Should I trim flowering bamboo palm and ZZ plants?

plantpotato

I have a bamboo palm and a ZZ plant at home, both of which are 2~ years old. With the arrival of a new baby and the first winter in a new apartment, I haven’t given them as much love as they deserve - and now I see both are flowering which seems weird.

Are these death blooms, and should I trim them so they don’t potentially poison my dog or baby if they bloom?

JacobZ

Hi @plantpotato,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

It’s not unusual for both bamboo palms and ZZ plants to send out flowers, even indoors, though many people never see them. Their appearance isn’t necessarily a bad sign; in some cases, it simply means the plant is mature enough and has the stored energy to produce them.

Whether or not these flowers indicate anything about the plant’s overall health is a little harder to pin down. Some treat them as a curiosity that comes and goes without consequence, while others find that plants that are stressed sometimes put energy into flowering rather than foliage growth. Because you’ve had a change in routine with less attention to watering and light, this may have nudged them into blooming, though it doesn’t mean the plants are about to decline.

As for safety, the bamboo palm isn’t considered a problem for pets or people, but ZZ plants are known to irritate if chewed. The flowers themselves aren’t more toxic than the rest of the plant, so the level of concern depends on how accessible they are to your baby or dog. Regardless of the flowers, it would be best to keep the ZZ plant away from both your dog and baby. 

If you’re still unsure, trimming the flower stalks off won’t harm the plants and may redirect energy back into foliage. On the other hand, leaving them in place won’t necessarily do any damage either.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob