Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:41 pm
With its patterned leaves, the zebra plant is a decorative eye-catcher in any home. We explain how to plant, care for and propagate it.
The zebra plant, also called zebra plant, belongs to the genus of three-master flowers and originally comes from South and Central America. Flowers and fruits form the herb only very rarely, but beautiful patterned leaves. The shoots grow hanging or creeping, which is why the zebra plant is very suitable as a hanging plant.
By the way, the zebra plant owes its name to the stripes on its leaves, which resemble zebras. The underside of the leaves is colored an intense dark red.
Contents
Planting zebra plant: location and timing
Zebra plant is a decorative houseplant and prefers a bright location without direct sunlight. A window location is well suited, but it is better not to have a south-facing window. Typical room temperatures are optimal for the plant, but in winter the zebra plant can also stand a little cooler at twelve to 15 degrees Celsius. Normal soil for container plants is suitable as substrate. If you are unsure about this, you can get advice from a specialist shop.
By the way: In summer, you can also place the zebra plant outside for a few months, for example on the terrace or balcony. However, the temperature should not be extremely different from the room temperature. You should also avoid direct sunlight outside.
Usually you get the zebra plant in a pot when you buy it. If you have bought a high-quality, healthy plant, you do not have to worry about transplanting it. However, once the roots emerge from the bottom of the drainage holes, it’s time for a larger container.
Here’s how to repot zebra plant :
- Lift the plant out of the old planter with as much soil as possible. If necessary, shake and turn the pot a little so that the plant comes loose.
- Then fill a slightly larger plant pot with some fresh soil.
- Place the plant and its root ball in the new pot.
- Fill the pot with fresh soil. Use peat-free soil to protect the bogs. Be sure to leave a watering margin about one to two inches wide at the top.
- Water the zebra plant.
- Important: If you have to repot the plant because it is infested with pests, you should remove as much of the old soil as possible. It is also best to clean the roots under lukewarm water.
Zebra plant care: tips and tricks
Zebra plant is one of the easy-to-care-for houseplants. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Always keep the root ball of the plant slightly moist. It should not dry out completely, but you should also not cause waterlogging. Always wait between watering until the top few centimeters of the substrate have dried out. Tip: Spray the zebra plant with stagnant water from time to time.
- The zebra plant is quite frugal. It is quite sufficient if you fertilize it once a week or once every two weeks. You can use a liquid fertilizer from a specialized dealer and add it to the water. In winter you should fertilize maximum once a month. Tip: For the sake of the environment, use organic fertilizer. Alternatively, you can even make it yourself: Fertilizer for plants: Make it yourself naturally.
- Pests occur rather rarely. From time to time, however, the zebra plant has to fight with aphids.
- If the plant loses its lower leaves, this is no cause for concern. This is quite normal.
- Propagate zebra plant: Here’s how
- Propagating the zebra plant is as easy as can be, because it works via cuttings. Simply cut short shoots from the plant in spring or summer and let the cuttings dry for a day or two. Then place them in a glass of water and wait for new roots to form.
Tip: Use old jam jars for rooting and place the jars in a warm place. You should change the water from time to time.
When enough roots have formed, you can transplant the cuttings into soil.