Pest identification
What's eating my zz plant?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony masses at stem bases and hidden near the soil surface above the rhizomes; leaves may yellow.
Control: Dab all visible bugs with isopropyl alcohol; drench the soil surface with diluted neem oil and repeat every 10 days for a month.
Scale insects
Signs: Hard brown bumps on stems; sticky honeydew attracts sooty mould and leaves look lackluster.
Control: Scrape off manually with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil spray and repeat in 14 days.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Root damage from larvae; adults visible around the soil — usually a sign of overwatering.
Control: Reduce watering significantly; allow soil to dry fully; use Bti drench and yellow sticky traps.
Keep zz plant pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
ZZ plant pests — FAQ
What is eating my zz plant?
ZZ plants are among the most pest-resistant houseplants, but mealybugs are their Achilles heel — they love the waxy stems and rhizomes. Scale occasionally appears on older canes. Fungus gnats can develop if the soil is kept too moist. Overwatering is a far bigger threat to ZZ plants than most pests.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on zz plant?
White cottony masses at stem bases and hidden near the soil surface above the rhizomes; leaves may yellow. Dab all visible bugs with isopropyl alcohol; drench the soil surface with diluted neem oil and repeat every 10 days for a month.
How do I get rid of scale insects on zz plant?
Hard brown bumps on stems; sticky honeydew attracts sooty mould and leaves look lackluster. Scrape off manually with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil spray and repeat in 14 days.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on zz plant?
Root damage from larvae; adults visible around the soil — usually a sign of overwatering. Reduce watering significantly; allow soil to dry fully; use Bti drench and yellow sticky traps.