Shaped like an Aloe Vera plant, the zebra succulent is a plant whose roots can be traced to South Africa.
It is made up of thick dark green leaves with white stripes. It is generally non-toxic to plants and animals and can be grown indoors or in a domestic garden.
Zebra succulents are slowly gaining popularity in homes and offices as it adds to the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding.
Succulents have lots of liquid in them and therefore need a lot of water to survive and get these liquids in their leaves.
This is the same for the zebra succulent plant. It uses a lot of water and does well in an environment with plenty of moisture.
There are various reasons why zebra succulents turn brown.
Regardless of the reason, zebra succulents with brown tips are a red flag in the garden and point to the fact that imminent death awaits the plant if nothing is quickly done to revive the plant.
Why Is My Zebra Cactus Turning Brown
The zebra cactus flower often changes from the natural green color to an ugly brown for the following reasons:
1. under watering
2. Strong wind
3. Sunlight
4. Soil of the plant pot
5. Too much heat
6. Overwatering
These reasons are explained in detail in the proceeding paragraphs. Sit tight as we walk you through an accurate explanation for the brown tips appearing on your zebra succulent plant.
1. Under-watering
Your zebra cactus plant suffers from underwatering if you notice that the lower part of the leaf and its tips is turning brown and crispy.
The zebra succulent plant grows well in habitats with low water, but cannot survive prolonged periods without water.
Their leaves are adapted to store water which is used slowly until the next application of water to the plant.
They begin to turn brown after using up the water reserve in their leave. It is recommended that the zebra cactus plant be watered using the soaking technique.
The soaking technique involves dipping the plant pot into a big bowl of water and letting it sit still for about 5 minutes before getting it out.
This method ensures that the water gets through to the roots of the plant and can be transported to the leaves effectively.
If you prefer watering from the base of the root, ensure you add enough water to get through the coarse soil.
Water in a consistent frequency, especially in hot seasons
2. Strong Wind
How does the activity of the wind affect a plant like a zebra succulent with thick leaves?
Did you ask the same question when you saw “strong wind” listed as part of the reasons for your zebra succulent turning brown and developing brown tips?
The thing about zebra succulents is that they are a shy species that love to grow in areas that are not so open.
This implies that zebra succulents do well as indoor plants than as shrubs growing outdoors.
The zebra succulents do not like open areas with strong wind activities.
They do not also grow well in rooms with air-conditioners turned on to high intensities.
This is because the activity of wind dries out the moisture stored on the leaves of the zebra succulent plant and leaves them with nothing to turn to in situations where watering does not come as when due.
This causes the leaves to dry and turn brown. As much as possible, do not expose your zebra succulent plant to areas of the garden with strong wind action.
If you grow yours indoors, ensure it is in a room with moderate ventilation.
3. Sunlight:
You already know by now that the zebra succulent plant is are shy species that prefer to grow in shaded environments.
Zebra succulents do well in areas with shades and light dispersion of sunlight. They get photosynthesis from the indirect light gotten from the sun.
Prolonged exposure of the zebra succulents to sunlight leads to sunburns, which darkens the leaves, causes wilting, turn the leaves brown, and leads to the death of the plant.
If you must grow your zebra succulent plant outdoors, ensure you grow them where there is indirect heat from the sun.
You do not want your green succulents turning all brown and faded, do you?
4. Soil of the plant pot
When choosing the soil type to use for planting your zebra succulents, note that the zebra succulents do well in soil that has adequate nutrients and drains well.
Sandy soil is preferable for growing the zebra succulent given that the large air spaces between them allow water to quickly flow from the top, down to the roots without draining off through the drainage holes.
The use of a soil type that clogs up after the first application of water-clay soil, does allow for sufficient intake of water by the plant roots.
It happens that, the water applied is repelled by the clogged up surface and does not penetrate to the root.
A lack of water to the root means a lack of water to the leaves as well. This causes stress to the zebra succulent plant as they have to go days depending on the water stored up in their leaves.
The water eventually gets exhausted and the leaves begin to turn brown and wilt.
5. Too much heat
Zebra succulents grow best in temperatures 55°F-80°F (13°C-27°C). They do not like direct heat from the sun as well as conditions that keep them really hot.
You could say that they are adapted for only the best conditions in life. It is absolutely funny yet true.
Conditions of too much heat in the habitat where the zebra succulent is planted increase the amount of water loss from the roots of the plant.
It also reduces the amount of water that the plant can take up from the soil as well. This leads to shrinking and brown tips of the zebra succulent plant.
An ideal way of growing the zebra succulent is by keeping them in spaces where the heat is adequate and does not lead to perspiration or evaporating of soil water content.
6. Over Watering
The natural habitat of the zebra cactus adapts it to enduring water loss. They are medium drinkers of water that do not need water unless the soil on which they are planted has gone dry.
Their roots are adapted to use up moisture available in the soil before requiring a new supply of water.
Overwatering the cactus plant is the act of watering the cactus plant in frequencies that do not give room for the usage of the previous application of water to the soil.
When a cactus plant is overwatered, the leaves first begin to turn yellow, and then it goes brown, turns mushy, rots, and falls off.
Watering the zebra cactus plant demands that extra care be taken not to water the plant before watering is needed by the plants.
Watering is a good way of caring for your zebra succulent but over watering places the life of your zebra succulent at risk.
So if you have to water, do so when the soil around the zebra succulent is dry and looks like it needs a drink.
Ensure this is done before the plant begins to suffer from drought stress.
How Do You Fix Brown Tips on Your Zebra Succulent Plant?
Geeks say that, when the cause of an ailment is known, the solution to the ailment is just by the corner.
You have just gone through all of the reasons why your zebra succulent is turning brown.
Here are the various ways to fix the tips of your zebra succulent which has gone brown.
1. Do not water the plant unless it is needed, and when you water, ensure the water gets down to the root of the plant?
Practice the soaking method of water application and use a soil that drains easily. Remember that the zebra succulent needs water, but not too much water.
2. Plant in areas with low sunlight and heat, preferably under shades and indoors. Too much sunlight causes sunburn and browning of the leaves of a zebra succulent.
Ensure the plant is exposed to only indirect light and heat from the sun.
3. Use well-draining soil on the plant pot, one that is good on nutrients and can allow for water dispersion into the root of the plant.
Clay soil will eventually lead to the death of your zebra succulent.
4. Maintain a good pH level of the soil always by adding compost manure regularly to make up for lost nutrients.
5. Note that your zebra succulents are not favorable with strong winds, therefore, as much as possible locate the plant pot in areas where they do not have to be exposed to the activities of strong wind and air,
How Do I Get My Zebra Plant to Bloom
The zebra plant does not bloom until November, sometimes December.
Getting your zebra succulent to bloom requires that the plant has all the favorable conditions for surviving through the year.
This involves the right amount of water, sunlight, air, and heat.
Conclusion
An African in origin, the zebra plant has thick skins that resist simple conditions meant to cause death in it.
Yet, certain conditions lead to brown colorations in the leaf tip of the cactus plant.
The brown leaf color change of the zebra succulent plant is one that can be averted thereby restoring the health condition of your zebra succulent plant.
You can now go-ahead to fix the brown leaf tip problem of your cactus plant.
