Most succulents that you will come across are often going to be one color, like green. The Zebra Succulent breaks this misconception about succulents because it has green leaves with unique white strikes, thus its name. Your Zebra Succulent isn’t going to be the largest succulent in your garden, but it will be one that is unlike any other. Check out some of the things you need to know about Zebra Succulents!
Zebra Succulent Characteristics
Zebra Succulents are a number of characteristics that set them apart from other succulents, making it easy to identify with its:
- Stiff, linear leaves
- White, bumpy stripes on its green leaves
- Small sizes
- Tiny, purple or white flowers that appear in summer and fall
It is also important to know that Zebra Succulents are known to be slow growers, even slower than some other succulents. You aren’t doing anything wrong if you don’t see much growth, but remember this also: you will get more than 50 years out of your Zebra Succulent!
Water Requirements
Zebra Succulents have some of the same water requirements as many other succulents.
Do not water your succulent until you feel that the soil is dry to the touch. When you do water, you should water deeply to soak the soil.
Here is a rule of thumb for how often to water your succulent:
- In the summer, water your Zebra Succulent every three weeks or so because growing slower
- Water your Zebra Succulent more often in the winter, though you should still not water your succulent more than once a week
Too much water can lead to root rot. Root rot means that the roots of your succulent are going to start to deteriorate.
Proper soil and drainage will help prevent root rot, even if you do water your succulent a little too often.
Light & Temperature Requirements
Zebra Succulents are hardy to a number of different living conditions, but it prefers full sun.
Some Zebra Succulents are found in harsh environments, so you can grow Zebra Succulents in:
- Indirect light
- Full sunlight
- Bright, direct sunlight
In terms of temperature, Zebra Succulents grow better in winter than in summer. Your Zebra Succulent will go dormant in the warmer summer months to protect itself against high temperatures.
Since your Zebra Succulent will grow better in the winter, it is also hardy against colder temperatures. It is not tolerant against hard freezes, though. Your Zebra Succulent can withstand temperatures as low as 30 degrees.
Where Should I Put My Zebra Succulent?
Since Zebra Succulents are hardy against many temperatures and lights, you have options when you have a Zebra Succulent.
Windows are one of the best homes for any succulent because windows will often get a mix of direct and indirect sunlight. If your succulent is in a pot, you can also easily move it between windows.
Be wary of windows when colder temperatures set in, however. In the winter, cold temperatures can seep in through the windows and affect your Zebra Succulent.
If you choose to plant your Zebra Succulent outside, I would recommend that you plant your succulent somewhere where it can get around 4-6 hours of bright, indirect sunlight. It is more difficult to move a succulent outside, so indirect sunlight will ensure that your Zebra Succulent does not get scorched by the sun.
What Does A Healthy Zebra Succulent Look Like?
Zebra Succulents have visual signs of whether or not it is healthy.
First, take a look at the color of your succulent:
- Vibrant green and white colors are a sign your succulent is healthy
- Deep red means that your succulent is receiving too much sun
- White means that your Zebra Succulent is starting to dry up
A Zebra Succulent will show you that it is not doing well by the color of its leaves. You do not need to be a plant whisperer to adequately take care of a Zebra Succulent.
How Do I Keep My Zebra Succulent Happy?
Zebra Succulents thankfully aren’t difficult to keep happy. Here are some tips to give your Zebra Succulent the best life possible:
- Plant your Zebra Succulent in a well-draining soil
- Choose a pot that is made out of terra cotta and has drainage holes over a plastic or glass pot
- Keep your Zebra Succulent in temperatures higher than 30 degrees fahrenheit
Overall, Zebra Succulents are easy to keep happy as long as you are not watering the plant too much. Zebra Succulents are, thankfully, easy to take care of, regardless of whether or not you are a beginner gardener.
Are Zebra Succulents Rare?
Zebra Succulents are considered rare.
Zebra Succulents are rare because they are found natively in only one place: South America. More specifically, you will find Zebra Succulents growing in acidic soil in the shrublands of South America.
The accessibility of gardens online makes all succulents easy to find with enough searching, but that does not always mean that the plant is easy to find in the wild.
How Do You Propagate Zebra Succulents?
Zebra Succulents are easy to propagate because they have offsets and pups.
All you need to do to propagate a Zebra Succulent is to remove the pup or offset.
While many succulents are propagated by cutting off a stem with scissors or a knife, you can simply break off the pup or offset for propagation.
Like any other propagation method, you will need to:
- Allow your pup or offset to try out for a few days
- Plant your pup or offset in a well-draining soil
- Allow a few weeks for your Zebra Succulent pup to root
Keep in mind that Zebra Succulents are slow growers, so if you do not see your pup growing, it may not be that you are doing anything wrong. Rather, your new succulent may take a few weeks longer to start growing than you might have originally expected.
