They resemble mini aloe plants with rosettes of fleshy green leaves generously covered with white pearly warts or bands.
Haworthia thrives in sandy, well-draining, neutral soil that provides adequate summer moisture and relatively drier winter conditions.
They make attractive small potted houseplants and can be moved outdoors for the summer months.
The Spruce
In their native environment, they are often found in the slight shade of a rock or other object.
In regions without frost, they are sometimes grown outdoors inground.
They can tolerate direct morning sun, but harsh afternoon rays can burn foliage.
The Spruce
White, red, oryellow leavesusually signify too much sun.
But if a plant isn’t getting enough light, its green color will fade.
Indoors, haworthias do best near an east- or west-facing window.
Soil
These plants like sandy or gravelly soil with excellent drainage.
Use a cactus potting mix or another fast-draining potting soil for container plants.
Mix the soil with perlite, aquarium gravel, or pumice to improve soil drainage.
Reduce watering to just enough in the fall and winter to keep the leaves plump.
Never allow water to collect in the rosette; this can lead to rot.
They can be damaged when temperatures fall to 40F and lower.
Humidity isn’t an issue for this plant.
It requires good ventilation, especially at night when it takes in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
Pollinate from noon to late afternoon.
When the upper parts of the petals curl outwards, a flower is fully opened.
Pluck the stamen from the male parent with pollen on the tip (anthers).
A stigma is usually fertile for pollination about two days after opening.
Keep a pollinated plant in a cool, shaded place, so the pollen doesn’t dry out.
If the ovary becomes green and swollen, the pollination was a success.
Propagation via offsets prevents the parent plant from becoming overcrowded.
A convenient time to propagate haworthia is when it has overgrown its container and needs to berepotted.
Hawthoria is best propagated via the division of its offsets.
They are relatively slow-growing.
They are often produced in small clusters in wide, shallow dishes.
But they also can be planted individually in containers.
A small unglazed clay container is ideal because it will allow excess soil moisture to escape through its walls.
Drainage holes in the container are essential.
Over time, clusters will naturally enlarge as the parent plant sends out offsets.
A group will typically outgrow its container every three to five years.
If a larger container isn’t necessary, repot the plant with fresh soil.
Repotting should occur in the spring to early summer.
Use a wider container with a new potting mix or split the cluster into separate containers.
Common Pests
Haworthias are free of most pests, with one common exception:mealybugs.
Also, if the soil is too moist, you might have problems with fungus gnats.
Remedying the over-wet condition is often all you gotta do to combat this problem.
Common Problems With Haworthia
Haworthias are hardy plants if they are grown in their ideal conditions.
Generally easy to grow, the same best practices that yield healthyaloeandecheveriaplants will also produce beautiful haworthia plants.
However, issues with their environment can result in a few common problems.
Drooping Leaves
Drooping or shriveling leaves can be the result of underwatering.
But more commonly, they are a sign of overwatering and subsequent root rot.
Soggy soil can kill the roots.
Move your plant to a slightly shadier spotbut not full shadeand that might solve the problem.
Haworthia likes bright light and does well with direct morning sun.
However, strong afternoon sun can be too much for the plant and burn its foliage.
Haworthia is an easy plant to grow outdoors in its hardiness zones and indoors in a container.
Its watering and feeding needs are simple and not time-consuming.
Haworthia is a relatively slow grower, and most species remain small.
Yes, haworthia is nontoxic to dogs, cats, horses, and other pets.
