Though the small whitish flowers are less than spectacular, they are rewarding and very willing to come forth under diverse conditions. The real glory is in the succulent leaves, which, depending on species, can be variously colored in greens, reds, or browns (to near black). Some have leaves that are thin and bristly, others thick and fat. Some are plain, others are marked with lines, bumps, stripes, or dots.
All these factors point to why Haworthias are very popular houseplants capable of being grown successfully indoors in all areas of the world, and outdoors where frosts are infrequent and of short duration. Many Haworthias readily offset, and therefore are easily passed along to friends or handed down from generation to generation.
 |
| source: pinterest |
How to grow and Care
Haworthias are easy to grow as long as you keep in mind that they are succulents, and require the appropriate light, temperature, soil, and watering. Although it is possible to kill a Haworthia, they are generally forgiving of the occasional lapses of ideal care.
Light. The stereotypical image of cacti and other succulent plants is as desert inhabitants, living fully exposed in the hot, bright sun. Whereas large plants can survive such harsh conditions, many smaller succulents actually are found in the shade of rocks or shrubs. Although some Haworthia species can be found in full, bright sun, many live in more protected spots, and therefore are adapted to thrive in partial shade (though few look their best without at least some direct sun or bright light). This makes Haworthias well adapted to lower light conditions found in homes.
Temperature. Some Haworthias can survive a few degrees of light frost for a short period, but it is best not to take chances. They do best in the temperature range of 75-90°F. But they can tolerate temperatures into the low 40s, especially if they do not have continuously wet soil, and they will survive high temperatures into the low 100s, especially if they are somewhat shaded and have good air movement.
Soil. Like most all succulent plants, Haworthias do not like their roots to remain wet for prolonged periods, so their soil mix should be well drained. A good commercial potting soil should be mixed with equal amounts of drainage material. Several options exist, including perlite (available in garden stores), aquarium gravel, poultry grit (available at feed stores and agricultural supply stores), or horticultural pumice (available at better garden centers or through mail-order succulent nurseries).
Do not use sand as it is too fine and clogs the pores in the soil. If using a peat-based potting soil, remember that peat decomposes in a few years, resulting in an unhealthy soil. As some Haworthias are slow-growing and can stay in the same pot for years, there may be a tendency to forget to repot into fresh soil, a practice which should be done every 2-3 years.
Watering. If the soil mix is well drained, Haworthias can be watered weekly in the summer months; less frequently in the winter. The soil should dry between waterings. Prolonged wet soil, especially when it is cool, there is low light intensity, and/or the plants are not actively growing, can lead to root rot, a common problem with Haworthias.
Symptoms of a weak or rotted root system include stoppage of growth, reduction in plant or leaf size, or leaf shriveling. Often though, root rot does not necessarily mean the plant will be lost. If the plant looks unhealthy, unpot it and inspect the roots. Remove any weak or decayed roots, even back to the stem of the plant. Allow the plant to lie out unpotted for a week, then repot into fresh soil and begin watering carefully until it is apparent that the roots have reestablished and the plant has regained its health.
Pests and diseases. Haworthias are generally free of most pests. The one exception is mealybugs, which can be a common problem but easily resolved by physical removal or with standard houseplant insecticides. The most significant disease problems are root rots caused by poor soil or too much moisture. Occasionally such root rots can move into the plant stem resulting in the death of the plant.
How Do You Propagate Haworthia?
Just as with any succulent, you can grow it from seed, but there’s really no reason to.
It is dead-simple to grow it from an offset. You’ll just need to locate a mature plant to find a little baby plant ready to be removed and given its own home.
To remove the offsets, simply break them off carefully or cut with a sharp knife and place the small plant in small pots of a slightly moist cactus mix.
If you don’t have a commercially prepared cactus mix, you can use a 50/50 mix of potting soil and perlite or pumice.
Put your little plants in a warm, still sunny window setting with bright indirect light conditions. Protect them from extremes until they have taken root.
A north facing window is a good setting for little Pearl Plants to get their start and develop a root system.
If you want to amass a collection of Haworthia, it’s a good idea to join a plant club and have lots of little Pearl Plants on hand to trade with your fellow succulent enthusiasts.
