zuzu
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Re:unhappy zebra plant - 2009/01/04 07:33
Hi A, 
there are several plants that go by the common name Zebra plant, but I'm going to assume that you are referring to Aphelandra squarrosa, as I know that it can be rather temperamental and behave just the way you've described. 
First, it helps to know that these plants are from the hot and humid tropics of Brazil, so  that gives you some idea of their ideal conditions.
 Sounds more like the conditions inside a greenhouse than in the average home, huh?
Maintaining the ideal moisture and humidity levels for these plants in the average home during the winter months can be problematic. 
They are very picky about ambient humidity, and they like plenty of it! 
So if your home is heated and the air is dry, that could be the cause of the browning of the leaf edges.
Soil moisture must be consistant - "just moist" -
too wet OR too dry will result in leaf loss.
It would be my guess that your plant is probably suffering from a lack of consistent moisture rather than from too much -
over-watering would cause root rot, which would soon result in a soft or mushy stem.
(If you turn your plant out of it's pot, and there is a foul odor about the rootball, that is a tell-tale sign of rot.)
But, as you have said that you are letting it dry between waterings - I'd say that is most likely the trouble.
It may help to adjust your watering regime - watering lightly, but more frequently.
Don't be afraid to poke your fingertips an inch or so into the pot every couple of days to check.
Another important factor is temperature, these guys are resentful of dips below 65ยบ F -
and be sure it is not sitting in a draught, which can create problems, too.
They are also fussy about light levels, and I see that you have kept it out of direct sun, which is good - but it still craves good light, so if the location you describe is nice and bright, then that should be okay.
And speaking of light, bringing one of these plants back into bloom can be a real challenge, as well, as that requires specific light levels and day lengths. 
Lastly, keep a watch for red spider mites and mealybugs  , which may infest Aphelandra.
Gosh, I make it sound awful, don't I?
But it's not so bad really,
and of course, you have already seen just how beautiful it can be when it gets what it wants. 
Post edited by: zuzu, at: 2009/01/04 06:33
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