The Zz is one of those “tough as nails” plants. This was one of my first plants I brought home after I started collecting plants again. I’ve had this guy a little over a year and I must say it has been a challenge. I tend to have a heavy hand with water, which is it’s biggest enemy. I did my best to not overwater, but it seemed like every time I did a stalk or two would die. At the same time it was shooting off several new shoots and even bloomed. So after several months of dealing with the issue I decided to replant it using a better draining soil. Since we have been repotted it has done better. I’ve learned that when I water it (typically once a month-ish) if I move it closer to a bright window or even outside the soil dries faster and the little guy keeps chugging along. As with plants go there are other types. There is the Raven Zz is a newer classification that becomes more interesting the more I learn about it. Just like the Zz, but the leaves turns to a dark purple/black. As of now this is a harder to find plant, but starting to pop up, making it easier and easier to find. My local nursery started to get them in, selling out in hours. Finally, I was able to sneak in and get one before they were sold out, and at a very reasonable price. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. A week later at a grocery store I found a TABLE of them, for just $15! I don’t know how I only bought one… But both plants are gorgeous and I’m more than excited to watch them grow.
Zzs are not a temperamental plant for the most part. They can grow in most lighting conditions. Ideally medium bright light would me more optimal. I’m blessed with a house that gets quite a bit of light, so I actually have mine in an area with out a direct window. Throughout the day it gets indirect light and it has done well there for me. I have read that where it would do well in a brighter light area you would want to not have it in direct light when the sun is at it’s brightest. Roughly around 11am-3pm. One thing I focus on with a plant that is not directly in a window area is that it would still cast a shadow on the wall from natural light. Raven Zzs from what I see are the same. Since I have two I am trying a few different things with them. One I have in my husband’s office. Mostly because it is a dark themed room. It is in a North facing window room, but still gets quite a bit of light. I have snuck a grow light in his desk lamp. The second one I have in the bedroom close to a East facing window that gets quite a bit of morning light. I also, have added a grow light. This grow light is more for my Monstera rhapidophora tetrasperma but little mister Raven hopefully will benefit as well. With that said, I have read several times that grow lights do not really affect a Zz plant.
When watering, make sure that your Zz is in well draining soil. It is easy to overwater and give the poor guy root rot. Like mentioned above that has been my struggle. I repotted and made sure there was plenty of perlite. Also, as mentioned I will move it to an area with brighter light or outside to help the soil drain faster for a couple days as well. This has drastically helped. I typically water once a month when the soil is dry.
For soil fast draining. I know this may sound redundant, however if the poor guy sits in water he will not last long. I started a mixture with potting soil, and add in perlite, and peat moss, then more perlite. I don’t have an exact mixture, I just go by feel/look.
Propagation looks easy. You can cut a stalk off at the base of the plant with a sanitized knife. Place the cut stem in water. Change the water every three weeks or so. If you can place it in a well lit area it will encourage it to grow faster. Zz’s have rhizomes that hold moisture. They are the potato looking things you may see at the base of the plant. So when it grows a rhizome and at least a root that is an inch long you can then pot your new plant. The Zz can also propagate from leaf cuttings. Cut a leaf off as close to the stalk as you can, taking a bit of the stem off with it. Place the leaf in soil. Water it and let the water soak in, watering about every two weeks. It will grow rhizomes and give you a new plant again. Zz plants are slow growers so make sure you are patient with this, giving it a few months.