Aphelandra squarrosa commonly called the “Zebra Plant”
Several species of Aphelandra plants are commonly grown indoors, due to their bright inflorescences and interestingly-patterned leaves.
In fact, the striped pattern on the leaves gives the plant its common name the ‘Zebra Plant.”
Typically, when you hear someone referring to a Zebra Plant, they are talking about the Aphelandra squarrosa, which we are talking about here, but it’s worth noting that other plants may go by the same common name to avoid confusion if you are looking to buy a Zebra Plant. To ensure you are getting the correct plant, always look for the scientific name.
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| source pic: altascopas.com |
Growing Conditions
Light: The zebra plant likes bright light, but does not do well in direct sunlight. Try to position the plant so that it gets most of its sun either in the early morning or the evening while avoiding the bright midday sun. When placed indoors in a room temperature setting, the plant should thrive year round. Outdoors, the plant enjoys moderate climates.
The recommended temperature range is 65° to 75° degrees Fahrenheit during the summer and about 60° degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.
Water: Never allow the compost to dry out; use lukewarm water to keep soil temperature elevated. Mist frequently during the growing season.
Temperature: Zebra plants prefer temperatures above 60 F. Larger varieties (A. tetragona) cannot survive below about 70 F.
Soil: Prefers rich, organic potting soil.
Feeding: Feed weekly during summer with liquid fertilizer or use slow-release pellets at the beginning of every growing season.
Propagation
Zebra plants can be propagated by cuttings in spring. Use a rooting hormone for increased chances of success. Take two- to three-inch-long cuttings off of side shoots, dust the cut ends in rooting hormone, then insert the cut ends in a growing medium of peat moss mixed with perlite. Keep the growing medium damp, and provide bottom heat with a heating pad for best odds. Keeping a room temperature of about 70 F and maintaining a fairly humid growing environment (such as in a covered terrarium) will help the cuttings become well established.
'' Flowers ''
The flowers of this plant are small and yellow, appearing on bracts that can reach 4 inches in length, coming to a cone-like point at the end. It can be quite a challenge to get your Zebra Plant to flower, but it is possible to get two blooms a year out of your plant. When they appear, the yellow flowers typically only last a week before they die, whereas the bract will be intact for around six weeks at a time.
Many people think it is the bract itself that is the most impressive part of the bloom rather than the flowers themselves. If your Zebra Plant is struggling to flower, the usual culprits are lack of bright, indirect light and lack of appropriate fertilizer. Try to experiment with a different spot with your Zebra Plant to see if a better source of light will affect flower growth.
To encourage flower growth, you can put your plant in a slightly cooler spot over winter (though not allowing it to drop below 55° F). Do this for at least three months and then, bring the plant to a warmer and brighter spot when spring arrives. After a further three months of bright conditions, the Zebra Plant will hopefully begin to flower. It is the contrast of these environments along with the vibrancy of the sunlight that encourages flower production.
Common Problems
Unfortunately, as the Zebra Plant can be quite difficult to keep happy, problems with this plant are not unusual. We have addressed some of the most common problems below, though with this plant it is often a case of trial and error, slightly tweaking your care of the plant and seeing if it responds more favorably.
Are There Other Aphelandra Varieties?
Aphelandra squarrosa is the most recognized zebra plant variety commonly available.
Its pairs of opposite, spear-shaped, glossy green leaves are prominently veined with creamy white. The intense yellow flowers emerge from a spike of waxy, golden bracts.
There are a couple of other interesting varieties:
Aphelandra aurantiaca from Mexico has smooth green leaves and gray veins. The showy bracted spikes are set with brilliant scarlet-red flowers which have orange markings in the throat and on the tube.
Aphelandra aurantiaca roezlii has twisted dark green leaves and orange-scarlet flowers.
Aphelandra fascinator has satiny, emerald green leaves which are laced with silver veins, and are a silvery amethyst-purple on the undersides. The large flowers are scarlet. Many consider Aphelandra aurantiaca the same plant Aphelandra fascinator.
Aphelandra chamissoniana a native of Brazil. It is erect with closely set, slender, pointed dark green leaves. The veins are a beautiful silver-white with a pronounced midrib. The flowers are a clear yellow with green tips.
Aphelandras make attractive showy displays as a flowering plant. Its the waxy flowers on a spectacular terminal spike matches fully in beauty with shiny emerald-green leaves, strikingly veined in white.
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