--- title: "I got a gorgeous ZZ Raven yesterday as a gift but the person didn’t…" description: "I got a gorgeous ZZ Raven yesterday as a gift but the person didn’t know the last time it was watered. So this morning, I poked my handy dandy chopstick in it…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w/PwZamPdolacbGkOFLNIxl7" community: "The Cactus & Succulent Circle" author: "Dax" published: "2025-03-09T14:50:50.278287Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZFPfaRE2G0ifPjfRBfAn8w36jizWlXF_gXw0Q2ZKifI/EYcL3XCVQ5S79G6n1KM5eA.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Cactus \& Succulent Circle](https://getplanta.com/community/vOLjreBcQ-OpqrHIhVSc4w.md) # I got a gorgeous ZZ Raven yesterday as a gift but the person didn’t… _Posted by Dax on 2025-03-09_ I got a gorgeous ZZ Raven yesterday as a gift but the person didn’t know the last time it was watered. So this morning, I poked my handy dandy chopstick in it but was shocked because I hit something. I pulled it out, brushed aside some soil and found what I thought was a little stone. But I tapped it and said uh oh. I quickly googled and learned ZZs have rhizomes! I never had a rhizome plant and I didn’t buy this for myself so I hadn’t done my usual mountains of research. I’m so mad at myself! The rhizome has one small hole poked in it. Online search gives mixed answers and suggests cutting the stalk and letting the rhizome regrow in water. I don’t want to prematurely cut it. It’s so gorgeous. Do you think the plant will live? Is there something I should do? (I didn’t have time to grab a picture of the poked rhizome). ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZFPfaRE2G0ifPjfRBfAn8w36jizWlXF_gXw0Q2ZKifI/EYcL3XCVQ5S79G6n1KM5eA.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZFPfaRE2G0ifPjfRBfAn8w36jizWlXF_gXw0Q2ZKifI/RVvWA5vSTpWY0CyJVExaMg.webp?size=large) ## 13 comments ### pg commented on 2025-03-09 This is a pretty tough plant. I’d just leave it alone. Your plant will be fine, and either the rhizome will callous over and continue its thing, or it will throw off other rhizomes. I would keep it in bright, indirect light as these are marketed as low light plants, and while they can tolerate it, all that does is prolong death. Light helps these things grow faster, to include healing. If you damaged the rhizome, I might wait for 2-3 days to water to let the rhizome callous over and heal itself (prevents bacteria from entering) #### Hanna Scott replied on 2025-03-09 Could you use a small about of cling wrap to protect the hole? #### pg replied on 2025-03-09 Hi Hanna, I think I’d be concerned that you might trap moisture with the Saran Wrap and cause things to grow that you might not want to grow inside the wound. I think the safest thing might be to just let it callous over so the would heals. Keep it dry for a few days. #### Dax replied on 2025-03-09 Thanks for the tips and encouragement. I will wait to water and ensure it is in good light! #### Hanna Scott replied on 2025-03-10 @PMG oh that’s fair I thought that it would help protect to leave part of it exposed yet covered. Makes sense don’t want it to rot and cause more harm #### Dax replied on 2025-03-10 I had thought the same thing - should I cover it with something. lol I even considered glue…to fill in the hole. 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 _1 more reply in the app_ ### Wolfen 🐺 commented on 2025-03-09 I honestly wouldn't worry about it. I've dropped mine and it's been fine 😆 😬 at the very most i might spritz it with an antifungal. But I doubt I'd even do that. They stay so dry, it's not like there's a lot of moisture to encourage rot. #### Wolfen 🐺 replied on 2025-03-09 I'd just replant it, give a few days to callus and then do a watering (if you haven't already). #### Dax replied on 2025-03-09 Replant it or just cover up the rhizome with some soil? I’m kind of wondering if I should leave the rhizome exposed so no debris gets in the hole. #### Wolfen 🐺 replied on 2025-03-09 I don't think it would bother it, if you left it uncovered. So you could keep an eye that it was callusing well. I said repot it, because I thought you had unpotted the plant, but I reread that you just uncovered it. ### Dax commented on 2025-03-10 Thanks everyone for your advice and help! I’ll be watching her closely and will update you! #### pg replied on 2025-05-13 How did this ever turn out? --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_