They will need to be trimmed away if they are soft or mushy.
Once you have removed the affected roots, repot the plant in a new pot with fresh soil.
Be sure to water it only when the potting soil mix is dry to avoid overwatering.
8. Temperature Stress
Temperature stress can also cause ZZ plant leaves to turn yellow.
ZZ plants are tropical plants and prefer warm, humid conditions.
If the plant is exposed to cold temperatures, it will experience stress.
The leaves will turn yellow due to the stress and eventually die.
ZZ plants must be kept in temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid stress.
Also, temperature fluctuations can cause stress, so keeping the plant in a stable environment is essential.
How To Fix It
If your ZZ plant is experiencing temperature stress, moving it to a warmer location is best.
A south- or west-facing window is ideal, as it will provide the plant with enough light and warmth.
You can also use a grow light to provide the plant with the additional light it needs.
Provide the plant with a consistent environment by avoiding drafts and fluctuating temperatures.
9. Transplant Shock
Transplant shock can also cause ZZ plant leaves to turn yellow.
When a plant is transplanted, it goes through a lot of stress. The roots are disturbed, and the plant must adjust to a new pot and potting mix.
It’s not uncommon for the leaves of a plant to turn yellow after transplanting.
The good news is that transplant shock is usually temporary, and the leaves will eventually return to their normal color.
How To Fix It
If your ZZ plant is experiencing transplant shock, giving it time to recover is the best solution.
Keep the plant in a warm, sunny location and water it only when the potting mix is dry.
Avoid fertilizing the plant during this time, as it will be unable to absorb the nutrients.
You can resume your regular care routine once the leaves start to green up again.
10. Natural Yellowing
Finally, it’s important to remember that some ZZ plants will naturally have yellow leaves.
This is especially true of older plants, as the leaves will yellow and die off as the plant matures.
If your ZZ plant is otherwise healthy, there is no need to worry about this natural process.
How To Fix It
If your ZZ plant is naturally yellowing, the best solution is to accept it.
You can remove the yellow leaves as they die off, but there is no need to try to fix the problem.
The plant will continue to produce new leaves that will be green and healthy.
Why Are My ZZ Plant Leaves Turning Yellow After Repotting?
It’s normal for your ZZ plant’s leaves to turn yellow after repotting.
This is because the plant is experiencing stress from the change in environment.
The best way to fix this is to give your plant some time to adjust simply.
Make sure to keep it well-watered and in a bright location; eventually, the leaves will return to their normal color.
Why Are My ZZ Plant Leaves Turning Yellow and Brown?
If your ZZ plant’s leaves turn yellow and brown, it is likely due to overwatering or direct sunlight.
Overwatering can cause the leaves to turn yellow and brown from lack of oxygen, while direct sunlight can cause the leaves to turn brown from sunburn.
If your plant is overwatered, you will need to allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.
If your plant is in direct light, you will need to move it to a location with indirect light.
There are a few other reasons why your ZZ plant leaves might turn brown and yellow.
If the leaves turn yellow and brown from the tips, it is likely due to too much fertilizer.
If the leaves turn yellow and brown from the bottom up, it is likely due to a lack of nutrients.
If the leaves turn yellow and brown all over, it is likely due to a pest infestation.
When it comes to fixing your ZZ plant’s leaves, the best solution is to figure out what is causing the problem and then take the appropriate action.
Should I Remove Yellow Leaves From ZZ Plant?
ZZ plant yellow leaves should be removed to keep the plant healthy.
The plant uses these leaves to store water and nutrients, so it is not getting the resources it needs when they turn yellow.
Additionally, yellow leaves can be a sign of disease or pest infestation, so it is important to remove them to prevent the problem from spreading.
However, if the plant is otherwise healthy and the yellow leaves are not causing any problems, they can be left on the plant.
Will Yellow ZZ Leaves Turn Green Again?
Yellow leaves on a ZZ plant will not turn green again.
Once the leaves have turned yellow, they can no longer photosynthesize and produce chlorophyll.
However, if the problem that caused the leaves to turn yellow is fixed, new green leaves will grow.
Final Thoughts
There are a variety of reasons why Zamioculcas zamiifolia leaves turn yellow.
But don’t despair; there are also several solutions!
If you think your plant is suffering from too much or too little water, try adjusting your watering schedule.
If you think your plant isn’t getting enough light, try moving it to a brighter spot.
And if you think your plant might have a nutrient deficiency, try fertilizing it.
With a bit of trial and error, you should be able to figure out what’s causing the problem and get your ZZ plant back to its beautiful, green self in no time.
