Raven ZZ Plant

Raven ZZ Plant is part of the Costa Farms Trending Tropicals Collection. This beautiful dark-leaved beauty was introduced in 2019 and has enjoyed a lot of popularity among both novice and experienced houseplant collectors.

Raven was initially hard to find and sold for quite a bit. Now, the growers have enough time to expand their stock. This houseplant can be found nationwide at Walmart, The Home Depot, and Lowe’s.

Raven ZZ Plant Foliage is purple (Almost-Black)

Raven has deep purple, glossy leaves. Its dark foliage can look black in rooms that have low lighting. Justin Hancock, head of brand marketing at Costa Farms, describes this variety as “a fashionable version of an almost indestructible, tried and true houseplant.”

Its purple-black leaves stand out and can be used in many home decor styles.” The striking color and sleek leaves evoke modern farmhouse styling and go well with black and white decorating schemes.

Raven anchors a mantle or tabletop as a focal point. Raven’s bright, shiny leaves and upright stems make it an attractive plant for contemporary or modern homes. Pair it with hardy houseplants like red aglaonema and Chinese evergreen to bring out its purple-black color.

You Can Grow It, and Anybody Can

Like its green-hued cousins from the ZZ plant group, Raven is also one of the easiest houseplants to grow. This plant is perfect for busy people and doesn’t have the time or ability to maintain houseplants.

ZZ plant can tolerate almost any type of light from low to high, but it is best to keep it away from direct sunlight. Low humidity is not an issue for drought-tolerant Ravens.

They can even go for several weeks without any water. It actually thrives when the soil is allowed to dry between waterings.

It is a slow-growing species; it will grow to about 30 inches in height and width over several years.

Raven is a great choice for houseplant lovers who are looking for unusual and easy-to-keep plants.

Keep an eye out for the ZZ plant with dark leaves at grocery stores and garden centers near you.

How to grow and care for a ZZ plant

With its immaculate glossy leaves with an odd waxy surface, the ZZ plant — likewise recognized as the Zanzibar gem or its scientific name, the Zamioculcas zamiifolia — is so remarkable that it’s generally misinterpreted for artificial. It’s further identified as the “plant of steel” as it can endure moderate light and occasional watering without creating a fuss.

Corresponding to Erin Marino, houseplant authority and head of commerce at The Sill, this is because it’s native to desert countries like Zanzibar, Kenya, and Eastern Africa, which usually experience ​​lengthy periods of arid conditions with intermittent outbreaks of rain.

As such, Marino tells the ZZ plant has improved to embrace aspects that enable it to tolerate drought. You might recognize extensive potato-like bulbs under the surface of the ZZ plant’s growing mix. We recognize these as rhizomes and are underground stems, conferring to Marino.

“The rhizomes accumulate water to support the ZZ plant endure when wet days are few and well between,” says Marino.

All that revealed, you should recognize a few points about caring for this indoor houseplant. Adopt the expert-recognized instruction below to establish your ZZ plant flourishes.

Familiar ZZ plant cultivars

There are at least twelve distinct cultivars — or cultivated varieties — of the ZZ plant, with different ones appearing all the time. Unlike standard plant variations, which crop up as a natural phenomenon, we actively produced new cultivars when producers crossbreed two parent plants with acceptable attributes.

Here are some of the highly prominent cultivars affirming Marino. Whichever variation you accept, correct care will continue the same.

Raven: Generally introduced to as “Raven,” this ZZ plant variety’s fresh leaves initially grow in a soft green hue and progressively blacken to bold, practically black vegetation.

Lucky classic: This breed has curled leaves sooner than pointy ones.

Supernova: The supernova is identical to the raven ZZ plant variety; the supernova gets black green, pointed leaves.

Zenzi or dwarf ZZ: This variety is minor and considerably compact, with tightly organized leaves.

A quick tip: we regard The ZZ plant as moderately toxic to both humans and pets if ingested. This is because of the calcium oxalate, tiny crystals in the stems and leaves that can induce pain and bulging when swallowed. Maintain this plant on a higher rack or place, out of reach from young kids and curious pets.

At a glimpse

Horticultural name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Generally known as ZZ plant

Hardiness zone: 9 and 10

Toxicity: Yes (humans and pets)

Watering frequency: Once every 2-4 weeks

Soil type: Good-draining indoor growing mix

Light exposure: Medium to intense indirect sunlight

 

The most straightforward approach to killing the ZZ plant is over-watering, corresponding to Marino. Only water it when the leading inch or two of the soil is bone arid.

This can happen every few weeks, or even less recurrent when it’s picking up lower light, such as during cold. When watering, Marino suggests including soft water straight to the potting soil.

“Do not wet the plant’s foliage, or straight on top of the plant,” declares Marino. “It’s the roots, underneath the potting soil’s surface, that you are focusing for.”

Since the ZZ plant can deal with dry air, Marino continues that there’s no need to spray or place it by a humidifier.

Potting and fertilizer

Marino states that any right-draining, the indoor potting mix will work out for the ZZ plant. You can further mix in additives such as perlite or lava rocks to support aerate the soil. Aeration relates to making small cuts in the ground that raises the flow of air, water, and minerals to the roots.

While it’s not compelled, Marino claims you can fertilize the ZZ plant about once a month during the spring-summer cultivating period to restore lost nutrients out of the soil. Do not fertilize over the fall and winter months, as this is when most tropical plants are semi-inert.

Marino suggests watering down your fertilizer with water to avert over-fertilizing, which can not purely lead to deterioration to the root structure but likewise contribute to unattractive brown or yellow spots on the petals.

ZZ plants don’t increase but can advance from the fresh nutrients fresh soil presents. Revolving around the volume of late growth, Marino suggests you’ll wish to report your plant about every one to two years. Correctly, do this in early spring, right before the growing period punches into full gear.

If you choose not to report your ZZ plant, but it isn’t developing in its present planter, Marino fertilizes it in the springtime to restore the nutrients pulled out from its potting mix.

Climate

Like most houseplants, the ZZ plant has a temperature spectrum of 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool temperatures can stunt the plant’s growth, so it’s best not to let the thermostat plunge below 60 degrees.

To maintain the ZZ plant in its optimal temperature range, hold it aside from air conditioners in the summer and warming systems during the winter, says Marino.

Light

The ZZ plant will thrive in medium to intense indirect light, but Marino includes that it’s recognized for accepting even shallow degrees of indirect light.

Contemplate installing the ZZ plant someplace it will get 8 to 10 hours of indirect sunlight — like a bright room with south-facing windows.

Frequent problems

The ZZ plant is considered to be a relatively easy-going plant and pest-free. If you observe pests, Marino suggests it’s vital to treat them as soon as they show up with an organic pesticide like neem oil. Mist the plant with the pesticide weekly, and regularly wipe it down with a wet cloth.

If the ZZ plant is withering or acts crumpled or dwindled leaves, Marino suggests that generally shows that it’s dehydrated, and you may demand to extend how often you’re watering it.

Otherwise, if the leaves are becoming yellowish and the soil shows wet and muddy, that may be a symptom of root decay from over-moistening. As long as you tackle this early, you may restore the plant from root decay by snipping infected roots and rhizomes and repotting them in new, dry soil. However, if all the roots show brown or black and have a slimy or spongy consistency, that may indicate that they’ve all already withered and cannot be recovered.

Propagation

Corresponding to Marino, the most straightforward approach to propagate a ZZ plant is by sharing up parts of the mother plant.

Once you take out the ZZ plant from its present planter, lightly rattle off some growing soil and loosen up the roots. Search for various parts of the plant that can be quickly removed from one another, and then lightly split them up with your hands, a sharp and neat knife, or pruners.

Make clear each sectioned-off baby plant has a vigorous root system and foliage, says Marino. If the roots look white and crisp, that’s proof that they’re strong. Then, independently plant them with a new potting mix and slightly water them.

Pruning

The ZZ plant grows somewhat slowly, so it doesn’t require periodic pruning. However, it would help to cut off any lackluster yellowish or crumpled leaves.

“Unhealthy foliage does not simply bounce back, so it’s good to cut this off to support the plant conserve vitality for new, strong growth,” states Marino.

Insider’s result

Not merely is the ZZ plant an eye-catching supplement to any home, it’s likewise exceptionally little maintenance, representing it suitable for careless owners. Since it’s toxic yet, you’ll wish to make sure it’s out of scope from kids or pets.

As long as you apply a swift-draining potting soil mix, water it about once a month, and make sure it receives at least minor to moderate indirect sunlight, this plant should do just fine.

Recall: when in confusion, under-watering is regularly better than over-watering, which can drive to root decay.

When it’s the moment to repot the ZZ plant, do so in the early spring and solely fertilize it during the spring-summer growing period.