The truth is that the issue of underwatered ZZ plants happens very rarely, but it happened once to my cousin. I want to explain to you how we handled this issue.
for my cousin’s birthday, I bought a ZZ plant and told him about the exciting qualities of this popular houseplant. Then, I explained that it is a hardy houseplant to low water and its rhizome and thick, waxy leaves store water. But he had mistakenly thought that it did not need water at all and had gone on a business trip abroad for months. When he came back, he faced a sad scene of his ZZ plant falling over. So he called me, and I helped him to recover his ZZ plant.
How much water do ZZ plants need?
Many people believe you should water the ZZ plant every two to four weeks, but there is no fixed plan for watering ZZ plants.
Experience has shown that the size of your houseplant, the type and size of the pot you planted it in, the amount of light that reaches the ZZ plant, and the humidity of the air impact the amount of water that the ZZ plant needs. For example, the ZZ plant requires more water somewhere the light is more.
Honestly, checking all these issues seems challenging and may confuse those without experience in ZZ plant care. I offer you a simple way. Just pay attention to the soil moisture. If a few inches of soil surface is dry, the ZZ plant must be watered. So, give your ZZ plant some H2O immediately.
Tip: Make sure the soil is dry before watering because over-watering is another enemy of the ZZ plant’s health and causes ZZ plant root rot.
What do underwatered ZZ plants look like?
Symptoms of Underwatering do not appear immediately because the ZZ plant defends against dehydration like a loyal soldier until the last breath. The leaves of my cousin’s ZZ plant were no longer shiny and had a papery texture. The leaves that were standing upright before were drooping. Moreover, the edges of the leaves were dry and crispy, and the tips of some leaves were brittle and brown. With this serious situation, it was natural that the ZZ plant was not growing.
How was the underwatered ZZ plant revived?
First, I suggested my cousin be patient because the ZZ plant does not recover quickly.
After the disease’s identification, it was the turn of houseplant watering. In cases where the houseplant is less damaged, it is enough to water the ZZ plant gradually until the water comes out of the holes at the bottom of the pot. Still, because the conditions were severe and the soil was very dry, I soaked the pot in water for ten minutes.
A few days later, I checked the condition of the houseplant potting soil, and it was dry again, so I watered it again.
The next level was pruning ZZ plant; I pruned dead and damaged leaves and stems with clean, sharp scissors.
When the ZZ plant showed improvement, I returned to a regular watering plan. I told my cousin to prepare a place with proper ZZ plant light requirements, such as bright indirect light, stable temperature, and well-drained ZZ plant soil mix for His ZZ plant to grow.
I tried to explain it briefly and concisely, and I hope it has been helpful for you. If you have any questions, ask me in the comments. I would be happy to help you revive your underwatered ZZ plant as quickly as possible.
