House Plants with Striped Leaves – A Visual Treat for Your Home
Adding house plants with striped leaves to your indoor garden can provide a punch of visual interest. The striking variegated patterns and vivid colors of these plants make them stand out compared to plants with solid green foliage With so many options to choose from, there is a striped plant to suit any style and space Read on to discover some of the most popular houseplants boasting beautiful striped leaves.
What Causes the Striped Leaves?
Variegation in plant leaves is caused by a lack of chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis. When chlorophyll is absent in certain areas, it results in stripes, spots or blotches of white, yellow, cream or pink. These color variations reveal other plant pigments like carotenoids and anthocyanins. Variegation can occur due to genetic mutations or unstable changes in plant chemistry. Selective breeding has allowed certain varieties, like the pinstripe calathea, to become readily available.
Benefits of Plants with Patterned Leaves
In addition to providing visual interest, some benefits of growing houseplants with variegated leaves include:
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Decor – The eye-catching colors and patterns can enhance your interior decor. Groupings of plants with contrasting foliage create lively displays.
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Low Light Tolerance – The white portions of variegated leaves cannot photosynthesize but contain chlorophyll. This allows the plant to tolerate low light better than solid green varieties.
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Temperature Tolerance – Striped leaves may raise the light absorption of the plant, allowing it to better handle temperature extremes.
Ideal Growing Conditions
While specific needs vary between plants, there are some general guidelines to follow for growing houseplants with striped leaves:
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Light – Most need bright, indirect light to thrive. Direct sun will fade or burn delicate foliage.
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Water – Allow soil to partially dry out between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot.
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Humidity – Average room humidity is fine for most. Some appreciate extra moisture from misting or pebble trays.
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Temperature – Warm temperatures from 65°F to 80°F are suitable for the majority. Avoid cold drafts.
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Soil – A general houseplant mix amended with peat moss provides the quick drainage these plants need.
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Fertilizer – Feed monthly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Popular Striped Houseplants
Here are some top picks that are widely available and perfect for brightening up your indoor plant collection:
Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa) – Distinctive glossy green leaves with bright white veins. Prefers warm, humid conditions.
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) – Vibrantly colored leaves in shades of red, orange, pink and yellow. Requires lots of light.
Calathea (Calathea spp.) – Tropical foliage plants with ornate leaves, some with pink and white stripes. Demanding of proper care.
Dracaena (Dracaena spp.) – Easy to grow plants like the Dracaena ‘White Jewel’ feature bold white stripes on tapering leaves.
Haworthia (Haworthia spp.) – Small succulents, like the zebra haworthia, have spiky striped leaves. Withstands drought well.
Philodendron (Philodendron spp.) – The popular Philodendron ‘Birkin’ has showy white pinstripes on split leaves. Trails attractively.
Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura) – Named for its folding leaves, the prayer plant has pink striped foliage. Appreciates humidity.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – One of the easiest houseplants, spider plants have graceful straps of green and white leaves. Tolerates neglect.
Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina) – A trailing plant with striking purplish leaves decorated with silver stripes. Quickly propagates.
Caring for Striped Plants
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Acclimate new plants gradually to your home’s conditions. Select a room with suitable temperature, light and humidity.
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Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Feel the soil rather than relying on a schedule. Proper moisture prevents leaf browning.
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Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust buildup, which can diminish the effect of variegation. Avoid leaf shine products.
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Prune leggy growth and pinch back tips to encourage bushiness. This showcases the striped leaves. Propagate cuttings in water.
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Repot when roots fill the container. Use a pot one size larger with drainage holes. Keep soil consistently moist after repotting.
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Move plants away from cold drafts in winter which can damage leaves. Consider using a humidifier nearby to provide extra moisture.
The eye-catching foliage of houseplants with striped or variegated leaves makes them design showstoppers. With the right care, these striking plants can thrive indoors, adding vibrant colors and textures that will bring your living space to life.
How to care for your calathea
Calathea plants are used to growing under the jungle canopy when in the wild, so they prefer indirect light and partial shade. Too much sunlight can in fact burn the leaves and can cause their bright patterns to fade and become indistinct.
Think soil that is consistently moist, but not soggy. You may need to water it as frequently as every few days, depending on the climate. This plant is sensitive to some minerals and chemicals commonly found in tap water, so its best to avoid using it as it can make the leaves of the plant yellow. Instead, water with rainwater or filtered water, or let some tap water sit overnight to allow any fluoride and chlorine present to evaporate.
Calatheas like things to be warm, and they hate drafts. When thinking about placement, its best to choose a spot thats consistently balmy rather than one where the temperature climbs up and down, as this will make your plant unhappy. If it gets colder than 15° Celsius, expect there to be problems. If youre struggling to keep your calathea cosy enough, consider keeping it in a terrarium (but only one large enough to contain its sprawling growth).
This plant is a little fussy about its soil. It needs to be mildly acidic, with a pH approximating 6.5. You also need to choose a soil blend which retains water well, such as an airy and peat-heavy potting mix, to ensure your calathea stays moist enough. However, you must also plant into a pot with sufficient drainage, as root rot can set in if things end up waterlogged.
For a plant with full, glossy leaves, fertilise once a month with a liquid fertiliser diluted by half in all parts of the year except winter, when growth naturally slows down.
The calathea at a glance:
Botanical name: Calathea.
Other names: Prayer plant, zebra plant, rattlesnake plant, peacock plant, cathedral plant.
Height and growth rate: Calatheas have a moderately fast growth rate when the plant is happy. It can reach maturity within a year, reaching a potential height of up to two feet before stopping growing.
Light: Needs indirect light. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves of this plant.
Watering: It needs to be watered regularly and to be kept moist but not soggy.
Soil: This plant needs slightly acidic soil with a pH of around 6.5.
Temperature: For this tropical plant, its essential to maintain warmer temperatures.
Toxicity to pets: Non-toxic.
Plant parent level: On the trickier side, so a great choice for experienced plant parents – but not impossible for beginners.
There are more than 300 species of calathea in the wild, boasting a huge variety of arresting leaf colours, leaf veins and patterns. Some of them even grow eye-catching tropical flowers. The most popular and commonly found versions kept as houseplants are:
• Calathea zebrina: Sometimes known as the zebra plant, this calathea has stripy green markings on the top of its leaves, while the undersides are a bright, rich purple.
• Calathea makoyana: Often called the peacock plant, this plant has light purple leaf undersides, while the top of the leaves are green and white.
• Calathea ornata: Youve definitely seen this plant on Instagram. Famous for its adorable pink and white striated leaves, its sometimes known as the femme fatale plant.
• Calathea crocata: With plain leaves but with striking, upright-facing bright lobster-coloured flowers, you might have heard this plant called the eternal flame.
10 Indoor Plants with Beautiful Stripes | Houseplants with striped foliage
FAQ
How do you care for a pinstripe Calathea plant?
Native to South American rainforests, the Pin Stripe Calathea thrives when you keep it true to its natural habitat: no direct sunlight, high humidity and no exposure to cold. For best results, water regularly and keep your Pin Stripe moist, but not wet or saturated. You may want to mist the leaves twice weekly.
What is the name of the plant with striped leaves?
What are Calatheas? The Calathea Ornata, also known as the Calathea Pinstripe or simply Pinstripe Plant, are a tropical plant that make a fantastic choice for an eye-catching houseplant due to their lovely pink striped leaves, which almost look like a painting!
Is calathea a good indoor plant?
It is a type of plant that prefers indirect lighting, which means makes it perfect for indoor usage and office buildings. Calathea plants are popular for indoor purposes because they are generally easy to care for and they look great, offering bright green plants to liven up indoor spaces.
What indoor plants have striped leaves?
Houseplants with striped foliage are an attractive addition to indoor gardens. There are many different stripy houseplants to choose from including some that are perfect for beginner gardeners. Here are 10 beautiful indoor plants with striped leaves. 1. Calathea
Are striped leaves a good houseplant?
Nothing describes an attractive houseplant better than those with striped foliage. They make quite the show when planted in indoor gardens. Another good thing about these naturally striped leaves is that they are available in lots of varieties that even beginners can comfortably plant with ease.
What is a striped houseplant?
Calathea Calathea, also known as Zebra plant or Peacock plant is one of the most popular striped houseplants. It’s a beautiful indoor plant that grows best in warm, humid conditions. They can be a bit tricky for beginner gardeners because they’re sensitive to cold, drafts and fluctuations in temperature.
What is a striped leaf plant?
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) Croton is one of the most popular striped leaf plants enthusiasts yearn for. It features gorgeous leaves with beautiful colors ranging from yellow, pink, orange, red, and green with colorful stripes.
What are the best striped houseplants?
1. Calathea Calathea, also known as Zebra plant or Peacock plant is one of the most popular striped houseplants. It can be difficult to find houseplants that do well in low-light apartments or homes, but calathea fits the bill.
Are striped leaves good for indoor plants?
Striped leaves can add a unique aesthetic to your indoor plant collection. But it’s not just the beauty of these plants that make them special; it’s also their diverse care requirements that make them an interesting choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.