ZZ plants – or Zamioculcas zamiifolia – are notorious for being low-maintenance, easy-to-care-for houseplants that even gardeners with the blackest of thumbs can keep alive with minimum care. All they need to thrive is adequate light and a good watering every couple of weeks. The ZZ is a highly dependable houseplant because it can tolerate low light and has low water requirements. The leaves are smooth, shiny, and dark green. The stems of these pinnate leaves are thick at the bottom. The ZZ Plant is a tropical perennial native to Eastern Africa that has become popular worldwide in recent years due to its tolerance of a wide range of conditions. The ZZ grows smooth, naturally shiny leaves that range from bright lime in their youth to an emerald green in their maturity. Individual leaflets are typically one to three inches long. COMMON NAMES – ZZ plant, Zanzibar gem, Aroid Palm, African Coontie, Arum Fern, Cardboard Palm *** This sale is for the live plant pictured above or similar. Also, the plant will be shipped in its pot, not bare rooted.*** AIR PURIFICATION – The plant has air purifying qualities for the indoor environment. A Study from the Department of Plant and Environmental Science at the University of Copenhagen from 2014 shows the plant is able to remove volatile organic compounds at a molar flux of around 0.01 mol/(m2 day). FLOWERS – The flowers are produced in a small bright yellow to brown or bronze spadix 5–7 centimeters (2.0–2.8 in) long, partly hidden among the leaf bases; flowering is from mid-summer to early autumn. IT IS UNCOMMON FOR FLOWERS TO BLOOM WHEN THE PLANT IS NOT IN THE APPROPRIATE CLIMATE/HABITAT. TOXICITY – Toxic to cats and dogs. ___ PLANT CARE ___ SunlightThrives in medium to bright indirect light. Can tolerate lower indirect light. Not suited for intense, direct sun. WaterWater every 2-3 weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings. Expect to water more often in brighter light and less often in lower light. HumidityDon’t sweat it. Average home humidity is fine; can tolerate dry air. TemperatureMost houseplants prefer temps in the 65°F-85°F range (18°C-30°C). It’s best not to let it go below 60°F (15°C). SoilUse a well-draining potting mix. Mix in ingredients such as perlite or lava rocks to increase soil aeration as need. FERTILIZER – ZZ is a slow-growing plant, even under favorable conditions. Apply low-dose liquid fertilizer according to manufacturer instructions twice per year. PESTS – No diseases or pests are an issue for this plant. Root rot may occur if ZZ plants are grown in poorly drained soil with excessive water for an extended period of time.