Why Is My Haworthia Zebra Turning Brown?

Why Is My Haworthia Zebra Turning Brown

The Zebra succulent, like most succulents, can become brown or develop brown leaf tips for a variety of causes.

Some of these factors are not natural and should be avoided, while others are natural and have no bearing on the plant.

So, if your Haworthia Fasciata is going brown or has brown tips, here are some things you should know before panicking.

Intense Sunlight Stress

When a succulent has been subjected to some sun stress, the most typical scenario in which you could find yourself in possession of a Zebra plant with brown tips is as follows:

This can happen if you have been exposing your Haworthia Fasciata to an excessive amount of full or direct sunlight that is significantly higher than normal.

This plant actually favors bright yet indirect light above any form of sunshine, therefore leaving this succulent in direct sunlight for extended periods of time during the day may cause the tips of the plant to turn brown if it is neglected.

Unfortunately, once this has occurred, there is little that can be done to prevent the leaf tips from turning a crispy brown hue instead of the typical color of the leaf.

You can at best trim off your Zebra succulent leaf tips to give it a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, but other than that, you cannot do anything useful with those leaves.

It is up to you to decide whether or not you want to remove the leaf tips, but there is no reason to do so because retaining them will not do any harm.

Opening up the leaves, on the other hand, might make them more susceptible to other issues that may arise in the future.

In the event that this has not yet transpired, you will want to ensure that you are only providing this plant with indirect light and that you are shielding the plant from direct sunlight as well as any sudden spikes in temperature.

You can do this by bringing your plant inside or by using high-quality shade cloth.

Overwatering

If you discover that your Zebra succulent has mushy brown leaves all around, you most likely over-watered it and have acquired root rot.

To be certain that rot has set in, remove the soil and examine the roots itself; if you detect mushy roots that readily come apart, you have rot.

To repair this, remove all of the brown leaves as well as the rotting roots while preserving whatever healthy roots you can, or, at worst, remove all of the roots and start again.

From here, re-pot your Haworthia Fasciata into some well-draining cactus and succulent soil while also using a porous container.

If there are still any roots, water immediately; otherwise, wait at least a few days before watering to avoid accidentally rotting the plant.

You will never over-water the Zebra plant again if you use excellent quality soil and only water when it is dry.

This is also a typical reason this plant might turn yellow or start drooping, as these are warning indications before the brown mushy leaves appear.

High Temperatures

If you are growing your Zebra succulent in a place that is either too hot or too cold, then this might also be the reason for your plant to take on a brown leafy appearance.

In either of those cases, you will want to bring the plant inside immediately and move it to somewhere with warmer temperatures, such as a greenhouse, or just keep it covered with a shade cloth.

You should also avoid exposing it to any sudden heat spikes as well.

This plant is comfortable between 70 and 75 °F, so keep a thermometer around the plant to ensure that the temperature doesn’t suddenly rise or decrease.

If you are growing your Haworthia fasciata in an area that is too cold (less than 45°F), then this succulent will become brown and mushy due to the cold temperature.

Nutritional Deficiency

Chlorophyll synthesis requires iron (Fe) and manganese. If your Haworthia lacks certain nutrients, it will produce less chlorophyll and so produce less food.

Less chlorophyll causes physiological problems such as chlorosis and browning of your Haworthia leaves.

If none of the above causes apply, your Haworthia may require more nutrients. Haworthia leaves become brown due to a lack of nutrition.

Adding fertilizer will assist your Haworthia in resolving the issue. The three most significant nutrients in fertilizer are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Two to three applications each year should be enough.

During the fall and winter, your Haworthia stays dormant, and all physiological functions slow down. During this time, you should avoid using any type of fertilizer.

Low Relative Humidity

When relative humidity is exceptionally low, plants have a greater propensity to lose more water through a process called transpiration.

It seems unlikely that there will be sufficient water for the cells to continue to thrive. If the leaves lose too much water, they will eventually dry out and become brown if the situation persists.

How Do You Know If Zebra Haworthia Needs Water?

Water the Haworthia fasciata Zebra plant whenever the soil becomes dry. During the spring and summer, it may be sufficient to water the Zebra plant every two to four weeks.

Or, if it is really hot, weekly. In the winter, Zebra Plants may survive without water for many weeks.

Instead of having a fixed watering plan, consider soil and leaf growth to determine when to water.

The first indicator is that the earth is nearly parched. Haworthia plants are highly drought resistant.

Therefore, you need not worry about under-watering “Zebra Plants,” as their thick leaves store moisture. The second indicator is when their leaves begin to curl.

The easiest way to tell is to stick your finger in the soil up to your first knuckle. If the soil feels dry beneath the surface, then you should water. Be sure not to overwater these succulents!

How Often Do You Fertilize Haworthia Zebra Plant?

The “Zebra Plant,” also known as Haworthia fasciata, does not require a significant amount of fertilizer.

Use a fertilizer that is balanced for cacti to provide food for your Haworthia plant.

Fertilize your Haworthia fasciata at least twice or three times during the growing season with a solution that has been diluted to half strength.

Succulents of the Haworthia genus are known for their slow growth and light nutrient requirements.

In the winter, Haworthia succulents enter a dormant phase, just as the majority of other houseplants.

You should refrain from giving your “Zebra Plants” any food at this period.

Additionally, if there are any indications that there is moisture in the soil throughout the winter, you should refrain from watering the plants.

Does Zebra Haworthia Like Repotting?

Zebra Haworthia plants rarely require repotting. Zebra Plants seldom become root bound due to their sluggish development.

Repotting a Haworthia Zebra is done to separate offshoots for propagation.

Alternatively, you might repot the zebra succulent to renew the potting soil.

Remove the succulent from the pot before repotting it. Use a sharp, sterilized knife to separate any offshoots.

Examine the roots for illness symptoms, such as discolored, mushy roots. Fill the pot three-quarters full with cactus potting soil after cleaning it out. Fill the remaining area with dirt and plant the Haworthia succulent.

If your compact succulent has outgrown its initial container, consider a one to two size bigger replacement.

Just make sure the bottom of the container has a few drainage holes. These pores are required to let water drain swiftly and prevent waterlogging of the roots.

Is Zebra Haworthia Toxic To Cats?

Zebra plants are popular houseplants owing to their small size and ease of care.

But, like with any houseplant in a cat-friendly home, it’s critical to know if zebra plants are safe to keep near your feline pets.

Although they resemble the deadly aloe vera plant, zebra plants are entirely safe in your cat-friendly house.

Zebra plants are members of the Aloaceae family, which can lead to confusion with aloe vera. Aloe vera, on the other hand, is a member of the Liliaceae family.

Even though zebra plants are not poisonous to cats, it is important to remember that any plant eating can cause nausea and vomiting, as well as diarrhea or constipation.

This is especially true if your cat is a frequent eater of houseplants. In high enough quantities, any item, whether food or not, can cause stomach distress.

Keep houseplants out of reach of your cats at all times, especially if you have a cat or numerous cats who are known to nibble on plants.

Do Zebra Haworthia Like To Be Root Bound?

Repotting Zebra Haworthia plants is a rather infrequent necessity. Because of the plant’s sluggish development, “Zebra Plants” very seldom experience the condition known as root bound.

However, if the plant shows evidence of underwatering even if it is receiving the appropriate amount of water, this indicates that the roots are severely confined.

It’s possible that being root bound will cause Haworthia to have a lot of trouble.

The plant will cease growing, and if the conditions don’t improve, it may even perish.

Check the plant’s roots to see whether or not they are root bound and repot the plant as soon as possible after noticing any symptoms of root bound, such as roots growing out of drainage holes.

Does Haworthia Zebra Bloom?

There is a species of blooming succulent known as the Zebra Haworthia that has delicate white blossoms.

The tall, thin blooms of the Haworthia plant often bloom at the end of long stalks throughout the summer months.

Therefore, these succulents bloom in their natural environment between October and November. However, in order for them to blossom indoors, ideal growth conditions are required.

In contrast to other types of succulents, Haworthia plants continue to thrive even after they have produced flowers.

The Haworthia plant belongs to the monocot family, not the monocarpic family (plants that flower once before dying).

If you are fortunate enough to own a blossoming “Zebra Plant,” then it should continue to bloom year after year for a good number of years.