7 Signs It’s Time to Repot Your ZZ Plant

ZZ plants have few demands for success, and infrequent repotting is one of them. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores when it’s time to tend to these durable houseplants, expanding their living quarters for best health.

A man in a gray T-shirt repots a ZZ plant from a small brown pot into a large white pot on the table.

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ZZ plants have attractive structural foliage with a tough-as-nails nature, making them popular houseplants that thrive with a little neglect. They need less frequent watering and fertilizer than many others and tolerate low light. Their architectural form holds sturdy, upright, slightly arching stems with glossy leaves in dark olive, black, or variegated.

ZZ, or Zuzu plants, are exceptionally low maintenance while potentially improving air quality by filtering volatile compounds. Relatively slow-growing, outgrowing their vessel will take time, and ZZ likes to be snug in a container to produce new shoots.

But it’s time to repot even those with a rootbound preference when they exhibit certain signs. Since ZZ seldom shows signs of stress, it helps to know what to look for. The houseplants may need root pruning, a larger pot, or refreshed potting mix.

About ZZ Plants

Glossy, dark green, waxy leaflets grow along smooth, upright stems, creating a lush, dense appearance in a decorative gold pot against a white wall bathed in sunlight.
Zuzu thrives in bright, indirect light and occasional drought.

The common name ZZ plant is short for Zamioculcas zamiifolia. Zuzu grows natively in tropical forest understories in southern and eastern Africa. In their natural tropical environments, they experience regular moisture from drenching rains followed by periods of drying out. They also grow in dry grassland savannahs in dry, sandy, or rocky soils.

In the Araceae family, there are aroids like peace lilies and philodendrons, with thick rhizomes built for storing water. ZZs are drought-tolerant with succulent and cacti qualities. Waxy leaves help stave off water loss and add shiny appeal.

Zuzu tolerates a range of light exposures out of the direct sun, from low to bright, indirect light. They even grow solely in fluorescent lighting – perfect for the home or office. – though bright light shows the best growth. Hardy in USDA zones 9-10, most grow as easy-care houseplants. They reach two to three feet tall and three feet wide with very few pest or disease problems. Note that they are toxic to people and pets if ingested.

Exposed Roots

A close-up of the bottom of a gray plastic flower pot with thin brown plant roots extending from the drainage holes.
When rhizomes peek out, it’s time for a bigger pot.

The tell-tale sign that any specimen needs repotting is exposed roots, or in this case, rhizomes. As they develop, you’ll see them popping out of the drainage holes of the container. They may also show above the soil surface as they reach for more room.

The pot may crack or become misshapen as the thick rhizomes become overcrowded. This is the most straightforward sign that the houseplant is ready for larger quarters. Within the soil, they may show circling or entangling, especially at the base.

Languid Stems

Shiny, feather-like leaves with thick, glossy leaflets emerge from sturdy, elongated stems, gently drooping in a decorative wicker pot against a white wooden partition and mirror.
Weak, wilting stems suggest it’s time for better care.

Cramped rhizomes beneath will eventually present in the leafy growth. As roots aren’t able to hold enough moisture or nutrients to support upper growth, stems may become weak and limp. The ZZ plant needs repotting due to quick-draining conditions and a lack of nutritive soil due to being rootbound. Stems will be flaccid and less rigid than in their healthy state.

Languid stems also result from watering irregularities, so it helps to pair this sign with rhizome exposure as an indicator to repot your ZZ plant. These houseplants appreciate regular moisture while drying slightly between waterings to avoid overwatering.

While underwatering is not usually a problem for these durable growers (overwatering is most likely), prolonged dryness causes them to enter preservation mode. As water stores deplete, the lack of available moisture makes stems less turgid, and they wilt or droop. In a state of conservation, leaflets may shrivel and become less fleshy due to water loss.

If the soil is dry beyond one or two inches deep, give it a good watering and begin a regular schedule, as indicated by drying out slightly between sessions. ZZ are durable and often revive the occasional forget-to-water period. If a water issue is remedied in time, stems will rehydrate.

Pale Leaflets

Pale green, glossy leaflets are arranged in a symmetrical pattern along thick, waxy stems.
Light and water problems may cause leaf discoloration.

ZZ has long-stemmed leaves that hold many leaflets. We usually see them in rich, deep green or purple-black, depending on the variety. Varieties like ‘Raven’ have fresh growth that emerges brighter green and transitions to deep plum onyx. 

Outside of varietal attributes, leaf discoloration is a common response to cultural conditions, including potbound situations. Leaf changes are most likely to occur due to light and watering issues, but just as stems wilt and leaves shrivel with crowded rhizomes, they may also become pale and dull.

In summer, ZZ takes watering every two weeks or less, allowing soils to dry a bit between sessions. In winter, when growth slows, reduce watering to about once a month to prevent overwatering while gauging dryness.

Too much sunlight, too, can cause leaf fading or browning. Direct rays sunburn the leaflets, and the scorch damages their tissues. Zuzu grows in low light, even in only fluorescent light, but does best in bright, indirect sunlight. Growth is much slower in low-light situations.

Yellowing

A woman's hand displays wilted yellow oval-shaped leaflets on vertical stems, contrasting with dark green glossy oval-shaped leaflets in the background.
Wilting leaves might suggest watering issues or nutrient deficiency.

Yellowing leaves may be a case of over or underwatering, easily corrected by allowing the soil to dry slightly between watering sessions and getting on track with a consistent schedule. Yellowing may also indicate a nutrient deficiency, either from aged potting mix or a need for fertilizer.

A balanced fertilizer during the active growing season (warm months) can help. Apply an organic houseplant formula once or twice a year. If roots are popping up and stems are drooping, slip the plant out of the pot to inspect the roots for crowding.

Leaf Drop

A woman holds a pale, yellowish fallen leaf next to thick, waxy stems supporting glossy, dark green leaflets arranged in an alternating pattern.
Inspect for pests and balance watering to reduce leaf drop.

If the specimen is dropping leaves, check all the primary growing conditions first (water, sunlight, temperature). Leaf drop may accompany severe rootbound situations, but don’t forget to scout for pests. While infrequent problems, scale, mealybugs, and spider mites are common in houseplants and may take hold. Severe mealybug infestations may benefit from fresh potting mix.

Mealybugs are soft-bodied and look like tiny tufts of white cotton on segments. Infestations are visible by the insects themselves and by yellowing, wilting, or stunted leaves. They gravitate toward specimens stressed by under or overwatering. 

To mitigate small numbers, run stems under a stream of water to displace the pests. Dab them with a cotton swap soaked in isopropyl alcohol (use 70% or less concentrations) – immediately effective. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are effective as more potent treatments and may need repeat applications in severe cases. If you can’t shake the bugs, add repotting to the treatment before getting rid of the plant. Rinse the roots and replace the vessel with fresh media.

Draining Too Fast

A woman waters a houseplant in a white pot using a white watering can.
Fast drainage suggests tight rhizomes and low potting media.

Water that runs quickly through drainage holes is a sign that less potting media is present. Rhizomes take up all the space in the pot without the ability to retain moisture in the surrounding mix.

If not immediately repotting the ZZ plant, let water run over the roots for maximum absorption as it drains through the container.

Holding Moisture

A woman in a denim dress and black gloves waters a freshly transplanted plant in a large black pot.
A pot that is too large can lead to soggy, weak growth.

The opposite of quick runoff is a potting medium that holds too much moisture. If the surrounding media stays damp for a prolonged period, the existing pot may be too large for the current root capacity. This happens from placing a small specimen in an oversized container. 

A pot that’s too large can be detrimental to healthy roots and upper growth because of soggy conditions. If you notice persistent moisture coupled with weak stems, yellowing, or lack of vigor, transfer the ZZ to a smaller, more fitting vessel. Ensure the houseplant potting mix is well-draining.

Root Rot

Top view of rotten, dark brown, soft stems of a plant in wet soil, showing rotting roots.
Soggy soil can cause root rot and wilting leaves.

Overwatering damages roots and leads to their inability to uptake moisture and nutrients. Root rot is a fungal disease that proliferates when overwatering creates prolonged saturation. Rot causes the roots to turn brown and mushy. As they decay, they don’t function to support growth.

Zuzu in overly soggy media with poor airflow may show yellowing and wilting leaves. Slip the plants out of the pot and clip off any brown, damaged portions.

Replant in fresh media and water thoroughly to initiate a new regimen. If caught early, you may see rebounding growth. Since ZZ propagates easily from leaf cuttings, it may be wise to take a few in case the roots can’t recover.

Aged Potting Mix

Repotting a large plant with oval, waxy green leaflets along thick vertical stems into a large white pot with fresh, loose soil, beside a black container of soil.
Over time, old soil compacts and stresses your plant.

As potting mix ages with continual watering and nutrient uptake by the plant, it begins to collapse. Compaction and a lack of aeration lead to stress, including oversaturation. If the ZZ plant is in the same pot for a few years, repot it with a fresh mix, even if returning it to the same container after cleaning up roots and replacing new media.

When to Repot ZZ Plants

Top view of an upright plant with roots and soil, featuring vertical thick stems supporting shiny, lance-shaped leaflets, next to two clay pots on a wooden surface.
Spring and summer are the best times to upgrade.

If signs point toward repotting, move the houseplants to a larger one during the active growing season. In the spring and summer, active growth is underway. Choose a container one to two times larger than the current one with ample drainage holes. Unpot and take a look at the roots, clipping off any brown or damaged ones. 

Nestle the rhizomes in fresh, well-draining potting mix. Add perlite or bark mix to regular houseplant potting mix if overwatering is a concern. Water the new install thoroughly. The ZZ plant likely won’t need to be repotted for two or three years.

Divide

Shiny, dark green leaflets grow along thick, upright stems, with thick light beige roots spread on a wooden table.
Propagation is easy with cut rhizomes and leaf cuttings.

Repotting offers the opportunity to propagate new ZZs. Tease and cut fully developed rhizomes, leaving upper growth attached, to develop as new plants. Divide the cut portions from the mother plant and pot them up separately in a fitting container to continue the display. The grower often places several shoots in the same pot for a full look.

Should any stems break during the process, you can use them to create new plants. Remove leaflets from the stem and stick them in water or in a potting mix to set roots. Leaf cuttings are an easy propagation technique, though it will be a few years before the Zuzu is stately with arching leaflets.

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