Zebra Plant
Velvety, bright green leaves striped in dark green like a zebra, purple underneath, on a plant that can reach three feet. A big, soft, pet-safe calathea that wants the usual humidity and shows thirst by curling.
The zebra plant is the velvet calathea. The leaves are a soft, matte, almost fuzzy bright green, striped with bold dark green bands from the midrib outward, and a deep purple beneath. They grow on long stems in a loose clump that can reach three feet, bigger than most of the family.
The velvet texture makes it a little more sensitive to water sitting on the leaves and to spider mites in dry air, but otherwise it is a standard calathea: humidity, soft water, filtered light, and it will fold its leaves up every evening like the rest of them.
Light
Medium, indirect light. A north window, or an east window with the morning sun filtered. Bright light fades the stripes and scorches the velvet quickly. It is fine in fairly low light.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist, watering when the top inch is dry with filtered or rain water. Every five days in summer, every eight in winter. Water the soil, not the velvet leaves. Drain well. The leaves curl into tubes when thirsty and unroll after watering.
Soil and potting
A moisture-holding, airy mix: coco coir, potting soil, perlite. Drainage essential. Repot every eighteen months in spring into a pot two inches wider; it is a bigger plant than most calatheas and fills a pot fast.
Feeding
Quarter-strength balanced feed every four weeks in the growing season.
Propagation
Division in spring. The clump separates easily into rooted sections.
In a hot, dry home
Manageable with a humidifier or pebble tray and a plant group. The velvet leaves attract spider mites in dry air, so check the undersides monthly and shower the plant occasionally. Keep it away from the AC vent and use filtered water. It curls fast when thirsty, which in a hot house means checking it every two days in summer.
Problems and fixes
Leaves rolled into tubes
Likely cause: Thirsty
Fix: Water; they unroll within a day.
Brown edges
Likely cause: Dry air or tap water
Fix: Humidify; filtered water.
Fine webbing, speckled leaves
Likely cause: Spider mites
Fix: Shower the plant, raise humidity, treat with insecticidal soap.
Faded stripes
Likely cause: Too much light
Fix: Move to a north window.
Zebra Plant questions
Is the zebra plant safe for pets?
Yes. Non-toxic to cats and dogs. Not to be confused with the zebra plant Aphelandra, which is a different, unrelated plant.
How big does it get?
Up to three feet tall indoors. It is one of the largest calatheas.
Why do the leaves curl up?
Thirst. Zebra plants curl their leaves lengthways when the soil dries out and unroll them after watering.
Plants with a similar rhythm
Stromanthe Triostar
- Light
- Medium to bright indirect
- Water
- Weekly
- Pets
- Safe
