Discover the timeless charm of the Zanzibar Gem, a symbol of natural beauty that graces any environment with elegance.

10 Commandments of ZZ Care

With its glossy, dark green leaves and air-purifying qualities, the ZZ plant has captured the hearts of plant lovers worldwide. To ensure your Zanzibar plant thrives and becomes a centerpiece of natural beauty, follow these 10 Commandments of ZZ Care.

• Embrace lower light

• With watering, less is more

• Use well-draining soil

• Choose a cozy pot size

• The perfect fertilizer

• Pruning your ZZ

• Toxicity levels

• The right temperature

• Foliage care

• Patience for growth

Embrace lower light

Welcome your ZZ plant into your home's low-light areas with open arms. This hardy plant excels in low light conditions, making it a perfect fit for corners and rooms with minimal natural light. It also will happily grow (and grow fast!) in bright, indirect light, but avoid direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves and hinder growth.

Embrace the beauty of the no-fuss Zanzibar Gem, thriving gracefully in low light and illuminating even the dimmest corners.

With watering, less is more

Adopt a minimalist approach to watering your ZZ plant. These drought-tolerant wonders prefer to dry out between waterings as they store water in their bulbous roots. Allow the top inch of soil to become dry before giving a moderate drink. We’ll say it once and we’ll say it again: overwatering can lead to root rot, so err on the side of underwatering, especially with this plant!

Use well-draining soil

Plant your ZZ in a well-draining potting mix to ensure proper aeration and prevent waterlogging. Because the Zanzibar Gem is actually a succulent, a mix designed for succulents or cacti is ideal. This helps maintain a healthy root system and prevents moisture-related issues.

A cozy pot size

Choose a pot that provides a snug fit for your ZZ plant's roots. A slightly tight space encourages healthy growth and prevents excessive soil moisture. Repotting every few years into a slightly larger pot is sufficient.

Fertilizer, please!

Feed your ZZ plant with a well balanced fertilizer during the growing season (spring and summer) 1-2 times per month. If you use our natural plant food, you may continue to fertilize your plant but reduce to just one time per month or every other month. Avoid over-fertilizing, as ZZ plants are light feeders. 

Nourish your Zanzibar Gem to new heights of beauty with our specialized fertilizer and watch as your ZZ flourishes for years to come!

Prune lightly

Trim brown or yellowing leaves close to the base to encourage new growth. Pruning promotes a tidy appearance and redirects energy to healthy foliage. Remember, less is more; ZZ plants have a slow growth rate, so don't be too eager with the shears.

Toxicity: handle with care

While ZZ plants are stunning, they contain compounds that can be harmful if ingested. Keep them out of reach of curious pets and children. If nibbled on, they may cause discomfort, so ensure proper placement, out of reach from curious children or pets!

Keep things temperate

Provide gentle air circulation by placing your ZZ plant in a well-ventilated area. Avoid exposing it to strong drafts, which can stress the plant. As with all plants, good airflow prevents pests and promotes overall plant health.

Give your Zanzibar Gem a spa day by gently trimming away any yellow or brown leaves to promote a healthier appearance.

Shine that foliage

The Zanzibar Gem is not an easy plant to clean, but it will love you so much more for regularly doing it! Dust off your ZZ plant's leaves every few months or so to keep them glossy and vibrant. Wipe gently with a damp cloth to remove dust and improve its ability to photosynthesize–bonus points if you use a soap specially crafted to clean plants and naturally repel pests. 

Patience for growth

Patience is key when it comes to caring for plants, and above all with the Zanzibar Gem! ZZ plants are slow growers, so be patient and allow them to thrive at their own pace. With time and care, your plant will reward you with its striking presence and air-purifying prowess!

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Why are my Zanzibar Gem’s Leaves Browning at the Tips?

Zanzibar Gems are a lush and beautiful indoor plant variety with foliage to die for. With their generous profusion of wand-like stalks adorned with bountiful, emerald colored foliage, ZZ Gems as they’re often called lend a dazzling pop of color to any interior. So when you notice that your plant is exhibiting browning leaf tips, it’s natural to be frustrated! But you don’t need to fret— browning leaf tips are easily treated, and can almost always easily traced back to one of these hiccups in plant care. Read on, and be relieved!

Environment Too Dry

The most common cause of browning leaf tips on a Zanzibar Gem is a lack of humidity in the plant’s environment. The use of air conditioners or heaters, drafts from doors and windows, and seasonal changes can all cause a change in humidity- but it can be easily assuaged by misting your plant! Mist you plant up the three times weekly, either with plain water or with water mixed with a foliar feed, like Potion Magique.

Overwatering

The browning caused by overwatering has a specific appearance and texture. If the foliage appears soft and mushy, is falling off or is very easily removed, it’s possible that your plant may be overwatered. Zanzibar Gems need to be watered only sparingly- when the top two inches of their soil are entirely dry. If you are concerned that your plant may have been overwatered, remove the plant, still within its plastic nursery pot, from its ceramic planter. Check its soil to see if it is waterlogged or has a musty scent. If the soil is thoroughly wet, allow it to dry out entirely before you replace the plant in its ceramic pot, and begging your watering schedule again, watering only when the topsoil is entirely dry. Remove any significantly brown or unhealthy leaves.

Underwatering

If a large portion of your Zanzibar Gem’s leaves are dry, brown and crispy, it’s possible that your plant has gone too long without water. Insert your finger in the top two inches of its soil— if they are entirely dry, give it 1-2 cups of water. Do not overwater the plant to compensate for its dryness; just commit to a new regular schedule of checking its moisture and watering it when needed. You can trim off the severely dried leaves or allow them to naturally fall. New growth will appear as your plant bounces back from its drought.

Reach Out!

In the unlikely event that your Zanzibar Gem’s condition is not improved by making adjustments to its care routine, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Plant Doctor service via your Léon & George account. Our experts are always here to help!

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Zanzibar Gem

Lush and vibrant, with wand-like stems and emerald foliage, the Zanzibar Gem is a stunning, low-maintenance indoor plant that thrives in medium to low, indirect light.

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Why are my Zanzibar Gem’s Leaves Yellowing?

Zanzibar Gems have no shortage of fabulous, textural foliage, and these deep, emerald-toned leaves are its most beloved characteristic. With that in mind, it makes perfect sense to feel concern if you notice discoloration or yellowing. Luckily, yellowing foliage on your Zanzibar Gem is an easy fix! Read on to learn the common causes and solutions for yellowing leaves on your Zanzibar Gem.

Normal Leaf Shedding

It’s normal for Zanzibar Gems to shed older leaves from time time, so if you notice that your Zanzibar Gem has a small number of yellow leaves, you can simply pluck them off, or trim them as close to the branch as possible with clean, sharp scissors or shears.

Overwatering

If you notice more than a small amount of yellowing leaves, inspect your Zanzibar Gem for signs of overwatering such as soft, mushy stalks and waterlogged, very wet soil. 

If you see these signs, remove your plant (still within its plastic nursery pot) from its ceramic planter. Check the ceramic planter for excess water and, if any has pooled inside of it, pour that water out. Keep your Zanzibar Gem out of the ceramic planter until its soil dries entirely. 

You will also want to remove any dead, yellow leaves and mushy stalks or roots at this time.

It may take a few weeks to a month for your Zanzibar Gem’s soil to dry entirely, but don’t worry, your plant does not need more water during this time. 

Once it has fully dried, you can return it to its ceramic planter and re-initiate your watering regimen, of watering only when the top two inches of its soil, below the decorative moss, are entirely dry. 

Consider a Moisture Meter

Moisture meters are a handy, easy-to-use tool that allows you to determine your plant’s moisture level with no fuss. 

You simply push the meter deeply into your plant’s soil (be mindful not to hit your plant’s roots with the meter on the way down) and read its sensor window. When your plant’s soil is moist, the window will appear blue. When the soil is dry and your plant is ready for water, the window will appear white.

Moisture meters are affordable and available in the same sizes as your Zanzibar Gem: Small, Medium, and Large. 

If In Doubt, Reach Out!

Yellow leaves are typically not a sign of a serious health problem, and can simply be removed. However, if you are concerned that your Zanzibar Gem is showing other signs of distress, or if it is delivered with a high degree of discoloration, our Plant Doctor Service can provide guidance. Simply sign in to your Léon & George account, select “Contact Plant Doctor” and provide photos.

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Zanzibar Gem

Vibrantly tonal, with an abundance of lush, emerald-tone foliage, the Zanzibar Gem is a low-maintenance, low-water dream plant for spaces that received medium to low, indirect light.

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