All About ZZs

We talk about the benefits of houseplants all the time on our blog. We share which ones are easy, which ones can be a challenge and even what plants are safe for your furry friends. Our goal at Wild Interiors is to help you care for your plants and have the most success.  

That’s why we wanted to dedicate a blog to one of our favorite foliage plants, the ZZ. Also known as Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, the ZZ is truly one of the easiest houseplants you can own. 

ZZ plants are air-purifying, don’t require much care, are adaptable to a lot of lighting and temperature conditions and are just overall very low maintenance.  

You say you don’t have a green thumb? You should try a ZZ, because many plant experts would agree that ZZ plants will tolerate just about anything.  

Your home is great for ZZ plants, no matter what lighting you have and even if your space is cooler or warmer than usual, ZZs can handle that too. 

Why you should own a ZZ: 

Health: We’ve talked about how good plants are for your overall health and ZZ plants absolutely fall into that category. You will feel less stressed while caring for your ZZ, plus it will purify the air around you, which is good for you, your family and your pets. While ZZ isn’t pet friendly, as long as you keep your pet from trying to snack on your ZZ, they’re safe to keep in the same space as your animals.  

Low-Maintenace: The ZZ plant really puts many other foliage plants to shame when it comes to easy care. First, ZZ plants can tolerate a lot of lighting conditions. Most houseplants need bright, indirect light to thrive, but ZZ plants can tolerate bouts of brighter and darker light, without it really affecting the integrity of your plant. When it comes to temperatures, 65-85 degrees is ideal, but ZZs can also tolerate bouts of temperatures higher and lower than that as well. Lastly, when it comes to water, ZZs have rhizomes (think potatoes) as roots, so they can hold water for a long period and distribute it to themselves. We recommend you water your ZZ when the top half of its soil is dry, but some ZZs can handle much longer between waterings. 

Great gift: Do you have someone in your life that you think could receive help from caring for a plant, but you aren’t sure if they could handle it? Get them a ZZ! As we listed above, this plant really doesn’t need much from you – making it perfect for even the most amateur plant lovers.  

Be patient: Unlike a lot of foliage plants, ZZs are very slow growers. You could care for one for months without seeing noticeable growth, but don’t worry! If your plant grows upright and you maintain your care, just be patient with your plant!  

We’d love to know what you love about your ZZ. Have you owned it for a long time? Have you ever propagated it? We’d love to hear about it in the comments.