The Zamioculcas zamiifolia—or as most of us call it, the ZZ Plant—is one of the toughest houseplants out there. But did you know it’s also incredibly easy to propagate at home? If you want to turn one plant into a whole family of “Emerald Palms,” you just need a little patience and a few cuttings. Here is my step-by-step guide to growing your own baby ZZ plants from scratch.
Different Ways to Propagate
When it comes to propagating your ZZ plant, you’ve got two main options. You can start new plants using:
- Individual leaf cuttings
- Entire leaf stalks (stems)
Propagating with Leaf Cuttings
Using individual leaves is the most popular way to grow new ZZ plants. It takes a while, but it’s a great way to get a lot of new plants at once. Here’s how you do it:
- Pick out the leaves you want to use. Instead of reaching for your scissors, just gently pluck the leaves off the stem. This little “wound” actually helps the leaf root faster!
- Dip the raw edge of the leaf into a bit of rooting hormone to give it a head start.
- Stick the leaf about an inch deep into a small pot filled with fresh seed-starting mix or potting soil.
- Find a cozy spot for your pot that gets plenty of bright, indirect light. Just make sure it’s not sitting in harsh, direct sun.
- Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy). To create a mini-greenhouse effect, cover the pot with some plastic wrap or a cut-off plastic bottle to keep the humidity high.
Pro tip: If you want to speed things up, try watering your cuttings with “willow water.” After a few months, you’ll see the first little roots and shoots appearing. Once your baby ZZ plant looks sturdy enough, you can move it into its very own pot.
Propagating with Stem Cuttings
If you don’t want to mess with individual leaves, you can use an entire leaf stalk as a cutting. The process is pretty similar, but the big difference here is that we’re going to root these in water instead of soil.
- Cut off a healthy-looking stalk that has about four or five leaves on it.
- Place the stem into a glass or jar filled with fresh, lukewarm water.
- Put your cutting in a warm, bright spot, again avoiding that direct afternoon sun.
- Make sure to change the water regularly—ideally every day—to keep it fresh.
After a few months, you’ll notice small tubers and roots starting to grow at the base. Once your little ZZ plant has developed a solid root system, it’s ready to be moved into a pot with standard potting soil.
