the easiest ever indoor plant: the zz

Hello, friends!

Today I wanted to talk about my favorite starter plant: Zamioculcas Zamiifolia! (Trust me, it’s way easier to keep alive than it is to pronounce.)

The ZZ plant is great for beginners because it requires very little light and is drought resistant. That means you can forget to water it for awhile and it’ll just keep on trucking! My ZZ’s have lived in a dark-ish hallway, on top of the refrigerator, behind a chair and on a nightstand without complaint. These guys are such good sports!

Really the only pitfall with ZZ’s is overwatering. Make sure you let the soil dry out completely before you water or the plant can suffer from root rot. I water mine once a week.

During the spring and summer, a happy ZZ will reward you with fresh green shoots and leaves that unfurl from the stem like magic! These new stems start a lighter green and then grow darker as they age. It really is fun to watch the day by day progression :).

ZZ’s have bulbous roots that become entangled if planted in a too small container, so you’ll want to transplant them into a larger container as they grow. Make sure the container has good drainage as well!

One other thing to keep in mind with the ZZ is that it can be toxic to animals, so you’ll want to keep it away from pets who are prone to plant chewing. I learned this the hard way when I had mine on the floor—my curious cat decided to chew on some leaves and vomited on the floor (yuck). Thankfully, even if it is ingested, it rarely causes more than stomach upset. But best to be safe!

The ZZ really is the perfect plant for the starter gardener or black thumb. Its drought resistance and low maintenance personality make it nearly impossible to kill, and its vibrant leaves are truly beautiful to look at!

Are there any other ZZ lovers out there?! I’d love to hear your ZZ stories in the comments below! :)

xo