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INDOORPLANTCARE
Placement · ZZ Plant

Where to Put Your ZZ Plant

Hallways, offices, bathrooms, and rooms with only fluorescent or overhead light — ZZ plant is the closest thing to a "dark room" houseplant that actually thrives.

Best window
Any direction; north-facing works fine
Distance from window
3–15 feet from a window — ZZ tolerates more distance than nearly any other plant
Target light
50–400 fc (very low to medium)
Room temperature
60–75°F (16–24°C)

What to avoid

Direct sun (scorches leaves and causes them to drop), and overwatering — placement in a humid bathroom is fine only if watering is reduced

Most common placement mistake

Putting it right in a south-facing window. ZZ is so often called "low light tolerant" that owners overcorrect and put it in bright direct sun, which burns the leaves.

How to measure light at home

A foot-candle (fc) is a unit of light intensity. You can measure it with a free smartphone app like Light Meter or with a $20 digital light meter. As reference points:

  • 50\u2013100 fc: A bright corner away from any window — most low-light tolerant plants only
  • 100\u2013400 fc: A few feet from a north or east window — medium light
  • 400\u20131000 fc: Right next to a bright east window or 3\u20136 feet from a south window — bright indirect
  • 1000+ fc: Directly in a south or west window — full sun, only suitable for succulents and high-light tropicals
Pet safety placement note: ZZ Plant is toxic to cats and dogs per ASPCA. Place out of reach of pets and children — a high shelf, hanging planter, or closed room. Verify on ASPCA

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden

For full ZZ Plant care — watering schedule, fertilizing, pests, and propagation — see the ZZ Plant care guide. Or check out how big ZZ Plant gets.