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Home » Guides » How To Fix Wrinkled Stem On ZZ Plant

Published on June 22, 2021 | Last updated on January 11, 2022 | By Harshad 2 Comments

How To Fix Wrinkled Stem On ZZ Plant

Do you see a wrinkled stem on your ZZ plant?

If the answer is yes, your plant is in trouble, and you need to address the issue immediately.

ZZ plant is one of the most beautiful indoor plants in the world, but it is also tricky to grow this plant well at home.

This is mainly because of the light and water requirements of these plants.

If you don’t get these things right, you will always have trouble growing this plant.

So, in today’s guide, let’s see how you can fix this issue and revive your ZZ plant.

zz plant wrinkled stem guide cover image

Contents:

  • Why Is My ZZ Plant Stem Wrinkled?
  • How To Fix Wrinkled Stem On ZZ Plant
    • 1. Stop Watering The Plant
    • 2. Check The Condition Of Stem
    • 3. Remove The Plant From The Pot
    • 4. Check The Rhizome
    • 5. Repot The Plant With Dry Soil
    • 6. Spray Fungicide On The Affected Plant
    • 7. Keep The Plant In Moderately Bright Location
    • 8. Examine The Plant After A Week Or So
  • 3 Tips To Avoid The Wrinkled Stem Issue In ZZ Plants
    • 1. Fix The Watering Schedule
    • 2. Provide Some Natural Light To The Plant
    • 3. Keep The Soil Dry All Time
  • FAQs
  • Over To You

Why Is My ZZ Plant Stem Wrinkled?

ZZ plant’s stem can form wrinkles because of two main reasons, i.e., underwatering and overwatering.

There is one more reason, though.

And that is too much sunlight!

However, if you have placed this plant at home, you can easily rule out this possibility.

The same is also true for underwatering.

Since the ZZ plant comes from Africa, it will not have much of an issue with less water.

It can withstand a lack of water situation for weeks, if not more.

So, you can rule out this possibility as well.

Now, the only thing that remains is the overwatering situation!

This is most likely be the reason for the wrinkled stem on your plant.

When you water this plant frequently, it can lead to the root rot issue.

It’s a common issue on this type of plant.

Once the root rot sets in, it advances further and damages the stem as well.

This is why you get to see a wrinkled stem on the plant.

Now, let’s see how you can deal with this problem using some easy gardening techniques.

How To Fix Wrinkled Stem On ZZ Plant

Here’s what you should do to fix this problem –

1. Stop Watering The Plant

As you know, the ZZ plant doesn’t like the overwatered situation in the pot.

So, if your plant is already showing wrinkled stem signs, you should stop watering it immediately.

Hopefully, this should help in fixing the problem if it’s just at an initial stage.

In the primary stages, you can prevent this issue from spreading to the entire stem.

In case the issue is widespread, you should check out the steps mentioned below.

2. Check The Condition Of Stem

Once you realize that the plant’s stem is wrinkled, you need to examine it thoroughly.

Check for the color and softness on the surface of the stem.

If the color of the stem is dark brown or black, you may have difficulties reviving the plant.

However, if it’s just the beginning of stem rot or root rot, you will have a high chance of getting the plant back to life.

Try to understand the situation of your plant with this simple examination process, as it will help in deciding the path of revival.

For e.g.,

If the plant has less chance of survival, you should go for the propagation methods instead of relying on other methods.

3. Remove The Plant From The Pot

Done with the inspection?

You still want to go ahead and fix the problem?

Great!

So, remove the plant from the pot.

If the soil is wet, hold the plant at the bottom and flip the pot.

This should help quickly remove the plant, though you should only perform this step in an open space or garden.

Otherwise, it might create a lot of mess in your room.

4. Check The Rhizome

Now, get rid of the excess dirt from the rhizome and take a look at it carefully.

Again, this will give you an idea as to how you should go about the whole process.

If there is root rot in the plant, the rhizome will lose its texture and turn soft due to excess water.

5. Repot The Plant With Dry Soil

This is an ideal thing to do when your plant is overwatered and suffering from root rot.

When you replenish the soil, it gives a new and dry environment to the plant.

These are the perfect conditions for an affected ZZ plant.

Therefore, you should consider repotting the plant with a fresh batch of soil.

As for used soil, you shouldn’t use this soil for any other purpose in your garden.

You should discard it entirely.

Note: You should also get rid of severely damaged branches from the plant while repotting.

6. Spray Fungicide On The Affected Plant

Next thing, spray the fungicide!

When the conditions turn wet in the soil, it often invites fungus issues.

So, if you want to avoid any further damage, you should use a fungicide to spray on the plant.

While using the fungicide, make sure you prepare a dilute solution.

You don’t want to use a strong solution if there isn’t fungus damage on the plant.

7. Keep The Plant In Moderately Bright Location

ZZ plant doesn’t like direct sun.

If you place it in direct sunlight, it will have a negative impact on the plant.

The leaves and stems will start shriveling when you keep the plant in such conditions.

The ideal condition for this plant is indirect or partial sunlight.

So, try to put it in a place where it will get enough sunlight throughout the day.

Apart from the photosynthesis process, the sunlight will also keep the plant and soil dry.

This is quite essential when you are dealing with the wrinkled stem and overwatering issue.

8. Examine The Plant After A Week Or So

When you are done with all the above steps, you should just wait and see how the plant reacts.

If needed, you can spray the plant again after a week.

This should help prevent any possible fungal growth on the plant.

On the whole, these are the few things you can do to revive your plant from the wrinkled stem issue.

But yes, don’t forget to propagate the cuttings.

It will at least give you hope of having a few new ZZ plants in the garden.

3 Tips To Avoid The Wrinkled Stem Issue In ZZ Plants

Here’s how you can prevent this issue entirely –

1. Fix The Watering Schedule

As you know, the ZZ plant doesn’t like too much water.

In fact, it won’t mind if you simply don’t water it for 10-15 days.

Ideally, the plant should be watered every 15 days or so.

Therefore, prepare a watering schedule for this plant, which can help prevent any such issues.

2. Provide Some Natural Light To The Plant

The other thing is the natural light!

When you keep the plant in such light, it helps boost the growth of the plant.

It will also prevent any fungal issues that might pop up due to excess watering at times.

3. Keep The Soil Dry All Time

Finally, the soil needs to be dry for this plant.

Keep this plant in an airy and bright location so that you can easily maintain the moisture in the soil.

Now, follow these three things, and I’m sure you will have a thriving ZZ plant in your home garden.

In the next section, you will find some answers to the commonly asked questions.

FAQs

1. How Do I Get My Snake Plant To Grow Straight?


You can keep it in a place where it can receive the sunlight from the top angle.

If you are using a grow light for this plant, you should also position it right at the top of the plant.

Both these techniques will help grow your plant in a straight upward direction.

2. What Does ZZ Plant Root Rot Look Like?


When the ZZ plant suffers from root rot, its leaves will turn dull and lose their shine.

Apart from that, the stem may showcase wrinkles and soft texture on the surface.

As for the roots, they will also turn mush and will attain dark brown color.

The rhizome will probably show similar signs of root rot.

3. Can ZZ Plant Get Too Much Sun?


Yes, the plant is averse to direct sunlight conditions.

If you keep it in such conditions, the leaves will shrivel and turn yellow or brown over the period.

4. Can ZZ Plant Recover From Overwatering?


Yes, the ZZ plant can recover from overwatering, provided you take care of the plant.

It should also be addressed quickly, as it often leads to several other issues in the plant.

5. Should I Cut Yellow Leaves Off My ZZ Plant?


Yes, you can get rid of the yellow leaves from the plant.

However, do not perform hard pruning on the plant.

The plant will require leaves for the photosynthesis process.

Over To You

The wrinkled stem on the ZZ plant can be a concerning factor in your garden.

But thankfully, you can fix it entirely by taking some quick actions.

If you still have any concerns about the plant or wrinkled stem, please let me know in the comments below.

I will definitely try to answer your queries.

If you liked this guide, do share it with your friends and family.

About Harshad

Hello there!

My name is Harshad, and I'm the gardening expert at IndoorMint.com.

Gardening is one of my passions, and I enjoy pretty much everything connected to plants.

I strongly believe in sharing knowledge with everyone, so you'll always find me posting new how-tos and guides on this blog.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Audrey Lund Misner says

    May 1, 2022 at 10:42 pm

    I did everything. My Variegated Zamioculcas Zamiifolia stems are still wrinkled.. How long until my plant will be healthy again?

    Reply
    • Harshad says

      May 2, 2022 at 3:38 pm

      Hey Audrey,

      It may take some time for your plant to recover, but it should eventually do well.

      It’s a slow-growing plant, so you will need to be patient and let the plant do its thing.

      Also, if the stems are wrinkled too much, they might not be able to snap back into shape, so you may need to trim them back a bit.

      But other than that, just give it time and water, and it should eventually grow back to full health. Good luck!​

      Hope this helps, and best of luck with your plant!

      Reply

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I'm Harshad, a gardening enthusiast who likes to grow different varieties of indoor plants.
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