Zebra Plant Succulent (Aphelandra squarrosa Nees) Care & Propagation

Follow these guidelines to care for a zebra plant. This manual explains how to water a Zebra plant and provides information on the plant's preferred light, temperature, humidity, and other care requirements.

Zebra Plant (Scientific Name: aphelandra squarrosa Nees) is a genus of plants in the pyridaceae family. They are evergreen shrubs or subshrubs, up to 1.8 meters. zebra plant is native to South America. They like mild and humid climate, avoid hot and cold, suitable for growth temperature 20-30℃, higher than 35℃ or lower than 6℃ will cause leaf damage; zebra plants like fertile loose soil, afraid of water.
Zebra Plant flowers and leaves are beautiful, suitable for parks, scenic spots or courtyards, roadside cultivation, flower beds and other ornamental, can also be potted.

Zebra Plant Succulent Care

Zebra Plant Watering

Zebra plants (Aphelandra squarrosa Nees) have large leaves that evaporate quickly, so they need timely watering during the growing season. Keep the soil moist during the growing season. Slow growth in winter requires less watering. In addition to watering the roots, spray the leaves with water to maintain moisture. In winter, Zebra Plant should be placed in a well-lit room, and watering should be reduced appropriately. At the same time, the indoor temperature should be kept above 10℃. If the room is heated, spray the Zebra Plant with water with a similar indoor temperature. After flowering, Zebra plants have a dormant period of 4 to 6 weeks, so water them sparingly and fertilize them sparingly to avoid overwatering leaves and root rot. Spring, summer and autumn are the more vigorous seasons for it to grow. Zebra Plant needs more water to supply its growth. We can water it when the surface of the pot soil is dry, and we can also spray it appropriately to increase the humidity, so that it can grow better. (Read more about watering Zebra Plant.)

Zebra Plant Soil

Zebra Plant needs suitable soil for growth, and the soil for growth needs to maintain good air permeability, rich humus and good drainage. When distributing soil, usable leaf rot soil, peat soil, vermiculite is mixed, join a little base fertilizer. (Read more about the best soil for Zebra Plant.)

Zebra Plant Light Requirements

Zebra Plant should be kept in a sunny place during the growth period so that it can be fully exposed to light to promote growth. Summer light is stronger, so shade is needed around noon to avoid direct glare on the leaves. In winter, when the temperature is low and the light intensity is low, you can get full sunlight at this time. (Read more about Zebra Plant Light Requirements.)

Zebra Plant Temperature

For Zebra Plant, the most suitable temperature for growth is about 20-25℃, and a good temperature can promote healthy growth. Winter temperature can not be too low, need to move to indoor maintenance, temperature can not be less than 10℃, otherwise it will lead to leaf fall off.

Zebra Plant Pruning

Zebra plants (Aphelandra squarrosa Nees) should be pruned if the leaves are too dense and if they are too long, and some flower plants should be clipped to better control their height and keep their shape. Zebra plants rarely grow side branches, and only need to be trimmed or pruned during cultivation to control the height of the Plant, maintain the overall shape, and promote the development of side buds to achieve the purpose of more flowering. Flowers should be cut off in time after fading, to avoid excessive consumption of nutrients. (Read more about Zebra Plant Bloom Flowers.)

Zebra Plant Fertilizer

Compound liquid fertilizer can be applied every two months when Zebra Plant is growing vigorously. Fertilizer is very important to flowers, especially in the growth period and before flowering should be appropriate topdressing, so that they can better growth, better breeding buds, and other time can be appropriate to reduce fertilizer. Especially after the flowering stage, Zebra Plant will enter the dormant stage, be sure to fertilize less, fertilize more easy root rot.

Zebra Plant Propagation

Zebra Plant Division Propagation

Zebra Plant succulent division propagation is generally carried out between February and March in combination with transplanting, and the fasciculated Zebra Plants (Aphelandra squarrosa Nees) are divided into several plants with roots and planted separately. After three years of propagation, they can reproduce by division propagation again.
A Zebra Plant with clusters should be divided into a number of Zebra plants with roots before it can be planted separately. Of course, in other seasons it can also be divided. Once the divided plant is in, you need to give it some water, but not too much. Thus division propagation is complete. (Read more about Zebra Plant Propagation Methods.)

Zebra Plant Seed Propagation

Seed propagation usually takes place between March and April. Sow zebra plant seeds in POTS filled with cultivated soil, put them temporarily in the shade after watering, keep moist, and germinate in about 25 days under the condition of 25-30 degrees Celsius. Do not think that after the germination of seeds, there is no need to manage, but this time to more careful maintenance. We must ensure adequate water supply while the Zebra Plant sprouts develop into seedlings and grow.

Zebra Plant Propagation In Water

• Plant selection

Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa Nees) propagation in water naturally requires selecting Zebra plants first. At present, there are two main methods. Propagate from the Zebra Plant cuttings in water, and new roots can germinate in about 10 days. You can also use an old Zebra Plant with clean roots, which is to wash the zebra plant roots before hydroponics. You can rinse the Zebra Plant on tap water repeatedly, but be careful not to hurt the roots.

• Water

The Zebra Plant for root washing does not require nutrient solution at the beginning of hydroponics because of root injury (somewhat Injury during soil removal), and the water can not be added, with a little root can, water quality to clean, the best choice of rain or air drying
Tap water.

• Nutrient solution

Hydroponic Zebra plants will have a period of the adaptation period, the roots also need to be replaced, and even in the early stage there will be root rot, so pay attention to change water frequently. The initial success of hydroponic culture can only be counted as a new root after the adaptation period. Before the new roots grow, Zebra Plant had not adapted to it, and it was easy to burn the roots if the nutrient solution was added. This process is very normal, at the beginning of hydroponics did not produce water roots, can not absorb nutrients from the water, so yellow leaves, leaves fall. After giving birth to water root, it can absorb nutrients from water, and leaves naturally grow more and more. Suggest you often change water, increase the oxygen content of water just beneficial plant water root. (Read more about saving Zebra Plant yellow leaves.)
Zebra Plant hydroponics about 3 weeks to increase the nutrient solution, the first to a small amount, according to the growth of the future according to the appropriate application.
The pH of hydroponic nutrient solution is 6.0 to 7.0, and the height in the bottle should not exceed 50% of the root height. Replace the new nutrient solution once a week
To 2 times; The higher the ambient temperature, the higher the frequency of replacement of new nutrient solution. Because we want to maximize the amount of dissolved oxygen in the nutrient solution
Also Read: How Big Do Succulents Grow

• Humidity curing

Zebra Plant likes high humidity, avoid dryness, and should spray water to stems and leaves frequently during growth.

Zebra Plant Care FAQs

Why My Zebra Plant Leaves Turning Brown?

Zebra Plant is a typical leaf-watching Plant with broad leaves and glossy dark green leaves. Keeping them at home will add a lot of green vitality. But what should you do to bring a Zebra Plant back to life after its leaves turn brown for some reason during the summer? (Raed more about saving Zebra Plant brown leaves.)

• Ventilation problems

When growing Zebra Plant, if it is not ventilated properly, it is easy to develop brown mold, which may even breed some diseases and insect pests. In short, it is not conducive to Plant growth. So as long as it is placed in a strong ventilation environment, conditional change, it can be moved to the outside to blow the wind.

• Lighting problem

Zebra Plant itself does not like direct sunlight, and many people will keep it in places without much sunlight, so that it cannot carry out photosynthesis well, so the leaves of Zebra Plant will become pale and gradually spread into round patches, so it only needs to be moved to an environment where light scatters.

• Moisture

Zebra plants are drought-tolerant, and excessive watering can cause root rot and leaf stems to become soft. Relax the Zebra's soil so that it can evaporate water quickly, allow the roots to breathe and bring it back to life. If the root rot is more serious, it is best to change the pot.

• Pruning branches

If a Zebra Plant has rotten leaves, it is best to prune the damaged ones. If the rot is more serious, it is best to shave it, as long as the temperature is right, it will soon sprout, and it is easy to grow the pot.

How Often Should I Water My Zebra Plant?

Zebra plants are indigenous to Brazil's tropical rainforests, which provides us with invaluable information about the kind of maintenance this plant requires. It's a relatively simple plant to care for in terms of watering!

About once per week, or whenever the soil feels dry to the touch, you should water your zebra plant. As the water drains out of the bottom of the pot, let it soak through the soil completely. There is a simple test you can perform to see if the Zebra Plant needs more water. There is no need to add water if the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are moist.

Water your Zebra Plant until all of the water has drained out of the pot if the soil is dry. Allow the extra moisture in the pot to drain for about 5 minutes after watering your Zebra plant. The soil should now only retain the moisture that your plant requires; any extra moisture should have leaked out of the pot.

Is Zebra Plant Toxic To Cats?

Zebra Plant was poisonous, and the poison was in its juice. If you accidentally let your hand touch one of its leaves, you'll soon have an allergic reaction and feel itchy. But if you accidentally eat it, it can be more serious. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness in the limbs, dizziness and nausea, or worse. That's not a bad thing to look at.
If you have children or small animals in your home, it is recommended that you do not keep Zebra Plant indoors. Because children and small animals are ignorant, especially children are particularly naughty, if accidentally touched or accidentally eaten, the consequences will be very serious.
If you keep Zebra Plant indoors, take it out at night, because at night, it emits more toxins, which is very bad for our health.

Zebra Plant Drooping

Zebra plants often suffer from drooping. There are many reasons leading to leaf drooping in Zebra plants, such as lack of water and drought, excessive root rot in water, excessive fertilization, too strong sunlight, infection with diseases and insect pests, improper temperature and other reasons. If moisture is undeserved, need to adjust watering. If fertilization is overmuch, need watering dilution. If illumination is too strong, keep out strong light. If infected with disease and insect pest, Zebra Plant should be timely spray treatment. if the temperature is undeserved, you can adjust to appropriate temperature inside. (Read more about saving droop Zebra Plant.)

Overwatered Zebra Plant

Timely adjust the frequency of watering Zebra Plant in different seasons. This Plant is not resistant to wet water. overwatered zebra plant will appear rotten phenomenon, so cause the leaves to droop.
At this time, suspend watering in time, and move the Zebra Plan to a well-ventilated place, the water will be discharged quickly, so that more remaining water quickly evaporates. If the plant root rot, also need to take the plant out of the pot, cut root rot after re-planting. 

Zebra Plant Losing Leaves

The phenomenon of leaf loss occurs in Zebra Plant, which is usually caused by frostbite caused by too low temperature. In order to avoid this situation, Zebra Plant should be moved indoors after winter, and the room temperature should be controlled above 10 degrees. It may also be caused by the maintenance environment being too dark and damp. Soil humidity should be avoided to be too large, only a little wet, and attention should be paid to enhancing ventilation. Still have a kind of reason is illumination is too strong, plant accepts strong light point-blank also can droop leaf, want to do shading job well.

Zebra Plant Root Rot

After the Zebra Plant root rots, remove the Plant from the pot without damaging the roots, then wash the soil off with clean water and cut off the rotten roots. After pruning, place the Zebra Plant in a cool place and allow the wound to dry before preparing new soil for planting. Do not water the wound immediately after the basin, so as to avoid water infection.

Zebra Plant Yellow Leaves

Yellow and curly leaves in Zebra Plant may be due to normal metabolism, which leads to yellow and curly leaves in the lower part of Zebra Plant, so it only needs to trim off yellow leaves and residual leaves in time. It may also be that the light is too strong, causing the leaf to appear scorched, then pay attention to shade. THe reason may also be the improper application of water and fertilizer, then need to adjust water and fertilizer in time according to the situation. Or the possible growth of the temperature is too low, in winter to move to the room in time, the temperature remains above 10C.

Zebra Plant Succulent Growing Long Stem

If a Zebra Plant succulent grows long stem, it would be better to take a stick, stick it in the soil, pull the long stems of the Plant along the stick and let it grow along it.
We could tie up the Zebra Plant long stems with sticks or ropes to make it denser. The most straightforward way to do this would be to prune the Zebra Plant and cut off all the long parts, which would be more attractive and would provide better growth.
We could also re-cuttage and cut off the dominant part of the Zebra Plant at the top so that it would germinate and grow more lateral shoots, and in about five or six months the Zebra Plant would be back in full bloom and cared for in good light and gout conditions.

Conclusion

The lovely tropical plants known as "zebra plants" are a wonderful addition to any home. Although they are not the easiest plant to care for, it will be much simpler if you use the advice in this plant care guide. A sunny, indirect location in your home is preferred by the zebra plant. It enjoys moist soil that is not wet, and it is very simple to spread! Its complete safety around pets is the best part! It will flourish and add some tropical flair to your home with the right care!

Please spread the word about this plant care guide to your friends, family, and coworkers if you found it to be helpful in teaching them how to take good care of their plants.

You're welcome for reading this article. I sincerely hope it aids you in maintaining the attractiveness and health of your plants. You can always ask for a plant guide to get a guide for the plant you need help with if you're looking for more information on a specific type of plant.