Basic Zebra Plant Care
Native to the tropics of Brazil and popular for their vivid dark green-veined leaves, Zebra Plants can be a little tricky to take care of if they don’t have the right environment. Below you will find our complete Zebra Plant care guide with all the information you need to know.
| Light |
Bright Indirect LightI love the sunshine but too much direct light will damage my leaves. |
| Water |
Water ModeratelyI don’t like my soil to be too dry or too soggy. Little and often is what I’m after. |
| Humidity |
High HumidityI thrive in humid environments so please mist my leaves every so often. |
| Soil |
Potting SoilI need soil specifically for indoor plants as it retains the right amount of water. |
Zebra Plant Care FAQs
How fast does a Zebra Plant grow?
Zebra Plants are quite slow-growing houseplants which means you shouldn’t expect a lot of new leaves to pop out every year. The positive side of this though is that your plant won’t often outgrow the space!
Is a Zebra Plant easy to care for?
Zebra Plants are fairly easy to care for although they do require some boosting of the humidity to avoid them drying out and turning brown. The other thing that can be a little tricky to manage is the moisture levels in the soil. Zebra Plants need moist but not soggy soil.
Are Zebra Plants good for beginner plant parents?
Whilst there are definitely plants we would recommend more for plant beginners, the Zebra Plant can be a good plant for those who don’t want to be constantly fussing over your plant’s needs but still want a little bit of a challenge.
Keep the soil slightly moist for your Zebra Plant
When caring for a Zebra Plant, it’s important to water it a little but often. This will make sure there is always some moisture in the soil but not enough to cause root rot. Zebra Plants don’t like to have super dry soil for too long so the watering balance might take a little while to get right.
Keep your Zebra Plant away from direct light
As Zebra Plants are native to the tropics and grow in the canopies of the trees, they need indirect to medium light levels to thrive. Any direct light will burn the leaves (especially in summer when the sun is a lot stronger and around for longer each day).
They need high humidity levels
Zebra Plants will really struggle in homes with dry air. You need to make sure that you are misting and showering your plant to keep the humidity up. Without this, you may start to see brown leaf tips and brown leaves appearing on your Zebra Plant.
Zebra Plants don't like cold air
Another really important thing to consider when caring for a Zebra Plant is temperature. They won’t do so well in cold rooms so avoid placing them near drafty windows or doors.
Fertilisation will encourage flowering
If you want to see your Zebra Plant produce flowers in the spring and summer then you want to be feeding your plant. We recommend twice monthly during the warmer months and then cutting back completely over autumn and winter.
Zebra Plant is safe for pets
Zebra Plants are considered pet friendly plants as don’t cause harm when ingested. However, they are known to occasionally cause skin irritation when handled so its best to wear gloves if you are pruning or repotting your plant just to be on the safe side.
Propagate by stem cutting
The most successful method of propagation for Zebra Plants is taking a stem cutting. Make sure at least one node is included in the cutting as this is where the roots will grow from. Place in water and after a few weeks you should start to see roots appearing and the cutting is ready to be pot!
Zebra Plant FAQs
Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the Zebra Plant.
Are Zebra Cacti good beginner houseplants?
Zebra Cacti are one of the best low-maintenance houseplants. They don’t require much water or misting and it is quite rare for them to display any signs of unhappiness. We often recommend them to total plant beginners.
How often do I need to water my Zebra Cactus?
Zebra Cacti really don’t need much water and you want to be watering about every 7-10 days during summer and about once a month during winter. They are quite susceptible to root rot so make sure that the potting mix has time to fully dry out before watering again.
Are Zebra Cacti toxic?
Luckily Zebra Cacti are totally non-toxic and safe for pets and humans so you don’t have to worry about any accidental ingestion.
Can Zebra Cacti tolerate full sun?
Zebra Cacti can’t tolerate full direct sun very well as it can dry out and burn the leaves if it becomes too intense. Whilst you can get away with more of it during winter, it’s best to find a spot with plenty of bright but indirect light for your Zebra Cactus.
Common Problems with your Zebra Plant
Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.
Why are my Zebra Plant's leaf tips turning brown?
The most common cause of brown leaf tips on a Zebra Plant is a lack of humidity. Make sure to mist the plant several times a week and try out things like a pebble tray or showers to increase the humidity further.
Why is my Zebra Plant losing leaves?
This can be quite a difficult problem to solve because there are several factors which cause Zebra Plant to lose leaves. Start off by trying to eliminate some of the following reasons: under or overwatering, cold drafts/ low temperature in the room, not enough sunlight or shock from being moved to a new spot.
