The ZZ plant, or Zamioculcas zamiifolia, is a beautiful perennial native to the tropical regions of Eastern Africa. As a new ZZ plant owner, you may wonder, do ZZ plants like humidity?
These plants are hardy and can thrive in a range of environmental conditions, including low humidity. However, they prefer moderate humidity levels of 40-50%, so avoid extremely high or low humidity as it can harm your plant.
In this article, we’ll explore the best humidity level for ZZ plants and how you can maintain the ideal level for them to thrive.
Do ZZ Plants like Humidity?
In nature, ZZ plants are often found in dry, shaded forests. They’re used to low humidity levels and don’t have any preference for high levels of humidity.
ZZ Plants will usually thrive with the humidity found in most homes.
What’s the Best Humidity Level for ZZ Plants?
ZZ plants are in their best condition in moderate humidity levels of 40-50%, which is the humidity level in most households. However, these factors can affect the humidity level in your home.
- Extremely dry or wet weather in your area
- Air conditioning
- Heaters
To ensure your home isn’t too dry or humid for your plant, you can check the humidity level with a hygrometer.
Even though ZZ plants are tough, extreme humidity levels can still harm them. Too-dry conditions can cause their leaf tips to turn brown, while high humidity can invite pests and diseases into your plant.
How Can You Add More Humidity in Your Home?
If your home environment is too dry for your ZZ plant, you may have noticed their shiny, green leaves have started to turn brown. Raising the humidity level will often bring the luster back into their leaves.
Here are a few ways you can raise the humidity level for your plant:
1 – Group You Plants Together
Plants naturally release moisture in the air through transpiration. When you position plants close together, it can create a humid microclimate.
With more plants together, the higher the humidity will be. We recommend grouping plants that have similar humidity preferences so it will be beneficial for all of them.
For example, other plant types you can group with ZZ plants include Pothos and Peace Lilies, as they all prefer humidity levels around 50%.
2 – Use a Pebble Tray
You can also place your plants in a tray filled with at least an inch of pebbles to raise humidity. Fill the tray with water half the height of the pebbles.
Put your pot on top of the pebbles, but don’t let the water touch its bottom to prevent root rot. Additionally, remember to remove excess water from the tray after watering your plants to avoid insect infestations.
3 – Get a Humidifier
Humidifiers are useful in raising the humidity in plant-growing environments. While this often won’t be necessary for ZZ plants, you can use it if you have other plants that need higher levels of humidity.
Final Thoughts
As with any plant, the health of your ZZ plant depends on several factors, including humidity. However, ensuring that your home environment maintains the ideal humidity level is just one part of the puzzle in the overall care of your plant.
You should also research other factors like sunlight and water to create the best environment where your plant can stay healthy and flourish.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.