When to Transplant a ZZ Plant

Reasons to Transplant Indoors

• The ZZ plant is one of the lowest-maintenance plants to grow inside. In fact, for the most part it seems to do best when neglected. It prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate extremely low light conditions, and grows from a potato-like rhizome that stores food and water even in harsh environments. The most likely culprit if a ZZ plant is ailing is over-watering, which can cause yellowing leaves. If you see signs of over-watering, transfer to the plant to fresh soil in a pot with good drainage to avoid mold or root rot.

How to Tell When It's Time

• Though the ZZ plant is a slow grower, it can sometimes outgrow its container, at which point it should be transferred to a larger pot. You can judge whether a ZZ plant is ready for a new container by aesthetics, noting if the plant's foliage simply looks crowded or too large for its pot, or by delicately feeling the soil to see if the rhizome is densely packed inside the container.

When to Transplant Indoors

• The inside of your home or office is sheltered from weather, so you can transplant your ZZ plant as you notice overgrowth or stress from over-watering. However, the ideal times to replant indoors are when the plant is actively growing, which tend to be in spring and early summer. Because the ZZ plant is a slow grower, transfer to a container that is only one size larger than the previous one. Choose a container with good drainage. When transferring the plant, hold the ZZ plant by the base, not the leaves, to avoid ripping from the roots. Allow just enough space in the new soil to fit the root ball and carefully place the ZZ plant inside.

Reasons to Transplant a Plant in the Ground

• If your ZZ plant is in the ground, move it to a better location if you see signs of stress that could be caused by poor drainage, too much direct sunlight or crowding from nearby plants or should changes in your garden design make its current location unsuitable.

When to Transplant Outdoors

• ZZ plants can be transplanted any time of year, but extremes in heat and cold can cause stress to the plant, so milder temperatures are preferable. Autumn and early spring are ideal seasons because cool weather and light precipitation allow moist, soft soil. If you cannot wait for the season to change, choose a mild, overcast day to transplant; or, if your ZZ plant is in a container outside, temporarily bring it inside to replant.

How to Transplant Into the Ground

• Dig carefully around the plant to avoid damaging the roots or stalks, and hold the plant from the base rather than the stalk to avoid ripping or harming the plant. Place it in a new hole just large enough to house the root ball.