From my perspective as a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), my entire being is engineered for survival in arid conditions. My native environment is one of intermittent rainfall and poor, rocky soil. To thrive there, I evolved a complex underground system of rhizomes. These thick, potato-like structures are my lifeline; they are reservoirs that store vast amounts of water and nutrients collected during brief periods of rain. This allows me to withstand long stretches of drought. My roots are adapted to seek moisture in well-draining soil, not to be perpetually submerged. While I am a resilient specimen, my fundamental biology is not naturally aligned with a fully aquatic existence.
You may have seen my stems rooting happily in a glass of water, and this is where the confusion begins. I can indeed be propagated in water. A stem cutting placed in water will often develop roots because my survival instinct is strong. The water provides the hydration necessary to initiate root growth from the cutting's energy stores. For a short period, perhaps several months, I might even appear to be thriving. I will push out new roots and possibly even a small shoot of new growth, fueled entirely by the energy stored within the piece of the mother plant. This initial success, however, is deceptive and not sustainable for my long-term health.
The critical issue with a water-only existence is the stark lack of essential nutrients. In soil, my roots form a complex relationship with the ecosystem, breaking down organic matter and absorbing a wide range of macro and micronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and calcium. Pure water contains none of these. While I can survive for a surprisingly long time on the stored energy in my rhizome, I am essentially starving. My growth will become severely stunted, and any new leaves that emerge will likely be pale, weak, and small. Over many months or a couple of years, I will exhaust all my internal reserves. Without a external source of nutrition, I will eventually succumb to malnutrition, becoming weak and susceptible to rot.
Furthermore, my roots are not designed for constant immersion. They require oxygen to function properly and to absorb what minimal nutrients might be available. In a stagnant water environment, oxygen levels are low. This leads to the roots becoming soft, brown, and mushy—a condition you know as root rot. This rot can quickly spread to the rhizome, which is fatal. While frequent water changes can mitigate this risk slightly by introducing fresh oxygen, it does not solve the core problem of nutrient absence and creates an constant state of physiological stress for me, forcing my roots to function in an unnatural and challenging environment.
