Houseplant Care Tips

Various Houseplant Care Tips Including Watering and Lighting Requirements.


Houseplant Care Tips

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Zebra Plant Care

Common Name: Zebra Plant
Scientific Name: Aphelandra squarrosa
Lighting: Bright Light
Watering: Moderate


The Zebra plant receives its name according to its zebra looking foliage. Oversized, green with stripes of white foliage with bright exotic looking bright yellow flowers is the character appearance of the Zebra plant. Once the flowers are done blooming, prune out the old bloom giving room for the growth of future blooms.


The Zebra plant does best in bright, indirect light. Due to its South American home the Zebra plant prefers warm temperatures with high humidity levels. So the plant loves to be misted once or twice a week to provide for its humidity needs.


Watering the plant once a week should be sufficient however, do not allow the plant to dry out. If the leaves start to drop, you are probably under watering.


This is a medium maintenance houseplant with the main concerns being the humidity and watering needs, which are can easily be accommodated once you have it down. I personally have never had any problems with mites or bugs, but if they appear lightly spray the plant with a soapy water mixture daily.



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14 Comments:

Blogger Gina Marie said...

Do you have a picture of the Zebra plant? I think I have one, but I bought it at the grocery store and all it said was "assorted folliage" :-(

Thanks!

11:56 AM  
Blogger drayas said...

Gina,

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of a Zebra plant. However, if you go to Google Images and search Zebra plant, you'll see if that matches yours or not.

Thanks,
drayas

4:29 PM  
Blogger Gina Marie said...

Drayas -- thanks. I thought of that right after I left the comment! :-)

8:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have a zebra plant that has grown to almost three feet tall! It's a bit of an enigma because once a new leaf forms on the top an older one from the bottom drops off - leaving it looking like a very small palm tree. It seems to be doing ok - support wise - I haven't had to place a stick next to it or anything - but is this normal? And how can I keep the under-leaves from falling off?

1:06 PM  
Blogger drayas said...

Hello,

Can any of my readers give us a hand. I've never had a Zebra plant do this, so I'm not sure what to say.

Thanks,
drayas

5:20 PM  
Blogger ~K~ said...

u let the soil dry out too much so it turns into a palm tree thing. I just got one of these. lets hope i dont kill it.

from the site "To grow them to perfection, they need to be planted in highly organic, extremely well drained soil. The potting medium must never be allowed to dry out completely. Those that have allowed their zebra plants to wilt a time or two knows the results. The lower leavers fall off and the plant takes the shape of a miniature palm tree."- http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/plantoftheweek/articles/Zebra_Plant.htm

1:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My zebra plant is doing wonderful and getting huge but I can't get it to flower again...it had flowers when I got 2 years ago but not since then.

11:52 AM  
Blogger drayas said...

Hello,

Usually flowering coincides with light levels on Zebra plants. Are you growing your plant near a window or is it growing under indoor lights?

You could also try giving it a little houseplant food for an extra boost.

Thanks,
drayas

1:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can I take a leaf and will it root in water.

11:16 PM  
Blogger drayas said...

Hello,

I'm not sure. Maybe a stem cutting, but I don't think a leaf will root.

Any readers help us out??

Thanks,
drayas

3:45 PM  
Anonymous Skeletor! said...

I'm trying to find out the same thing. I THINK a stem cutting will work, but I know that a leaf definitely won't root. I'm going to make a stem cutting on my Zebra Plant and I'll post on the results.

11:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The leaves on my zebra plant all dropped off, did not water enough, so I cut off a small stem and am rooting it in water. I plan to plant in a pot as soon as it gets big enough.

8:20 AM  
Blogger Mart said...

Could some one tell me if the Zebra plant has any more flower after they died off. I fot the plant in Oct,2008 and it growing like fire for me it in the south windwon and the christmas catus are near the Zerba plant. How do I have wait for new flowers. Do I have to cut the old one that are left look like a comb. thanks Mart

2:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did anyone have luck with stem cuttings rooting in water<

10:10 AM  

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