Grow This Pocket-Size Striped Succulent Indoors
Whatever you call this succulent — zebra plant, haworthia or Haworthiopsis — it makes a great tabletop houseplant
Boasting loads of style for its small size and easy-care needs, zebra plant has earned its stripes as a top choice among indoor-friendly succulents. Often called haworthia, because of its former botanical name, zebra plant has recently been reclassified as Haworthiopsis.
In mild climates you can grow this South African native succulent outdoors as you would aloe vera, in a bright location sheltered from baking sunlight. Place potted plants somewhere you can admire them up close to appreciate the bumpy white bands that give the plant its common name. Like other succulents, zebra plant is easy to grow and takes little care other than occasional water.
In mild climates you can grow this South African native succulent outdoors as you would aloe vera, in a bright location sheltered from baking sunlight. Place potted plants somewhere you can admire them up close to appreciate the bumpy white bands that give the plant its common name. Like other succulents, zebra plant is easy to grow and takes little care other than occasional water.
Where to put it. Indoors, pick a spot to display your zebra plant where it will receive bright, indirect light. They can tolerate lower light conditions but grow best in spots like a north-, east- or west-facing window that receive steady but not baking sunshine. Direct sun can cause tips to brown and leaves to dry out.
Outdoors, grow zebra plants in areas that receive morning sun and bright, indirect light the rest of the day.
Outdoors, grow zebra plants in areas that receive morning sun and bright, indirect light the rest of the day.
How to use it. Zebra plant is a great small-scale, indoor-friendly succulent that can be set on a desk corner or fireplace mantel.
To showcase the stripes, pot up zebra plants in solid-colored white, black, terra-cotta or metallic containers, avoiding pots with busy patterns.
In combinations with other low-water succulents, zebra plants need a little breathing room. Keep a few inches around its base covered in gravel or preserved moss. This can also help make the decorative stripes stand out.
See indoor pots and planters
To showcase the stripes, pot up zebra plants in solid-colored white, black, terra-cotta or metallic containers, avoiding pots with busy patterns.
In combinations with other low-water succulents, zebra plants need a little breathing room. Keep a few inches around its base covered in gravel or preserved moss. This can also help make the decorative stripes stand out.
See indoor pots and planters
Photo by Amy
Why we love it. From a cute-plant perspective, the stripes can’t be beat. But what keeps us coming back to zebra plant is its ease to keep alive. One of the reasons zebra plants make good houseplants is that they’re happiest in the temperature range we usually keep our homes, between about 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (or 10 to 23.9 degrees Celsius), and they don’t mind dry air conditioning. As long as you keep them away from heating units, give them enough water and find a spot with relatively bright light for them to live, they’ll be happy as houseplants for years.
Why we love it. From a cute-plant perspective, the stripes can’t be beat. But what keeps us coming back to zebra plant is its ease to keep alive. One of the reasons zebra plants make good houseplants is that they’re happiest in the temperature range we usually keep our homes, between about 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (or 10 to 23.9 degrees Celsius), and they don’t mind dry air conditioning. As long as you keep them away from heating units, give them enough water and find a spot with relatively bright light for them to live, they’ll be happy as houseplants for years.
Care tips. Like all succulents and cactus, zebra plants store water in their fleshy leaves, which allows them to go weeks without moisture, if needed. (You can leave for a three-week vacation and your zebra succulent will be just fine). However, plants are healthier and look more succulent if they’re watered about once a week.
Avoid overwatering — particularly in winter when plants are dormant — but don’t let the soil completely dry out. Avoid letting water droplets remain on leaves.
Zebra plants need soil with excellent drainage, so always pot up plants in a quick-draining cactus potting mix, or amend your garden’s existing soil to increase drainage before planting in a bed.
Avoid overwatering — particularly in winter when plants are dormant — but don’t let the soil completely dry out. Avoid letting water droplets remain on leaves.
Zebra plants need soil with excellent drainage, so always pot up plants in a quick-draining cactus potting mix, or amend your garden’s existing soil to increase drainage before planting in a bed.
Photo by Stephen Boisvert
How to propagate. Happy zebra plants form offshoots or “pups” that can be potted up to form new plants.
How to propagate. Happy zebra plants form offshoots or “pups” that can be potted up to form new plants.
- To do so, use a sharp knife to cut pups at the base from the parent plant. If no roots came with the pup, allow the offshoot to dry out for a few days in a shaded area.
- Then, set it upright on a bed of fresh cactus potting mix, watering occasionally, until small roots form at the base.
- Pot up the rooted pups in small containers filled with cactus potting mix and move them to a bright spot. Keep the soil slightly moist until plants are securely rooted. Then, taper off to only occasional water. (If the pup came with roots, you can jump straight to this step.)
Growing outdoors. In mild climates you can grow zebra plant outdoors, sheltering it from intense heat and frost. Exposure to bright sunlight can cause the tips and outer leaves of zebra plant to turn orange and red. This is not necessarily a sign that the plant is stressed (as long as tips are not brown) but can serve as a reminder to check the soil to make sure it’s not bone dry.
As with zebra plants grown as houseplants, ones grown outdoors are happiest in bright, indirect light. Look for a spot that receives morning sun and indirect light the rest of the day, avoiding baking afternoon rays. Pot in cactus potting mix or in beds with soil that drains quickly.
More
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10 Style-Boosting Design Ideas for Your Houseplant Collection
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Find pots for your indoor plants
As with zebra plants grown as houseplants, ones grown outdoors are happiest in bright, indirect light. Look for a spot that receives morning sun and indirect light the rest of the day, avoiding baking afternoon rays. Pot in cactus potting mix or in beds with soil that drains quickly.
More
How to Choose the Right Plant Container
10 Style-Boosting Design Ideas for Your Houseplant Collection
5 Favorite Succulents to Grow Indoors
Find pots for your indoor plants
Common names: Zebra plant, zebra succulent, zebra cactus
Temperature requirement: Grows anywhere as a houseplant; outside, it grows best in mild climates with a minimum temperature of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) but can tolerate down to just above freezing
Water requirement: Low to moderate (water only when dry); water only occasionally in winter; thrives in well-drained soil
Light requirement: Bright, indirect light; provide shelter from intense sun
Mature size: About 6 inches tall and 4 inches wide when grown indoors; outside, it grows a little over 6 inches tall and up to a foot wide in a clump made up of small rosettes
Seasonal interest: Evergreen; very occasionally forms inconspicuous flowers on a spindly stem in summer
Note: Haworthiopsis fasciata and H. attenuata are both often sold as zebra plant. The main difference between the two species is that H. attenuata has bumpy white bands and marks on the inner and outer surfaces of the leaves while H. fasciata has smooth inner leaves. Both species require the same care and growing conditions.