Lifesaver Plant Care

The easiest way to kill this plant is by overwatering, so be mindful of your watering habits. It prefers to stay in dry soil, so water only when the top of the soil is visibly dry during the growth period, from April to mid-summer, then only water once a month during the cold season when the plant goes dormant. Remember to throw away the water that accumulates in the saucer after watering; otherwise, the plant might develop root rot.

There is no need to prune the Lifesaver Plant; however, you can cut the flowers after blooming when they start to fade away, so the plant repurposes its nutrients to aid its growth.

Add a mild cactus fertilizer to the water during the growth period. Alternatively, you can add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil of your Huernia zebrina, so you support the new blooms.

Although this succulent is resistant to most pests, mealybugs and spider mites might occasionally appear. Either add a mild insecticide or neem oil to it, and the plant should be pest-free and unaffected.

An acidic cactus mix should be enough to imitate its native conditions, but you can also mix your own soil. Add two parts of normal potting soil and two parts of coarse soil, then supplement the mix with peat moss and perlite, so the soil does not retain water and it’s draining properly.

Propagate the Huernia zebrina during springtime by cuttings. Take a healthy stem and cut part of it with a sterilized tool. Let this cutting air dry for two-three days, then plant it in potting soil. Optionally,  add growth hormone to the bottom of the cut to help the plant establish itself sooner. At this point, the new cutting requires more moisture than the mother plant, so spray the soil with water regularly to keep it moist until new growth appears. Then, follow the regular watering schedule and see it grow.

The ideal temperature for your Lifesaver Plant is 65-75 °F (18-23°C). The plant is frost sensitive, so you will want to bring it inside during winter if you keep it in the garden in summer. Keep it away from cold airflow, as this might break its growth rhythm.

The more space you give to this plant, the more it will spread. If you are limited in space, keep it in a smaller container with drainage holes. Choose an unglazed pot, as this will absorb the excess moisture. The plant prefers to avoid staying in soggy soil, so you will want to ensure that your pot has a great drainage system.

The “lifesaver” nickname does not come from a herbalistic perspective, as the plant is not necessarily used for medicinal purposes. In fact, the name is given by its flower that has the shape of an inflatable lifesaver.