I Didn't Water My Plant For 300 Days. This Happened 

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Funny thing, a couple of days ago, I realised that I hadn't watered my ZZ plant in over 3-4 months. I came back to check, and it sprouted 4 more stems out of no where! I completely neglected this plant, only for it to tell me, "I don't need you. See? I'm fine!" 🤣

Adopted a ZZ a couple months ago from my neighbours and so glad I watched your videos shortly after cause I would’ve definitely killed it by now 😅

We have one in our stairway. The only water it ever gets, is the water from the umbrella. It has become the umbrella dryer spot pot. I always forget that plant when watering, but it looks much healthier than the one in our apartment. The recent heavy rain has sprouted a lot of new stems, including the tallest one so far. It's also the only type of plant that our oldest daughter hasn't killed, since she moved into her own place. Perfect noob plant indeed

I had no idea zzs didn’t need water. I watered mine once a week till it keeled over. I repotted it saved one stem and stopped watering it. A few months later it has a new stem and I’m glad I now get it. Your channel is really informative. Thank you!

During covid. I left my room and went home for 11 months. And after returning i found my zz plant still alive and healthy.

speaking of rhizomes, I was about to throw my purple Oxalis in the trashcan , as it seemed to die completely last fall. Someone here on youtube (not sure if it was you Richard) said to dig out those rhizomes and replant them. My Oxalis only had five very small rhizomes, so I figured it wouldn't grow back, but it did. It's even bigger than the original plant now 👍🏻 ♥

Sorry to say but I killed two ZZ plants . I have a new one now that’s doing great because I am not over watering it like the previous ones. Now I know to go longer before watering it. I’ve learned a lot from you. Thank you .

I took my ZZ plant outside on my front porch last summer (to the side so it wasn’t getting beat up by the sun too much) and I watered it almost every day while it was outside… when I took it inside, I basically stopped watering it again… Maybe 1-2 waterings between the end of summer and spring. Then, this spring, it shot out 4 new stalks and the stalks are about 3 feet tall each now.

My ZZ plant is much improved these days thanks to your advice. 😊

Mr. Sheffield you are a plant genius 🍀🤗

I agree. My. Zzs in the big pot are looking really good. I probably water it every 2 months. Never let it sit in water. I like your experiment your with your zz. That will help alot of plant parents who tend to over water. Have a blessed day.

About to go away for 4 months. Thanks for the informative video! I suspected they could live, but this gives me some confidence!

Had no idea my ZZ was being overwatered!😮 Thank you 🙏

People usually don't understand how tropical african plants work and why the are so special. African rainforest have a very extreme weather with continuous rainfall for literal months in summer and extreme drought in winter. ZZ plants can and will take A LOT of water with the proper soil, and will respond with fast growing owth. I water mine every two weeks but it's pure mineral draining soil, and it repond by growing a new whole leaf (what people call stems are compond leaves) every month from each potato. And the more light you give it, the more water it can take and faster it will grow. Same goes for most Sansevieria "snake plants", they are known to be low light plants that don't need water, but they will be absolutly happy to be drowned on a weekly basis as long as the soil is mineral and draining with a lot of sunlight.

I'm so glad I watched this. I haven't had my Zz plant for long, now I won't kill it!

I own a big ZZ plant for 2 years now. OMG I have been watering it mostly once a week, at times once every two weeks, along with the other house plants. Thank goodness it still looks healthy. Thanks for your video. I will stop watering it so often.

What a cool plant! Now I want to go shopping for one.

I bought a raven zz plant from Home Depot about 2-3 years ago. Turns out I wasn’t a big fan of the raven look and severely neglected this plant. I kid you not, I didn’t water this plant for over a year and left it in a random, partially lit corner of my room. Long story short, I got a new regular zz plant which lost the top of one of its stems, and I decided to propagate it. I didn’t have very high expectations, but after a few weeks, the cutting had 2 very good looking roots. So I decided to put my old and wrinkled raven in water, and the bounce back was miraculous. It grew 4 new shoots within about 3 weeks of being in water. It’s still in water now after about 3-4 months and has a beautiful new roof system and lots of new little rhizomes. Coolest thing I’ve ever seen a plant do.

Brilliant information..this is why I wait patiently for your next video…..

Absolutely perfect timing.. I'm contemplating watering my zz plant. I have wrinkled leaves.. But the stems are very firm.. Might leave it for another month and see what happens

GLAD to know this. I recently took a similar tactic with my sanseveria, after discovering mushy, yellowing foliage. I've watered the plant just once this year. It's doing fine. No more observable damage. Some new growth ongoing! This video, along with your always-excellent detail & graphics, is a first-rate primer for plant parents. Thank you!

From your last zz plant video to this new video ...I have not watered the zz. Suddenly new shoot came up. Thankyou man. I pride in myself that I know everything about flora and fauna. But your videos make me realise many new things Tq

Thank you. I water my ZZ plant 2 to 3 times weekly and it is doing well.

You are a madman. Seriously though, goes to show how much we overwater our plants.

I required a black zz plant so i made room in my pot of green one, and seems so happy for company. Im gettingbtwo new shoots from the little black one. 😊 thank you for another great video! You are the best! ( other plant utubers voice or personality gets on my nerves)

Amazing plant! Also good for the bedroom, because ZZ plant can effectively remove chemicals like xylene (solvent in rubber etc.) from contaminated air, making your sleep a bit better!

Perfectly timed video. I've been thinking of getting a ZZ plant after I saw one with a blackish color.

"I keep mine in my east-facing dining room 2m away from the window" Hilariously, that is exactly the location of mine! Except there's a tree in front of the window, so it's a VERY slow grower (just putting out two shoots now after nothing since last March). Ones I gave to friends and family have not grown at all and they bug me about giving them fake plants. But we are learning, and we will make these plants grow.

This plant grows almost wild in old landscaping , parking lots, all around Miami. It can get a lot of rain there at times. .

Excellent video. I have two of these beauties , I rarely water them and they are very healthy, Thank you .

Thank you for sharing beautiful and amazing plants lovely collection beautiful zz plants

I have spelled disaster!! I have been watering mine weekly. I use the moisture meter, but I now going to listen to you. They are SO slow growing, but I have gotten two new sprouts this year, and it looks healthy so far, in spite of my water abuse. I am following your lead now.

I bought mine at end of May and have only watered it once. Each time I use the meter it still says wet. I'm glad you uploaded this video or else I wouldn't have understood why all of my other plants are in need of water but my zz plant does not. I love your channel and appreciate your help tremendously 🌿

I got a ZZ from lidl with 5 rizomes in a pretty small pot. I repotted it in two separate ones and I have them in different rooms, different lighting. They both sprouted new shoots in a couple of months and look great. I'm really happy with them to be honest although I do water more than twice a year they are very low maintenance 😊

Mine needs to be watered about once a month. I once forgot and it went two months and almost died It's still trying to recover sadly. It sits in a shaded window and it gets maybe an hour of dappled light.

I’m falling in love with the zz plants I might get one! Just taking it easy with buying alot of plants, I’m focusing on maintaining the ones I got and propagate them 😊

I found a broken piece of ravin ZZ about 12 inches, and ZZ a couple inches. I put it in soil a couple of months ago to see if it will root. It's still really firm and standing good so I think I might be OK lol 🍃☕️❤️🙏

The ZZ is hands down the easiest plant for me to take care of! It's actually one of my favorite plants since they almost always look good and full!

I have a large zz and raven zz potted together directly in an east facing guest room window. I water it maybe once, twice a month, I dont track it. However as I write this I have 9 new neon stems.

I found this video just in time!!!! My ZZ has started to look floppy. Gonna rescue it with a soil change and check the rhizomes

Thank you for potentially saving my zz plant. I thought I watered it infrequently enough, but it could probably do with even less water.

Good stuff. Looks like I’ve been properly ignoring my ZZ. Upright and firm just the way they like ‘em

These plants are amazing if you are unsure what kind of plant will do well in your home because of lighting, they will thrive in bright indirect light as any plant but even in a darker room they will be as fabulous as the day you brought it home from the store, it may not just grow as fast. All this provided that you don’t overwater.

I water mine every 3-4 weeks. I use the water meter that use. It's definitely my most low-maintenance plant I have. Mine is in a west facing window. Some of the rhizomes on mine are above the surface of the soil, they don't seem to mind not being covered, my spider plant rhizomes are like that also.

My experience exactly, I live in a climate where 90% of the year temperatures are above 15C for most of the day, the plant is in a pretty shaded corner and it is an incredibly slow grower but everytime I use my moisture meter, there is still moisture at the bottom of the pot and I just leave it alone, cannot remember the last time I watered it...

Genius 😀 was looking for this kind of tip

I'm new to plant care. I really enjoy your content. I'll pass on buying a zz because I look forward to watering. I like feeling like they need me for something. 😅

Really like your videos. I managed to kill 3 stems of my healthy ZZ plant by overwatering (guilty watering every week). Watched so many videos but yours is an eye opener to know its okay not to water the plant for months! Thank you.

My mother has 2. A regular ZZ plant and a Raven. Her ZZ, is in a large pot. It's heavy but she just wraps her arms around it and carries it wherever she needs it. It's funny to watch because several of the leaves are between 2 to 3 feet long. I have 2 Zenzi. They are no where big as her ZZ! I thank you for this video as I almost realized to late that I was over watering her plants. I have cut back but after seeing your video. I see I can cut back even further. I don't think mom's plants can go as long as yours do Sir, but they can definitely go longer than the 3 weeks I've been giving them!🤤 Thanks!

Wow! Now that is truly amazing.

Good stuff. I almost killed this “Unkillable Plant” 🌱 bc I watered it weekly. It died off to two leaves. It bounced bk and is thriving. Can you talk more about watering Jades please?

My ZZ plant is Jet black, but has a ton of new green growth coming out of it, quite a unique plant!

Thank you. Been wanting to add ZZ to my collection. I would have killed it for sure.

I just bought a raven zz plant! So glad I saw this video. ❤

I'm in MN, USA.. I had my ZZ in a west window for a long time.. I moved it to a south window, close to the heat vent... it's doubled in size. lol

wonderfully informative… ty

Watching this after I accidentally pulled out a rotting stem when I examined it this morning. Clearly the bone dry soil tricked me and it was too soon to water.

I water my ZZ when I pay my rent, like you have taught us in the past. It's a good reminder also, rent, water ZZ. LOL.

I saw from somewhere that the only reason to repot a ZZ plant is when it flowers and/or the pot is cracked. Otherwise it will be happy in the pot as it likes to be rootbound and too much soil in a larger pot will only retain too much water which may cause root rot.

Oh that's weird! I water mine once a week and it's doing great. I've had it for about 3 years. It just grew another stalk about 30 inches high. I live in So. California and it's by a sunny slider. I'll cut back the watering and see what happens.

From what I've learned from them the stems will wrinkle if they are absolutely thirsty, also they love being close to an east facing window

I dont have one yet, i have been 'eyeing' them and they are a bit pricey for me. maybe i can find a small one and take it in to love. i think the Raven is lovely. Thanks for the content, i would have abused it if i did have one, ha. now i know. east window, hardly any water. i bet the big box stores will be over watering them very soon, perhaps i might cop one at a reasonable price and nurture it till it resembles yours! Thanks Charles. You really know your stuff! Im also a fan of Planterina & Kill this plant. yall are my favorites.

Thank you so much for the info! It was incredibly helpful! I just received a little variegated one - not the most happy plant when it came to me, but I want to try my best to keep it alive and growing. The soil was pretty moist when I got it and it was a weird mixture of somtheing like soft clay balls. Five days after I got it I saw that two leaves were turning a bit pale so I've build up the courage to check and maybe change the soil. The roots seemed fine, nothing rotting and the bulb was very firm and seemed so full. Thanks to your video I know for sure not to water it for a while because I was very tempeted to water it after changing the soil. I put it in something like 30% perlite, 30% suculent/cactus soil and the rest some Seramis planting granules. I will keep my fingers crossed that the leaves will stop turning yellow this way. I was also tempted to cut at lease one leaf off and try to propagate it, but I'm not sure I like the chances. It already struggles since it has only one original stem with four leaves on it and a new stem that is completly white and will probably die off - also I'm not sure if I should cut this one off or leave the plant to dry it up itself. Thanks again for all your videos, they are all very detailed and cover so many issues.

I used to water it every 10 days or so because that is what someone told me that i should do. It became lame, droopy and your video saved my favorite plant. Now its fully green and bright again

Great info thanks plant dad 😊

I used to have one of these guys in my bathroom. It only got indirect light, and it took a year or two of only watering it with the steam in the room from the shower, before it said enough is enough.

This is exactly the video I needed right now. Thank you! I bought a ZZ plant at Ikea 9 days ago. It's now in a room as the only plant with lower, indirect light where I hope it will be happy. I had a list going to the store based on your basement darkness test. :) I did water it for the first time on day 5 when the moisture meter was close to hitting the "dry" and just checked that the stems feel okay because I wonder if it didn't need the water just yet. I know to leave it alone a while, now, and how to check it--the house is pretty dry in winter. I'm also glad you talked about the rhizomes liking it to be a bit cozy in there, because it seemed that it would need a larger pot.

I water my large ficus elastica few times a year. It’s doing just great :)

Your video is so helpful! Thanks so much!

Last year by a miracle it rain way to much in California and my zz plant died and I left the pot there. And about 6 months later it came back and sprouted 4-6 zz plants 🌱

My favourite house plant.

I water my Ikea ZZ about a month after the soil goes bone dry. This varies considerably in my climate (warm dry summers, cool wet winters) from about every two months to as much as every six months. My plant takes a bit longer to dry out than I would like, so when I replant it eventually, I will switch it from a glazed planter to a bare terracotta planter. Then I will switch to waiting two months after it dries out to water it, because I think I'm actually watering more than needed. Mine gets lots of direct west window light, and it also only sends out a few stems per year. It's definitely an easy plant as long as you water less than 6 times per year, but also a very slow grower, which is okay for most people, I think.

Super helpful. Thank you

I meant I listen to you every morning

I bought a snake plant a while back and still haven’t watered it yet. I love plants that don’t like to be fussed over like the zz and such

I've been staring at my month old new ZZ plant for days now thinking should I get off the couch and water it? But it's put out two new stems so I think "nah it seems ok I'll wait". It sits on a table near a south facing window with my succulent collection I water every month or so. Thanks for validating my lackadaisical watering of it as proper care.

Very informative...great info. Thanks

Ohhh the zz! I always touch the rhizomes to check what is going on in the pot 😅 since April I watered mine a few times maybe, he is living in 26-28 Celsius, in low humidity - and the more tragic are the circumstances for the other plant, the happier is Mr. Raven.

I water mine once a month. I always thought they were fine with low light. They seem to thrive better in bright light, right in front of my sliding glass door..

ZZ = zonder zorg, dutch for without care. Sums it up pretty well!

It depends I see alot of bad zz because people never water them. Water when the mix is dry - that could be once a week for some or every few months for others. Regular liquid feed makes them grow fast too.

Thought I killed my ZZ Total NOOB. Everything rotted away. Just left with a massive Rhizome and big root. Potted it up and waiting for a new shoot. Fingers crossed. Love your channel.

I love this channel

Loved this ❤️

I got a lush ZZ raven in May and immediately watered it because the soil was bone dry. I watered again after just over a month but now thinking I could have waited much longer. It’s now sat in a dark corner with very little natural light so I’ll take this video as a sign to leave it be 😂

Welllllll I guess I'll be trying this plant the next time I see it at Trader Joe's!

I repotted my zz beginning of feb coz it was bulging out of the pot and now its not showing any signs of growth. It grew well previously. Your so right. I should have left it but i now know thanks Rich xlol sarah.Plymouth

Dust off that poor little plant! They have a beautiful natural shine.💖

Thank you for this video! This is very helpful. I had several zz plants and they all died from overwatering. Geez! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Can you also do this for snake plant? Not water them for a very long time..I wonder how long snake plants will survive without watering. I am very horrible in overwatering! 😅

My first ZZ was about 6" tall (a green one) and not knowing anything about it, I re-potted it into a larger pot. I was told they can survive in a bright room with indirect sunlight so that's where I put it. For months it just sat there. and only watered it when my meter said it was dry all the way to the bottom. Suddenly about 5 months ago I notices it looked taller. Than i noticed t was getting taller and more stems coming up in the center. I m not doing much to it and sometimes if I forget to open the blinds since we rarely use that room, it is actually sitting in a room with not much sunlght at all. Now it';s twice the height of when I got it. Plus I cut off one of the stems and stuck it in water. It took a few months but it did grow roots. I have it in a little pot now to see what happens. I looked yesterday cos it's under a grow light - just to se how it reacts. It looked droopy when it was standing tall when first planted it. I also have a Raven ZZ and it too has been growing more stems (which are green when they first emerge). I did notice a few dead/dried out stems but overall this too is doing well.

I need to get one just because 👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

I always forget to water mine, it looked healthy and stagnant for a while. Few days ago it shot a huge new stem which ive never seen from it since its obviously such a slow grower. I will never understand how people kill this plant lmao.

I love watching your videos. I have the attention span of a gnat, but your content always keep my full focus. It never fails, I watch one of your videos and "I want one of those", but, I have cats. There seem to only be a handful of plants that are cat/pet safe. Would you consider mentioning whether or not they're pet safe in your videos?

I've watered my mother's zz plant twice a month and it is flourishing. I keep it in a mid-lit room by the window. I'm going to ease up on watering it before it's too late.

I should get one

I almost killed my zz plant when i first brought it home by watering it every week. I water mine about every 3 months now and it seems to be recovering.

He did not mention yellow leaves. What can be the problem?

But after such a long dry period, does the ZZ plant still have nutrients to promote new growth? Surely the nutrients can't get into the plant without moisture? I just think that you have problems with this plant to get new growth, because the nutrients do not get into the plant through the dry phases. ZZ plants are also known to grow very slowly, so maybe that is the reason.

I live in Canada, my zz is in a sw window. I probably my water 3 times a year