Hailed as one of the most important ornamental plants, the ZZ is a flowering plant that rarely flowers.
Making a ZZ plant bloom is fun if you like challenges that put your patience to the test.
Continue reading the article to learn how to make them bloom and how to care for them after they bloom.
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How Often does the ZZ Plant Flower?
The ZZ plants must be at least 5 to 6 years old to bloom. They rarely bloom in the wild and even rarely indoors.
This perennial, tropical plant usually flowers during mid-summer. However, the blooming season can last till early autumn.
Although the plant has a lifespan of about 10 to 12 years, its blooms will last about a mere 48 hours after they appear.
So, do not expect your plant to bloom every year. They may reappear, but that would require intensive care, and the blooming may be irregular.
ZZ Plant Flower Overview
ZZ plant is the acronym for Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It is commonly known as the Zanzibar gem, zee zee plant, aroid palm, and in some regions, as the eternity plant.
Many people admire the plant for its beautiful lush green small oval-shaped foliage rather than its flowers.
This plant produces unattractive flowers, but you will love the creamy white ZZ plant flowers.
Let us look at the basic overview of the ZZ plant flower.
| Indicator | Identity |
|---|---|
| Structure | Long spadix with numerous small flowers surrounded by a spathe |
| Size | Up to 7 inches long |
| Color | Whitish-yellow to brown-bronze |
| Fragrance | No fragrance |
| Toxicity | Toxic to pets and humans |
| Lifespan | Up to 48 hours |
| Fruits | Small berry-like fruits |
| Blooming Season | Mid-summer to early-autumn |
The ZZ plants bloom once in a blue moon, and there are no pollinators indoors. As a result, the chances of your plant producing seeds are slim.
The seeds are ellipsoidal and monocotyledonous and are pretty rare to come across.
How do you Pollinate the ZZ plant flower?
The inflorescence of the ZZ plant is called a cob, which consists of female flowers at the bottom and male flowers at the top.
Upon maturity, the flower bends down as low as possible, hoping that some crawling insect will climb on the spathe.
The female flowers produce pheromones or perfume to lure male insects. These insects are led to believe that the pheromones are created by their female counterparts.
So, they crawl past the male flowers at the top of the cob. They drop off tiny pollen grains attached to their bodies when crawling over female flowers at the bottom of the cob.
All of this occurs under the influence of pheromones. Hence, the pollination process is completed, and fertilization takes place.
How to Make a ZZ Plant Flower?
Here are some tips to make your ZZ plant bloom.
- Maintain a temperature between 60-80°F for your plant to provide a suitable environment for flowering.
- Give your ZZ plant at least 8 hours of bright indirect sunlight daily. Your plant will thrive in the west or north-facing window.
- Provide Succulent fertilizer rich in phosphorus for your ZZ plant every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season.
- A well-draining potting mix with extra sand and perlite can benefit the ZZ plant.
- Water your ZZ plant once every two weeks during summer and once every two months during colder seasons.
- Maintain humidity between 40 to 50% for your plant.
- Select a pot of size 7-11 inches for a mature ZZ plant.
- Check the plant regularly for signs of pests and diseases and eliminate them in time.
- Prune the damaged, diseased, or dead stems and leaves in the spring and summer to encourage blooming.
Why is my ZZ Plant Not Flowering?
Your ZZ plants are not blooming? Well, it could be one of the following reasons.
| Factors | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Inadequate Sunlight | Succulents like ZZ need a lot of light to bloom. |
| Temperature Extremities | ZZ cannot handle the extreme fluctuations and won't be able to produce blossoms in such conditions. |
| Improper Fertilizer | If you choose fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen but not phosphorus, it may hinder blossoming. |
| Over fertilization | Too much fertilizers will cause salt buildup in the roots. |
| Improper Container | If the planter is too big or too small for the ZZ plant, say bye bye to the idea of seeing the blooms. |
| Lack of Air Circulation | Lack of proper air circulation can degrade plant health and discourage blooms. |
| Pruning in Wrong Time | If you prune the ZZ plant in wrong time, the plant will get stressed and focus its energy on the foliage. |
What Should you do With Your ZZ Plant Flower?
Although the flowers are not much of a show, some people still choose to leave them as they are.
It would be best if you considered leaving the flower on the plant. Just enjoy its simple beauty.
But remember, flowering soaks away a lot of your plant’s strength. It would be best if you were especially concerned about a young ZZ plant.
If your ZZ plant flowered in an immature stage, it risks contracting various diseases. Your best bet is to take out the flower and let your plant mature.
How to Remove the Flower from the ZZ Plant?
If your plant is mature, but you still want to remove the flower, here’s what you can do:
- Wear protective gardening gear and sterilize the gardening equipment.
- Grab the inflorescence with your hand and cut the bloom off the connecting stem.
- You can also snip off the stalk of the flower at the base. But make sure you do not hurt the plant.
It is important to note that you should stop fertilizing your ZZ plant after it flowers. You can reduce the watering frequency well.
Avoid performing any transplants and propagations at all costs after the plant flowers.
ZZ plant has many benefits like purifying air, medicinal uses, table plant, etc., but the flowers do not have any specific uses to mention.
Health Considerations to Keep in Mind
ZZ plant may make an excellent addition to the decorations of your house, but it has one significant drawback you should consider.
All parts of the ZZ plant are toxic to your cats, dogs and you. This is because the cell sap contains calcium oxalate.
Calcium oxalate is a compound that has a crystalline structure with sharp edges. Therefore, we recommend you wear safety gloves when handling leaves, stems, or seeds.
If you have little children or playful pets in your living space, then you must consider moving the ZZ plant to a high place.
Even though consuming the plant parts is not fatal, severe symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting might occur. Mild symptoms include burning, pain, and skin swelling upon contact with the plant sap.
If there is skin contact with the plant sap, use soap and warm water on the affected part to get instant relief.
In case of emergency, call ASPCA at 1 (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.
ZZ Plant Flower Meaning
One of the common names for the ZZ plant is the ‘fortune tree,’ so you must have had an idea about its significance.
Speaking of common names, the ZZ plant has a plethora of them. Let us look at the terms and their meanings.
- ‘Fortune tree’ signifies that the plant brings good luck and fortune.
- ‘Eternity plant’ signifies that the ZZ plant is a sign of growth and assistance.
- ‘Zanzibar gems’ signifies their spotless, dark green leaves.
According to the Chinese feng shui, the ZZ plant placed in the bedroom, dining area, and main door is responsible for spreading positive energy to the surrounding.
You can also gift this plant to someone to signify encouragement, dedication, and steadiness.
The glossy, dark green leaves that give the plant an artificial look signify vibrant life, and the colorful flowers signify a bright mind.
Watch the video to learn about ZZ plant care tips.
In the End
To summarize, the ZZ plant deserves a spot in your living space if you love indoor plants.
While the flowers may not be all that special, you will still love them after the long wait.
Even if you do not end up with a ZZ plant with a flower, the shiny dark green leaves will make an eye-catching display.
Get one for yourself!
