The ZZ plant, also known as Zamioculas, Zanzibar Gem or Aroid Palm, is a flowering plant, and it blooms when it reaches maturity and obtains ideal conditions. In general, you can expect it to bloom after a few years.
However, you shouldn't expect it to flower every year. It occasionally flowers depending on weather conditions, plant growth, pot size, and sunlight.
Let's learn more about the ZZ plant flower in the following guide.
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Things To Know About ZZ Plant Flowering
The ZZ plant is a perennial plant and grows in warm climate conditions.
The plant produces white, yellow, or brown colored flower buds. The buds are generally covered by a spathe, which reveals the spadix in the later flowering stages. It is a common trait of the Araceae family plants. When it blooms, it looks pretty much like a Peace Lily flower.
The plant often produces buds during summer, presenting suitable conditions for blooming. Sometimes, it may also bloom in autumn if the weather is a little warmer.
The flowers don't possess much fragrance.
Characteristics Of ZZ Plant Flower
| Characteristics | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Appearance | A white or bright yellow colored spadix; covered with a spathe |
| Color | White or bright yellow Spadix and light green Spathe |
| Blooming Period | 2-3 weeks |
| Blooming Season | Summer & Autumn |
| Flower Size | 2-3 inches (5-7 cm); including spadix and spathe |
| Fragrance | No distinctive fragrance |
| Male & Female Flowers | Present in the Spadix |
| Seeds Formation | Rare |
| Temperature Range | 65°F - 80°F |
Why Is My ZZ Plant Not Flowering?
There could be several reasons why your ZZ plant isn't flowering, such as:
- Immature plant
- Low light conditions
- Lack of nutrients in the soil
- Too much heat or cold
- Infrequent watering
- Damaged plant
These are the primary reasons for this issue. However, you need to remember the plant blooms on rare occasions.
How To Get Flowers On Your Plant
The following suggestions will help you increase the probability of flowering in your ZZ plant -
1. Provide Enough Sunlight To Your ZZ Plant
Although the ZZ plant doesn't require a lot of sunlight, give it at least 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight daily.
Avoid harsh sunlight, though. Else, be prepared to see yellow or brown leaves on the plant. It might also result in a brown stem issue.
Moreover, you can use curtains to allow diffused light on the plant. It will help protect the leaves and stem from too much light. This is a much better option than keeping it in a shaded room.
2. Keep The Soil Moist, But Not Too Wet
It is important because the ZZ plant doesn't like wet feet. You should water your plant regularly, but allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings. This will help keep the plant growing and encourage flowering.
The ZZ plant can tolerate negligence in watering, but you should not overwater it.
3. Fertilize Your ZZ Plant
Fertilizers are essential in providing the required nutrients to the ZZ plant. When fertilizing the plant, it can use these resources to produce more flowers during its growing phase.
That said, do not overfertilize the plant. It will cause a root burn in your plant.
It should be provided with fertilizers that have a relatively low Nitrogen ratio. This is because you don't want to see foliage growth in the plant. Hence, go for fertilizers formulated for flowering. You can also use succulent-specific fertilizers for this plant.
Since the plant produces flowers in summer, you must start fertilizing it in the late spring or early summer months. Fertilize it every month during these months. You may decrease the frequency to once every quarter before winter.
4. Repot Your ZZ Plant
Repotting can sometimes help a ZZ plant to flower. When you repot, you should use a pot that is only one size bigger than the current pot. It would help if you also used a potting mix that drains well and keeps the soil moist but not wet.
So, if your plant is getting too big or rootbound, you should immediately repot it. The new environment and fresh soil might just be what your plant needs to start flowering.
Important: Do not place the plant in a large pot, as it will only shift the focus of the plant to grow more roots.
5. Prune Your ZZ Plant Regularly
Pruning is important for foliage growth. If you haven't pruned the plant in a while, do it as soon as possible.
ZZ plant's pruning can be done by cutting off unwanted branches. Do this when the plant is actively growing in early spring and summer, but avoid it at the peak of the season.
Use a clean pair of scissors or clippers and sterilize them with alcohol or bleach after each use. This will ensure your other plants stay free from any issues.
6. Provide A Suitable Environment To Your ZZ Plant
Environmental conditions play an important role in a plant's flowering and overall growth. The ZZ plant is known to flower best in humid conditions with temperatures between 65-80°F.
If you live in too hot or too cold of an environment, your plant is less likely to flower. So, you will have to enable a suitable environment for your ZZ plant.
7. Wait For The Plant To Flower
Once you follow the above guidelines, you must wait for the plant to flower. The ZZ plant is not known for constant blooming. Therefore, you shouldn't keep high hopes.
When the conditions turn favorable, you will see a flower stalk formation at the base of the plant. Initially, the plant will produce a stalk with a bud, and it may take a week or more to see further development.
Post-Flowering Care For ZZ Plant
When the ZZ plant starts to flower, you shouldn't make too many changes to the plant.
Let it grow, but avoid maintenance tasks, such as repotting and pruning. If you perform them at this stage, it will put unnecessary stress on the plant. You can do them later once the flower is finished.
Similarly, it would be best if you observed temperature fluctuations. As I mentioned, the plant does well in warm and humid conditions. Therefore, the temperature should not drop below 65°F (16°C) or go above 80°F (27°C).
Avoid overwatering during this stage, as it can increase the chances of powdery mildew or other issues. You should also follow the same schedule for feeding your ZZ plant as you did before it started to flower. Don't increase or decrease the frequency to produce any magical results.
What To Do With ZZ Plant Flower?
If your ZZ plant is flowering, enjoy the flower's beauty. The best part about them is that they easily last for weeks. So, there is no need to cut them off.
If you want the plant to focus on development, you can surely remove the flowers. It will help the plant to provide nutrients to essential parts like leaves and stem growth. As for the spent flower, you can safely remove them from the plant. You can even put it in the compost bin.
Furthermore, if the flowers are affected by fungus or any such issues, you should remove them in the beginning stages. You shouldn't be keeping such flowers on the plant.
Expert Tips
Here are some more tips to remember -
- For blooming, you can reduce the watering frequency. Most houseplants begin to produce flowers when they're slightly stressed.
- If the weather is cold, the ZZ plant will not flower. Keep the surroundings around the plant warm.
- If the plant is overwatered, remove it from the pot and air dry the roots before putting it back in the pot. Don't water the plant again after repotting.
- Avoid pest and fungus attacks on the plant. The ZZ plant won't produce any flowers if it's already dealing with these issues.
FAQs
It means the plant is mature and growing well in the existing conditions.
Ideally, you should not remove the flowers from a ZZ plant. They look lovely on the plant, and you can enjoy them as long as they last.
Still, you can snip them off if you don't like them on the plant.
You can place your ZZ plant anywhere that receives bright, indirect light. Do not keep it in direct sunlight, or the leaves will turn yellow. So, a spot near a window would be ideal.
Over To You
Do you have a ZZ plant that has recently flowered? Share your experience in the comments below.
Also, feel free to ask any questions about this topic. I'll try to answer them as best I can. Share this guide with your friends and family if you found it helpful.
Referrences - NC State University, University of Florida
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