ZZ Plant drooping

Mature ZZ stalks often arch outward under the weight of their leaflets. Compare their bases with newly leaning stalks: a firm base is different from a yellow, wet-soft one.

Firm but leaning

If new growth leans strongly toward a distant window, move into brighter indirect light and rotate occasionally. If the mix is dry through and the stalk is wrinkling rather than mushy, water thoroughly and drain. A natural arch will not become upright simply from extra water.

Soft at the soil line

Inspect roots and potato-like rhizomes. Remove rotten tissue and repot sound parts using the ZZ root rot guide. Drying the soil cannot restore a collapsed rhizome.