Most people buy ZZ plants because of their beautiful green leaves and how easy they are to take care of.
That’s why it can be incredibly disappointing when you notice signs of yellowing on the foliage. You begin to wonder what could possibly be behind the discoloration.
So, why do ZZ plants have yellow leaves? Let’s find out the most common culprits and how to resolve them.
What Causes Yellow Leaves on ZZ Plants?
One of the major selling points of ZZ plants is that they require little maintenance. So, it may be a little surprising when the leaves start to wilt and discolor.
There are a few factors that could be behind this. Depending on the issue, you may be able to bring your florae back to a healthy state.
Let’s take a look at what may be causing the yellowing.
- Water Intake
ZZ plants are tropical perennials that are native to certain parts of Africa. To help them withstand the dry environment, these plants developed certain adaptations.
For instance, they have drought-tolerant properties. ZZs can go quite a long while with no water.
Although, that doesn’t mean that they don’t need any hydration at all. In fact, even with these resilient plants, it’s a good idea to have a stable watering schedule.
Over-Watering
When the leaves of ZZ plants start to yellow, chances are the culprit is over-watering. These florae prefer growing in a dry medium.
That means excess moisture in the soil can cause a few issues.
For starters, the extra water will begin to break down the roots and turn them soft and mushy. This creates an excellent environment for microorganisms to grow.
Over time, that may lead to infections like root rot. The disease will affect the roots’ ability to absorb any water or nutrients from the soil.
Plus, when you over-water soil, it dilutes the mineral concentration of the medium. For that reason, plants will need to absorb more liquid to get their fill of nourishment.
This will cause the main structures of the plants to yellow and fade away.
The only way around this problem is to switch out the soil. You have to repot your ZZs with a fresh batch of growing medium.
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Under-Watering
Under-watering your ZZ plants may also pose an issue. Even though the foliage doesn’t require much moisture, it still needs some.
On average, a watering every one or two weeks should do the trick. Although, due to their drought tolerance, they can go up to about a month without water.
Anything more than that may lead to serious problems.
The plants won’t have enough moisture to support normal functions like breathing. So, they will dry up and turn yellow.
Luckily, there’s an easy fix. All you have to do is ensure that you water the soil regularly. After that, you should see your plants coming back to life in no time.
- Surrounding Temperature
Temperature is another major factor that can cause leaves to yellow. ZZ plants need to be in an environment that’s around 65 to 75℉.
This ensures that the vital structures can function optimally.
Low Temperature
As the weather starts to get colder, ZZ plants may begin to suffer. That’s because the structures, like leaves and roots, are highly temperature sensitive.
When the temperature drops below 60℉, they’ll freeze over. This causes the roots and leaves to become brittle and break off.
Once that happens, the plants will no longer be able to absorb sunlight or water. Both of which are crucial to the florae’s survival.
To resolve this issue, you’ll need a heating lamp. It’s an overhead light that will keep your plants warm and cozy throughout the winter months.
High Temperature
ZZ plants can withstand a fair bit of heat. Some can even survive in temperatures closer to 90℉. Although this will diminish their ability to grow.
As the temperature rises, ZZs will begin to sweat and droop down away from the sun. On top of that, excessive heat may cause the leaves to soften and break apart.
That will limit how much photosynthesis the plants can carry out during the day.
In this case, ZZs won’t be able to sustain growth, and the existing structures will turn yellow.
The easy fix for this issue is to move the plants. Find a location with a more suitable temperature for them to grow. You could also install a mini-fan in the area to help cool the ZZs off.
- Humidity Levels
Most of us think that plants only absorb water through their roots. While this is the preferred method, there are other ways florae can hydrate.
Some plants are able to pull moisture straight out of the air. They use structures called stomata in the leaves to absorb water vapor.
So, the humidity of the environment will impact the health of ZZs.
When the air moisture level drops too low, these plants will release water into the air. That is all in an effort to create a more hospitable environment.
This process will lead to rapid dehydration, so the plants will need to absorb more water from the soil. However, as soon as the medium dries out, the ZZs begin to wilt.
After a while, they won’t have any water left to transport vital nutrients and minerals. At that point, the leaves and stems will turn yellow.
To get around this problem, you may need to invest in a humidifier. This is a device that will pump water vapor into the air to keep the humidity levels high.
You’ll need to run the gadget for a few hours every week to maintain the air moisture.
Wrapping Up
Why do ZZ plants have yellow leaves? When asking this question, there are a few factors to consider.
For starters, water intake will play a major role. Too much, or not enough, moisture in the soil may lead to discoloration.
Another important factor is the ambient heat. If the temperature of the surroundings is outside the normal range, the ZZ plants will wilt and fade away.
Finally, the humidity levels will also come into play. When in a dry environment, the ZZs won’t have enough water to transport nutrients.