With its striking stripes, the zebra grass is a very special eye-catcher in the garden. White spots on the green stalks create a very attractive, exotic appearance. On top of that, the Chinese plant is also very undemanding, but care mistakes still lead to the grass turning brown. With the tips in this article, you can quickly identify the causes and also know how to take targeted action against them.
There is not always reason to panic when zebra grass turns brown
causes
- natural leaf shedding
- wrong substrate
- wrong watering behavior
- incorrect fertilizer application
help
Natural leaf shedding
It is perfectly normal for zebra grass to shed its leaves at the end of September or beginning of October. Before that, the stalks turn brown. The next spring, however, the plant will sprout again on its own.
Wrong substrate
With regard to site conditions, zebra grass is very undemanding. It also thrives in the shade, albeit a little more slowly than in the blazing sun. However, in locations that are too dark, it lacks the attractive stripes. However, the leaves do not turn brown. It is different with the wrong substrate. The following properties of the earth are appropriate:
- wet
- permeable
- acidic to alkaline (pH 5-7.5)
- loamy and sandy
- nutritious
If the stalks of your zebra grass turn brown, it is worth trying to enrich the substrate with humus.
Wrong watering
Be sure to check if there is waterlogging under the ground. This causes root rot and kills the zebra grass. Potted plants are particularly at risk. Even long periods of drought are not well tolerated. Regular watering, especially on hot summer days, is therefore a must.
Wrong fertilizing
Zebra grass is very sensitive to excessive salt concentrations in the soil. You are probably using the wrong fertilizer. It is best to switch to organic means such as compost. In fact, fertilizer is not necessary at all. Only in some cases does it increase growth. For example, if the soil is too nutrient-poor.