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Zebra haworthia care
Haworthiopsis attenuata · Asphodelaceae
Also called Zebra plant, Haworthia attenuata.
A small, clumping succulent from South Africa's Cape provinces with stiff, pointed dark green leaves banded with raised white bumps. It stays under 15 cm and copes with less light than most succulents, which makes it a good windowsill or desk plant.
Light
Bright IndirectWatering
Every 2 weeksDifficulty
EasyPets
Non-toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
8-15 cm
Growth
Slow
Temperature
16-27 °C
Not below 10 °C
Humidity
30% - 50%
Fine in dry rooms
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- South Africa
Through the year
Let the mix dry out fully before watering; in winter, keep it almost dry and water about once a month.
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Spring
Every 2 weeksGrowth resumes: water when dry and divide crowded clumps.
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Summer
Every 2 weeksKeep it in bright light without hot direct sun; thin flower stems may appear.
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Autumn
Every 2 weeksKeep watering when the mix is dry while the weather is mild.
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Winter
MonthlyKeep it almost dry and away from cold windows below 10 °C.
Feeding
Once or twice a year in spring and summer. Low-nitrogen cactus fertilizer at half strength. Do not feed in winter.
Care tips
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Use a fast-draining mix
Cactus compost with extra grit or pumice.
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Split the clump
Separate offsets with roots attached in spring or summer and pot them on their own.
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Give it fresh air
It prefers dry, well-ventilated rooms to humid ones.
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Keep the pot small
A shallow pot only a little wider than the clump dries out evenly.
Common problems
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Root rot
What you seeLeaves turn soft, translucent or brown from the base.
What to doUnpot it, trim rotten roots, let it dry and replant in fresh cactus mix; water less often.
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Faded stripes
What you seeLeaves turn pale and the white bands look dull.
What to doGive it more light, close to a bright window but out of hot midday sun.
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Sun stress
What you seeLeaves turn red or brown, or get dry patches, after a move to a sunnier spot.
What to doMove it back from the glass or filter the light with a sheer curtain.
Pets
Is zebra haworthia safe for cats and dogs?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs. Listed by the ASPCA under Haworthia, its former genus, as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Good to know
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It is often sold as Haworthia fasciata, a rarer species whose inner leaf surface is smooth rather than bumpy.
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Thin flower stalks can reach 40 cm in summer, topped with tiny pale tubular flowers.
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It used to be classed as a Haworthia; botanists moved it to the genus Haworthiopsis in 2013.
