Zamioculcas or Zanzibar Gem is the name given to the ornamental ZZ plant that was brought to us from tropical Africa.
The weird thing about this is that even the most experienced growers have doubts about whether a ZZ plant can bloom indoors.
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How Exactly Does The Zz Plant Bloom?
Gardeners love this plant because of its pinnate bright green leaves that grow on fleshy stems. In addition, the waxy coating on their surface gives the leaves a lustrous sheen.
There is a lot of work involved if you want to see the ZZ plant bloom.
To get flowers of light cream colors, you need to take care of the plant, wait for it to bloom, and have a little luck.
One large inflorescence called a cob, typical of aroids contains all the flowers.
A modified, 2.5-3 inches (6-8 cm) long pale green leaf cover nearly the cob’s entire diameter.
Consequently, the inflorescence blends in with the surrounding environment, making it difficult to discern when the plant is blooming.
Furthermore, the inflorescence has a unique structure that separates the male and female flowers within the cob. The male flowers are in the upper part of the cob, and the female ones are in the lower part.
An area of sterile flowers separates the two zones. As a result, the inflorescence is unable to pollinate itself.
How Often Does The Zz Plant Bloom?
The ZZ plant rarely blooms in the wild, and it blooms even less frequently when it is kept indoors in a pot.
How often the ZZ plant blooms at home depends on various factors, including the amount of care the plant receives. Blooming may not occur at all, or it may occur irregularly.
You can tell that the plant is about to bloom by the small shoot formed at the base, from which a cob will soon grow.
Blooming occurs most often in mature specimens grown strong enough to produce shoots and a root system.
Although some experts claim that young ZZ plants can also flower, the most important thing is to learn and correctly apply the secrets of their care.
Why Are Zz Plants Not Blooming?
The ZZ plant is unable to flower for several reasons. Therefore, you must remove the impediment to increase your chances of seeing the object of all plant growers’ pride.
- Lighting, temperature control, and watering fail to create an ideal microclimate.
- It’s not getting enough nutrients from the soil.
- You have the wrong sized plant pot.
- The ZZ Plant has gone into hibernation.
- Pests or diseases have infected the plant.
Important!
A lack of new shoots during the long-awaited inflorescence indicates that the plant is aging and that you should begin thinking about propagating it. Ten years is the average life expectancy for a ZZ plant.
Creating Favorable Conditions For Flowering
A window facing east or south would be ideal for the heat-loving plant. The flower prefers diffused light, as direct sunlight could burn the leaves.
In the winter, the ideal temperature range is between 60-65 °F (16-18 °C), while in the summer, it can reach up to 86 °F (30 °C).
In the summer, I recommend ventilating the room regularly and moving the flower to an open terrace or balcony.
The plant’s ability to retain moisture in its leaves and stems allows it to go longer without watering and withstand higher temperatures.
Because of this, the ZZ plant can’t handle high humidity, and spraying them is not recommended.
On the other hand, if you dampen a cloth and wipe the plant’s leaves, it will be good for both its health and its appearance.
Watering Properly
Before you water the ZZ plant, check the soil for moisture. If it’s wet at the bottom, you should wait to water until it’s dry on top.
It’s just as important to keep an eye on the tray’s water level and remove it as soon as possible. If you’re unsure whether to water or not, it’s best to put it off until another day.
As long as the room temperature exceeds 65 °F (18 °C), the plant is watered 1-2 times a month. In addition, the plant is watered 1-2 times per week in the summer, but very gently.
If the ZZ plant doesn’t get enough water, it will fade and fall off the top branches. Young leaves turn yellow if there is too much moisture.
If the plant has been overwatered, remove it from the pot immediately, remove any rotten roots, and allow the healthy roots to air dry for 1-2 hours.
Do not water the ZZ plant for about a week after moving it to a new pot with expanded clay and sand at the bottom.
Feeding To Promote Flowering
ZZ plants are ideal for cactus and succulent fertilizers with lower nitrogen content. You can also use liquid fertilizers to spray on the leaf surface, referred to as the “foliar method.”
Fertilization is done every 2-3 weeks between March and October. During the winter, the plant rests and does not require additional nutrients.
The ZZ plant will not bloom in a pot that is too large for it because it will expend all of its energy on root system growth. However, overly crowded containers aren’t ideal either.
Suppose the soil in a small pot lacks beneficial microelements. In that case, the plant will quickly lose its ability to fend off various pests and diseases that interfere with its flowering cycle.
Important!
It is best to select a flower pot based on the length and volume of its roots. The pot should have a dip of about 1-2 centimeters from the container’s walls to indicate the correct placement of the plants.
The ZZ plant blooms approximately 5-6 years after planting under ideal conditions.
Take Special Care During The Flowering Period
It is not recommended to alter the microclimate in the room where the ZZ plant is located because the process consumes a significant amount of the ZZ plant’s energy. Therefore, feeding and watering should also remain the same, as they were before.
It is strictly forbidden to move the flower from one location to another, as this may cause the cob to fall off.
Important!
If the ZZ plant flowered in a weak, underdeveloped state, it risks becoming ill due to a lack of strength. Therefore, you should get rid of the cob as soon as it grows and let the plant get stronger.
Take Good Care Of Your Flowers After They’ve Bloomed
ZZ plant flower stalks that have fallen to the ground indicate the end of the flowering season. Follow these steps:
- Remove the root of the flower stalk and cut it off at the base.
- Limit your watering to once a month.
- Provide a cool temperature of between 62-68 °F (17-20 °C) indoors.
- It is necessary to stop feeding the plant for a while.
- It is best to avoid transplanting and propagating after flowering.
ZZ Plant Flower Symbolism
This plant’s flowering is associated with various interpretations of what it means.
When the ZZ plant is in bloom, all households are supposed to have good things happen, like getting a promotion at work or getting married. There could even be a new member of the family.
Planting a new plant is an excellent time to put coins at the bottom of the pot. This will strengthen the plant’s energy, which will help it grow better and make the house more pleasant.
Withering leaves are a warning sign that the plant owner’s financial situation is deteriorating.
Place the ZZ plant next to a younger, healthier one to prevent further withering. Expect disaster if the plant dies as soon as it finishes blooming.
Because of its low maintenance requirements, the ZZ plant has become a popular choice for home plant growers.
That’s why even if it takes a long time for the ZZ plant to flower, and the flowers aren’t all that spectacular, you will still enjoy it immensely.