Hi. I'm brand new to houseplants (well, all plants.) After hours of research, I id'd my zebra plant, which is now one tall cane-like stem with some leaves at the top. Not knowing any better, I re-potted it into a bigger pot - didn't work, of course. What can I do? The stem/stalk/reed is bare about a foot up from the soil, after which it has about 8 inches of good growth. Thanks for any advice, Jude
A number of vastly different plants have been given the nam "zebra plant", their distinguishing feature being white striped variegation. This includes the bromeliad Aechmea species, a succulent Haworthia fasciata and the tropical plant Calathea zebrina , just to name a few. However, the most references to the use of that name for house plants arguably refers to Aphelandra squarrosa, which is a tropical flowering shrub. If this is the case, it will drop the leaves at the bottom, especially if moved from a more brightly lit environment to a dimmer place, or with reduced ambient light levels due to the shorter day light hours. But it should do fine if you 1. keep the temperature warm enough - 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit 2. give it the brightest spot you can find in the house, but not exposed to direct sunlight 3. water when the potting media gets dry, and use a half strenght soluble fertiliser with every other watering when you see active growth. I have a suspicion that it does not like cold drafts - therefore, don't leave it near a window or door that will be used in the winter.
Hi there. Thanks for the reply! Yes, it is Aphelandra squarrosa, and it has dropped its leaves at the bottom - but it's been doing well, I think, aside from that for over a year now, but still no leaves on the bottom 2/3 of the stem. (It also never flowered, by the way - not sure if that's related...I suspect I just wasn't taking very good care of it.) Nonetheless - the little nubs where the leaves used to grow along the stem are brown and dried, and I can't imagine they would sprout leaves again. Are you saying they will? Or will new ones form at the bottom of the plant somewhere? Thanks again, Jude
There will be potential for new buds to form down the "naked" trunk. Whether it does and doesn't depends on the growing conditions. Under unfavourable growing conditions, it is unlikely to send out new laterals. That's why your best chance would be to provide it with the best of conditions. You can force buds and shoots to form lower down by pruning off the top but I am not sure you want to take such a drastic step. In any case, that might be best done when active growth is expected - i.e. in late spring or early summer, when there is more light available. Another option is to air layer the top. You will essentially get two plants - a new one when the top of the the plant has developed it's own roots, and the stump left when you cut off the rooted top.
