It is a great houseplant if you are just starting out your houseplant journey and you want a plant that does not have complicated needs in order to survive and thrive.
While the raven ZZ is fairly easy to take care of, the plant is quite rare and should be looked after.
If you read this care guide and follow the guidance, you will have no problems with this plant.
Raven ZZ Plants
ZZ plants are beautiful plants which are very self-sufficient and easy to care for.
They are hardy and they really don’t need much looking after. You can place them almost anywhere and they will survive.
These plants are great at storing water so they can go for a long time without water as they survive on the stores.
This is great if you often go on holiday or work away.
These plants are great in a range of different conditions and they don’t often suffer from pests and diseases.
Care Guide: Raven ZZ
Potting Mix
The best place to start for a healthy raven ZZ is the soil type. This house plant doesn’t need anything too specific in its soil.
All it needs to be is well-draining and healthy soil. Any indoor houseplant potting mix will work great for this houseplant.
It is a good idea to add some perlite sand to the soil which is good for oxygenation, making healthy soil.
It is very important to ensure that there are holes in the pot to allow for adequate draining.
Water
The raven ZZ plant does not have complicated watering needs. When the soil looks dry, give it some water.
The raven ZZ has roots that are similar to potatoes that store water in them because the plant survives in areas that suffer from droughts.
The plant keeps water reserves that help the plant to survive for a very long time without water.
It can use the water in its reserves in the meantime. This means that they can go without water for quite a while.
However, because of this water storage feature that plants have, it is quite easy to overwater the raven ZZ.
You should ensure you don’t give your plant too much water as this can cause your plants roots to go rotten.
This plant only needs to be ordered once a month during the winter months, and once every two weeks in the summer.
Light
ZZ plants are very easy to look after in terms of light conditions.
They can survive and throurish in low light conditions and they can even survive in bathrooms with no windows.
While these plants can survive in low light conditions, they throurish under indirect, bright light.
If you put the plants in lighter conditions then the plant is more likely to grow bigger.
The plant will do well in a south-facing window, as long as you place it outside of direct sunlight.
If you put the plant in direct sunlight then it may experience some cosmetic burns.
Temperature
The raven ZZ plant is very versatile when it comes to the temperature that it thrives in.
The plant works well in higher and lower temperatures, although it is better in hotter climates.
The plant thrives best in medium temperatures.
In winter, you should ensure that you are checking the temperature of the plant and protect it when the temperature falls particularly low because the plant may be damaged in really low temperatures.
The plant will also be under risk when it is near an air conditioner or a heater, so ensure that you keep it away from this.
The ZZ plant can thrive in any humidity levels, so you don’t have to worry about the humidity of the environment it is in.
Fertilizer
The ZZ plant can survive well without any fertilizers.
However, if you want the plant to grow bigger at a faster rate then it is a good idea to give it some fertilizers to encourage the growth.
If you are using the fertilizers to help with plant growth, then it works most efficiently if you use the fertilizer once every 3 months.
If you over fertilize your raven ZZ, this can cause issues.
When you feed your plant fertilizer, you should use the regular water that you use to water your raven ZZ plant to dilute the fertilizer.
Propagating Your Raven ZZ
This plant is quite rare and so it is not commonly found in nurseries and garden centers.
Due to the rarity of the ZZ plant, it is often illegal to sell a propagated version of the plant.
You can propagate this plant for your own use, however.
Propagating this plant is very easy. All you have to do is to take a cutting from anywhere on the plant. This can be the stem or leaves.
Once you have placed this cutting in the pot, you should avoid watering the plant for at least two weeks.
During this time, the cutting should start to root. If you add water to the plant during this time, it may stop it from rooting.
Pruning Your Raven ZZ
Raven ZZs grow relatively slowly compared to other plants, so you won’t need to prune the plant very often.
However, if you want to keep the plant at a smaller size, you may sometimes need to cut the plant back and make it look a bit tidier.
The main reason that you will prune your plant is to keep it looking nice.
Sometimes, the plant can grow in quite a lopsided way so it is important to keep it pruned to avoid this.
It is also a good idea to prune the plant if it is struggling slightly.
When you take some branches away, some of the energy that was being used to keep those branches functioning can be redirected into the rest of the plant.
Growth Of Raven ZZ
The raven ZZ grows best in tropical areas or deserts.
It is drought resistant and so is used to surviving for a long time without water, such as in the desert.
While it flourishes in hot climates, the plant does not need bright sunshine at all times. They can survive in low indirect sunlight.
Problems With Pests
Raven ZZ is not at risk of many insects or pests affecting it. There are few risks.
At most mealy bugs will land on the plant, but it will often move on very quickly.
Overwatering
The most common problem with raven zz is overwatering.
If you give your plant too much water, it is at risk of experiencing root rot from the water sticking to the roots.
If this happens, you will see the leaves of the plant turn yellow. The roots will also turn to mush.
There are a few things that you can do to avoid the plant from suffering from overwatering. You should:
If your plant seems to be too wet, you should stop watering the plant for at least 6 weeks to allow it to dry out.
Once you have left it for 6 weeks, you should resume watering after you have ensured that the pots have proper drainage.
Is The Raven Plant Toxic?
The raven ZZ plant can be toxic to adults, children and pets. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals.
While these crystals are not lethal, they can cause irritation on certain people.
The sap of the plant can cause allergic reactions or irritation to people who suffer from sensitive skin. If
These crystals are much more damaging to your pet. If your animals eat some of the plants, it can really mess with their digestive systems.
If you have this plant in your home and you have pets, make sure they are not eating the plant.
This can cause big problems for your pets.
What Is The Difference Between Regular ZZs And Raven ZZs?
Raven ZZ plants and regular ZZs are part of the same species as each other, but they are in different forms.
The main difference between the two is the color of the plant.
Most ZZ plants are green, however the raven ZZ plant has black or purple foliage.
As the raven ZZ plant gets older, the foliage of the plant gets deeper in color.
This change in color comes from a mutation that was found in a South Korean plant first.
In a nursery in South Korea, the owner of the nursery had propagated a ZZ plant and noticed that the leaves on the propagated plant were a lot darker than any other he had seen before.
When a new branch grows on a Raven ZZ, the plant will start out with green leaves, but darken as the plant gets older.
You will begin to see the leaves and stems turning a lot darker when a few months have passed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Can I Grow The Raven ZZ Outdoors?
The raven ZZ grows a lot better indoors as it is easy to regulate the temperature, light conditions and amount of water.
However, the plant does grow well outdoors. If you can find a shaded spot that drains well then the plant will grow outdoors.
It can’t survive temperatures that are lower than 40 degrees fahrenheit, though.
Ensure that you’re not growing the plant outdoors if temperatures get that low.
What Color Is The Raven ZZ?
The color of the raven ZZ plant changes over time. The leaves start out green and, as the plant ages, the leaves begin to turn darker.
It can take a long time for the plant to change color. It can turn black completely but it can take up to 3 months.
If the plant is exposed to certain kinds of light, it can change the coloration of the plant.
What Is The History Of The Raven ZZ?
The plant first came about in 2006 in Seoul, South Korea. In the nursery where it was discovered, they were growing the ZZ plant.
One of the plants had started to turn a dark color.
This mutation in the plant appeared by itself and was realized by the nursery owner, Hyuk Jin Lee.
After the discovery, this nursery propagated some leaves from the branch that had darkened.
This mutation continued over generations. The nursery owner then filed a case for a plant patent in the US.
Where Can You Buy The Raven ZZ?
Some garden centers around wil have this plant, especially the larger ones.
However, this plant is quite rare and will not be located in all garden centers.
Final Thoughts
The raven ZZ is a fairly easy plant to care for, and it is not at risk of many pests or diseases impacting it.
If you place the raven ZZ under the correct care and look after it in accordance with the care guide given above, then you will have no problems with the plant.
It is a beautiful and rare plant with beautiful purple leaves. Now you have all the information on how to care for this plant, you shouldn’t have to worry about its health.
It is fairly easy to take care of and looks great in any living room!
Hi, my name is Amy Enrich and I have had a keen green thumb since my parents first taught me how to sow a sunflower seed. The process of watching it grow from seed to sprout, sprout to shoot, and then to a full-blown plant is a wonderful sight - I never get bored of it!
I love talking to anyone who will listen about plants, different varieties, how to look after them, and more. That is why I have created Plant Vessel, to help other plant lovers look after their new family members properly and keep them thriving!
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