ZZ plants are a great way to add greenery and color to your home. They also make a perfect gift for someone who has everything! But what do you do when the leaves on your ZZ plant start turning brown?

You may be surprised by the answer – don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think! In this blog post, we will review some of the most common reasons that ZZ plant leaves are turning brown.

Why Are the Leaves on My ZZ Plant Turning Brown?

Your ZZ plant is turning brown as a result of overwatering or leaf burn. The two causes give leaves that have similar brown coloration but overwatered brown ZZ plant leaves tend to be wet, whereas sun-scorched brown leaves are usually dry and crisp.

I will go into greater detail on each of these reasons and what you can do to prevent them both.

Brown ZZ Plant Leaves from Too Much Water

ZZ plants should be watered well once every one to two weeks and they prefer for their soil to dry out between watering. If their soil stays wet for extended periods of time, this can cause the tips of new growth on a ZZ plant to turn brown before eventually beginning to rot from an overabundance of moisture within its root system. 

In order to prevent this issue, ensure that your potting mix drains very quickly after being re-watered – peat moss-based soils will drain faster than most other types.

On a similar note, make sure to always use pots with drainage holes! This reduces the amount of time the roots will be sitting in a pool of water. Failure to do this can cause root rot for your ZZ plant.

If it’s already too late, then you will have to tackle the root rot immediately by removing your ZZ plant from its pot and then gently removing any rotten leaves.

Wash away as much of the rotten soil as you can before placing it back into a container with fresh, dry peat moss-based soil.

Remember to reduce how often you water – aim to only water when the top inch of the soil is dry to the touch. You can test this by sticking your finger in the soil or using a moisture meter.

Brown ZZ Plant Leaves from Too Much Sunlight

ZZ plants are native to subtropical and tropical regions of Africa, but they can become sunburned when placed in direct sunlight. Sun scorch will cause the tips of new growth on a ZZ plant to turn brown before eventually beginning to rot from too much heat.

In order to prevent this issue with your ZZ plant, make sure that it gets at least four hours per day of filtered or indirect light – most rooms without southern exposure usually qualify for this requirement!

If your plant is already sunburned, you can use a spray bottle to mist it with water and then move the plant to a shadier location that doesn’t receive as much sun as before

Brown ZZ Plant FAQs

ZZ plants can be rather difficult to manage at the best of times. As such, I’ve received a lot of questions about them from readers. Let’s go over some common questions now!

Will brown ZZ plant leaves turn green again?

No, it is very unlikely for brown ZZ plant leaves to turn green again. The good news is that you can prevent the current green leaves from turning brown by following a strict watering schedule.

Should I remove brown leaves from ZZ plant?

Yes, you should always remove any brown ZZ plant leaves immediately to prevent the spread of disease and rot in your potting mix. Use a pair of sterilized scissors or clippers for this task.

Will too much water cause ZZ plant to turn brown?

Yes, if your ZZ plant is left sitting in water for too long, this can cause the tips of growth to turn brown. This is why it is important to always use pots with drainage holes and never leave your ZZ plant sitting in water.

When I touch my ZZ plant, it seems like there is moisture on it?

This can sometimes mean that the humidity in your home is too high or the plant has been given too much water. In fact, some plants weep when given too much water.

Will direct sun cause ZZ plant leaves to turn brown?

Yes, if your ZZ plant is left in direct sunlight for too long, this can cause the tips of new growth to turn brown. Also, plant owners should be careful about using grow lights. While I love using them during winter, it is important to slowly build up your plant’s tolerance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is normal for the leaves on your ZZ plant to turn brown at some point. Hopefully, this blog post has answered any questions you may have about why they are turning brown and what you can do to prevent it from happening again!

Make sure to follow the rules in regards to watering and sunlight, such as ensuring that the soil drains fast enough.

If you follow these guidelines, then hopefully you will have no more brown leaves on your ZZ plant, and your plant will be thriving and healthy! In fact, these ZZ plants are supposed to bring prosperity and good luck.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this post. Be sure to read my other posts on these amazing plants!