ZZ Plant

You might have seen the Mile Marker boards that parents create for their children – they highlight things like the height, weight, likes, and dislikes of their child at various stages of life. We at Nick’s Garden Center think Plant Parents should have something like this for their Plant Babies as well! Our Plant Parent Chalkboard Photos and blogs will provide you with an overview of what each plant needs in order to “grow up” happy and healthy!

With a name like Zamioculcas Zemifolia, it’s no wonder this plant’s name was shortened to ZZ! If you’re looking for your very first ever houseplant, ZZ Plant is for you. This plant is extremely easy to take care of and can survive in many different conditions. Plus it has a stunning look! Its dark green, pointed, shiny leaves are quite impressive to behold. A member of the family Araceae (Monstera plants also belong to this family), the ZZ Plant is also known as Zanzibar Gem, ZuZu Plant, Aroid Palm, and Emerald Palm.

ZZ Plant is drought-tolerant, and will actually prefer infrequent watering. It’s semi-succulent, and has a Rhizomatous root system. This means that the roots have little bulbs that store water for use long after the soil has dried up. Typically you should only have to water ZZ once a month. Make sure the soil has completely dried out (we love a Moisture Meter for testing soil moisture levels) before watering, then give the plant a good soak until water runs out the drainage hole. If your pot does not have a drainage hole, you’ll want to take extra care to make sure you don’t over-water the plant.

ZZ Plant is not picky about where it lives. It can tolerate most any light conditions, from low to bright (but always indirect), and this makes it a great plant for those spots in your home or office that are darker than other house plants will tolerate. Make sure to keep it away from your furry friends and children, though, because ZZ Plants leaves are poisonous if ingested. The leaves could potentially cause skin irritation to some as well, so give those hands a good wash after handling them. The good news is that ZZ Plant is considered to be an air cleaning plant, so it’s going to be helpful, but from a high shelf, if you have little or four-legged ones living in your space. Another benefit of ZZ Plants leaves is that they are so shiny that, when kept dusted, they can help to reflect a little extra light into those darker corners of your space! Rotate and ZZ Plant now and again to ensure uniform growth. Typically, ZZ Plant will grow to be about two to three feet tall, and remains somewhat vertical in its growth without spreading too much. However, If ZZ Plant’s growth starts to get too big for its space, just give it a little trim. This tough little plant will take no issue with a quick pruning.

Happy Plant Parenting!