The Araceae (ariod) family of succulent houseplants includes the easy-to-grow ZZ plant, which is a native of Africa. The species name refers to having leaves like those of the unrelated genus Zamia.
It is one of the simplest low-maintenance houseplants to cultivate, and you may usually see it in interior designs for business spaces. A mature height and spread of 2 to 3 feet will be attained gradually.
It features pinnately complex, glossy leaves with thick petioles that store water, making it exceptionally drought tolerant. It also has bulbous, meaty rhizomes that give rise to the leaves. The oval-shaped, thick leaves give it a waxy appearance. Although they only develop on mature plants, the blooms are a white spadix and a green spathe.
Plant in potting soil with good drainage that is regularly watered but let to dry out between waterings because damp feet are not acceptable. When it becomes dormant in the winter, water it only once a month. In the summer, water it twice a month, but only if the soil is entirely dry. Every year or every two years, use a balanced fertilizer. Similar care can be given to this plant as to cacti and other succulent plants. While they can survive in environments with only fluorescent lighting and will even grow there, they thrive in direct sunlight that is bright. If the plant is exposed to direct sunshine, the leaves may become scorched and brown.
If taken inside once it drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, this plant might be grown in a pot outside in some regions.
LIGHT
One of those houseplants that can flourish almost anyplace is the ZZ plant. This is not an exaggeration: this plant will thrive anywhere between total darkness and full direct sunlight.
The ideal situation would be brilliant indirect light, yet a small bit of direct sunlight won’t do any harm. Even though this plant can tolerate very little light, if your lighting is particularly bad, don’t expect it to grow too much.
However, due to its extreme tolerance, it would thrive in any environment, including offices with no windows and only overhead lighting.
The phrase “low light” on a plant tag does not necessarily imply that the plant REQUIRES low light.
It simply means that low light will be TOLERATED. Having said that, this plant will still look fantastic in low-light conditions, but don’t anticipate it to grow too quickly because it could eventually become fragile.
Only a few number of others, such as Pothos and Sansevieria, can compete with this plant as one of the finest plants for reduced light levels.
My kitchen table, which is a few feet from a window with a Western exposure, has a ZZ plant on top of it. A skylight is also located directly over the kitchen table.
It may occasionally receive a brief burst of direct sunlight throughout the year, but for the majority of the day, it receives indirect light. Even if the new growth is robust and the rate of development is actually much faster than I anticipated for this plant, I still think it is a lower light scenario and it is sufficient for me.
WATERING
ZZ plants may go for a long period of time without being watered. Similar to lighting conditions, your ZZ plant will reward you if you DON’T entirely ignore its watering requirements.
However, this is one of the greatest plants you may cultivate if you frequently neglect to water your plants.
I’ll wait a while before watering ZZ plants once more. Since it might change greatly depending on a number of things, I don’t really use a calendar to schedule when I water.
I’ll wait for the soil to be nearly fully dry after giving it a good watering. Before watering again, you should surely wait at least until the top inch or two of the soil are dry.
If you touch the soil and it feels moist, don’t even consider watering this plant again!
I know someone who simply gave her enormous ZZ plant one monthly watering, and it became enormous. One of the very few plants that can survive those conditions is this one.
Never allow this plant to stand in water for too long; otherwise, it can rot soon. This plant is quite resistant to being killed, unless you use a severe watering technique!
ZZ PLANT SOIL
ZZ plants require first-rate drainage. For these plants, I like to use a cactus and succulent mix, but I also like to add extra coarse perlite or pumice.
When I want to utilize a succulent/cactus mix, Miracle Gro Cactus Palm and Citrus mix is my go-to potting soil.
To this mixture, I also prefer to add more gritty perlite or pumice. As a result, your potting mix will drain very effectively.
The ratio is probably one part perlite or pumice to three parts potting soil, however I don’t measure the quantities precisely. The ratios can be changed to suit your preferences.
A ZZ plant is what sort of plant?
Tropical Zamioculcas zamiifolia, sometimes known as the ZZ plant or Zanzibar Gem, is a member of the Araceae family of aroid plants. It is indigenous to Kenya, Zanzibar, and Eastern Africa. Rhizomes that resemble giant potatoes may be visible beneath the potting soil’s surface.
ZZ Raven—is that a succulent?
The purple-black glossy leaves of the raven ZZ plant definitely live up to their hip name. The original ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), which gained popularity as a houseplant in the 1990s, may be known to you. It is still widely used today and is offered by both big-box nurseries and specialized ones.
Due to its hardiness and simple maintenance requirements, original green ZZ plants have long been found in malls, retail complexes, and medical offices. The leaves nevertheless maintain their stunning high-shine appearance with very minimal care, to the point where the plants occasionally appear artificial.
The raven ZZ is similar in many ways to ZZ plants, which are low-maintenance, attractive indoor plants. Its scientific name is Zamioculcas zamiifolia Raven, and it is a tropical succulent with leaves that emerge in lime green and grow to a deep purple-black. The lime green leaves sometimes take many weeks to start turning.
It is a slow-growing plant that can grow to be between 1.5 and 3 feet tall. Because they are hardy indoor plants, they are ideal for novices. In actuality, the raven ZZ plant won the award for “Best New Plant at the 2018 Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition, and immediately after that, it became widely popular. Since then, it has gained enormous appeal, and only recently have big-box garden centers begun to carry it.
What makes ZZ Plant unique?
The ZZ plant has many benefits for homes and offices thanks to its broad, lovely, dark green leaves. The ZZ plant is tolerant of neglect, drought, and low light levels without complaining. Its smooth, glossy leaves reflect sunlight, illuminating spaces. Because ZZ typically grows slowly, it won’t immediately outgrow its container and will eventually reach a height and width of two to three feet.
Xylene, toluene, and benzene are just a few of the several chemicals that the ZZ plant is particularly good at eliminating from the air, according to a NASA study.
Should you water a ZZ Plant immediately after repotting?
After repotting, you can water in moderation. Most of the time, you should just keep watering your plant according to its routine (every three to four weeks) or water when the soil feels dry.
Do ZZ Plants like big pots?
Huge pots may not be ideal for ZZ plants since they can hold onto too much water when they are too large. Choose a new pot that is only marginally bigger than the old one.
Why is my ZZ Plant limp after repotting?
Plants can be harmed by repotting. Repotting should only be done in the spring and early summer, when the plant is actively growing. To reduce shock after repotting, maintain your ZZ plant in its familiar surroundings.
What location should I give my ZZ plant?
ZZ plants thrive in bright to moderate indirect light, though they can also tolerate very low light levels. This plant is perfect for a windowless room like a bathroom or an office where it only gets dim fluorescent lighting.
ZZ plants can tolerate direct light, but if they are left in it, the leaves may start to scald. In addition, bending, yellowing, and curled leaves can all be signs of excessive light. Curling often indicates that the plant is attempting to migrate away from the light source. Place the plant farther from the light source or in a more shaded area. If moving the plant is not an option, you can try blocking the light with drapes or shades.
How can touching a ZZ plant affect you?
Zamioculcas zamiifolia, sometimes known as the ZZ plant, is an excellent option if you’re seeking for a hardy, low-light house plant. However, you might be concerned about if ZZ plants are dangerous and whether your family and pets can safely use them.
A ZZ plant: toxic or not? ZZ plants do indeed poison both people and animals. Direct contact with ZZ plants can irritate the skin and eyes, and ingesting them can result in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But if you take a few easy steps, you can live securely with a ZZ plant.
There was a lot of misinformation about ZZ plants out there a few years ago. Many people thought that handling the plant safely required wearing gloves and that it was so toxic that it may cause cancer. That is untrue.
A ZZ plant: is it a fern?
ZZ plant offers dramatic texture to indoor gardens with its leaves, which have the appearance of having been polished to an exquisite sheen. The ZZ plant is also known as the aroid palm, eternity plant, cardboard palm, and arum fern. This low-light environment, which comes from east or north-facing windows, is ideal for this easy-to-grow houseplant to flourish. For anyone who claims they can’t maintain houseplants, the ZZ plant is ideal due to its attractive appearance and laid-back personality.
How long does a ZZ plant live?
- ZZ plants have the potential to become quite large and can even resemble trees or palms. Because of this, they are often referred to as Aroid Palms or Emerald Palms. Caladium Zamiaefolium, Zamioculcas Lanceolata, and Zamioculcas Loddigesii are further botanical names for these species.
- They are herbaceous plants that develop a succulent, potato-like rhizome that grows between 17 and 23 inches (45 and 60 cm) tall. Although they are typically evergreen plants, dry circumstances can cause them to turn deciduous.
- ZZ plants have pinnate, 15.7–23.6-inch (40–60 cm) long leaves with 6–8 pairs of leaflets that range in length from 2.8 to 5.9 inches (7–15 cm). Their bottom-thickened stems have waxy, smooth, glossy, and dark-green leaves.
- Their roots have a large capacity for water storage, and the lifespan of their leaves is predicted to be at least six months. Zanzibar Gem plants can therefore go four months without both water and intense light.
- These plants produce flowers from the middle of summer through the first few weeks of fall, most of which are tucked up amid the leaf base. They can develop into a tiny, yellow-brown spadix that is up to 2.8 inches (7 cm) long. Only when grown outdoors or in their natural habitat do ZZ plants bloom.
- They have a few applications in conventional medicine, including earache, ulceration, and inflammatory diseases.
What distinguishes a ZZ plant from a raven ZZ plant?
The common ZZ Plant and the raven ZZ Plant are both members of the same species. The distinguishing characteristic of the Raven is that, in contrast to ZZ Plants, which are renowned for their vibrant green foliage “As the plant ages, the color of the leaf darkens to a purple-green.
This appears to have been initially brought on by a plant mutation that was found in a nursery in South Korea. The proprietor discovered he had a dark-leaved ZZ Plant, multiplied it using the stems, and eventually patented the plant as a novel variety.
It’s interesting to note that a Raven ZZ Plant’s new growth first seems pretty green before darkening over time. The mature parts of the plant get quite black as the green color gradually fades and is replaced with a deeper purple hue over the course of a few months.
The primary underlying cause of the “The darkening of the color’s black hue with age seems to be a result of time. If you’re so motivated, feel free to experiment with light exposure on your own Raven. On the other hand, I’ve read some contradictory information about how bright light and dark shadow both speed the coloring process (albeit marginally, at best).
Why is purple on my ZZ plant?
One of the most fashionable and well-liked indoor plants is the raven ZZ plant. It makes sense why. The leaves of Raven develop an electrifying lime-green tint as it develops new growth. Each leaflet gradually darkens to a beautiful purple-black color as they grow. The result is spellbinding.
The Raven ZZ plant is a stunning indoor plant that is also one of the simplest to cultivate because it can tolerate a variety of lighting and moisture conditions. Practically any room in a house or workplace can support its growth.
This indoor plant’s modest growth rate makes it a great option for desktops and tabletops when it’s young. With proper care, it can gradually grow taller by 4 feet or more over time, becoming more dramatic as it gets older.
Learn more about plant patents. Raven was uncovered in Asia in 2015, and its discoverer has given us exclusive rights to cultivate it in North America.
Purchase Raven ZZ plants Purchase it from our online plant store and have it delivered fresh from our farm, right to your door. Look for the Raven ZZ plant from Costa Farms in your preferred retailer’s Trending Tropicals line. View a list of our retail partners, both offline and online.
Raven ZZ Plant Growing Instructions
Light Raven ZZ plants can be grown in low, medium, or high light conditions. It will grow considerably more slowly in low light than it will in a brighter area. In Northern climes, it is possible to receive direct sunlight indoors through a window; in Southern climates, exposure to intense afternoon sunlight (especially in the summer) may result in sunburn.
Advice: ZZ plants, including Raven, don’t care if their light comes from natural or artificial sources, like the majority of houseplants. If there isn’t a bright window nearby where you can grow it, fluorescent or LED lighting will serve just well.
Water When the top half of the potting mix feels dry to the touch, water the Raven ZZ plant for the best development. This plant can last several weeks without water if necessary because of the moisture it stores in its thick, potato-like rhizomes. Even if it scatters its leaflets, it could live. However, if the potting mix is left damp or excessively moist for an extended period of time, Raven can develop root rot. It is typically advisable to wait if you are unsure about whether to water it.
Fertilizer If you want this houseplant to develop more quickly, you can fertilize it in the spring and summer. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer’s container when using any all-purpose fertilizer designed for indoor plants.
Humidity Unlike several other typical houseplants, raven does not require excessive humidity, but it may be cultivated in a humid setting with calatheas, pothos, and arrowhead plants.
Pruning Pruning is not necessary unless you want to get rid of faded, old leaves.
Recall that the raven ZZ plant is only cultivated for ornamentation. Consumption by either humans or animals is not advised.
Special Care
Add these kinds to your Raven ZZ Plant to complete it:
Because the Golden Goddess Philodendron Raven is so adaptable and can grow almost anywhere, it makes a fantastic companion plant for most indoor plants. Pair the dark foliage with the glowing Golden Goddess Philodendron leaves to make it appear even darker.
Philodendron Birkin Put Raven next to a Birkin Philodendron for a stylish black-and-white appearance.
925-Sterling Scindapsus With the rich, purple-black leaves of Raven ZZ, this Scindapsus variety’s silvery tones are accented.