Haworthia: popular species and care tips
Description
Haworthia is a genus of about 150 species and many cultivars of perennial succulents belonging to the Asphodelaceae family. Haworthias are native to the Cape Province in South Africa in dry regions and are almost always small. Haworthias have also as a common name Zebra Cactus, Pearl plant, Star window plant, or Cushion Aloe.
Furthermore, these very slow-growing plants have a distinctive leaves appearance that comes in many forms, some varieties have rigid, bumpy leaves, others have soft, fleshy leaves with translucent “windows”. Also, clusters of white flowers can bloom from March to October in a tube or funnel shape, atop stems. Indeed, these stunning succulents are great for your indoor succulent garden, for small spaces and also perfect for beginners. This genus has a lot in common with its cousins Gasteria and Aloe, thing why we can sometimes confuse it with these two genera. The best way to grow Haworthias is by suckers division and leaves cuttings.
Haworthia care
Light
Haworthia species like bright light, but not direct sunlight. So, place your Haworthias near a window so that they receive maximum light but beware of the midday sun through the glass which could burn the leaves, especially those of translucent species.
As soon as the frosts are no longer to be feared, you can take your plants out into the garden until September.
Watering
Like all the other succulent, Haworthias need to be watered when their soil is completely dried out and their leaves start to curl. They also (about every two to three weeks. In short, you have to water weekly during the summer, suspend the watering during winter and the most important thing is to avoid overwatering.
Soil
Haworthias need well-drained soil to avoid water stagnation. Use a succulent potting soil and mix it with perlite or some stones. Repotting will only be necessary every two years or more.
Fertilizer
During the growth period, an addition of “special succulents” fertilizer can be added to the irrigation water every 15 days.
Pests and diseases
mealybugs attacks can threaten Haworthia, especially during winter. Moreover, underwatering can cause leaves curling and overwatering cause root rot.
Popular Haworthia species
Haworthia attenuata
Haworthia attenuata, named commonly Zebra Haworthia or Zebra cactus, is a perennial succulent native to Cape Province, South Africa. This Haworthia species is distinctive in appearance with stunning zebra-like stripes and rosettes of long, thick, tapered green leaves. This succulent is a great houseplant because it is very resistant to drought and also tolerates a low light situation. Sometimes, we can confuse it with Haworthia fasciata. To distinguish between the two plants we are based on the leaves shape. Those of H. attenuata are spotted with raised white dots on both sides while those of H. fasciata are spotted only on the outer side, the inner part of the leaf is smooth.
Haworthia fasciata
Haworthia fasciata, known also as Zebra Haworthia or Zebra Plant, is a perennial flowering succulent so named because of the distinctive, horizontal, white, zebra looking stripes on the outside of its leaves. On the other hand, the inside of the thick, dark green leaves is very smooth. In summer, Zebra plant produces small white flowers on a stem of 38 cm in height.
Haworthia cymbiformis
Haworthia cymbiformis, commonly called Cathedral Window Haworthia because of its translucent leaf tips, is a small perennial succulent belonging to the Asphodelaceae family. Additionally, this attractive easy to grow succulent is an excellent indoor plant for beginners because it is less susceptible to succulent pests and it is incredibly hard to kill. Also, this species has rosettes of juicy, boat-shaped leaves with light and dark green spots. Small, tubular, white flowers with brownish-green leaves appear from mid-spring to early summer.
Haworthia minima
Haworthia minima, also known as Tulista minor, is a amoung the small succulent plants native to South Africa. It forms small compact rosettes of long, thick leaves densely covered with attractive white tubercles. In summer, white flowers with pink tips appear to give a magical appearance to this beautiful plant.
Moreover, This tiny succulent is very easy to grow and doesn’t require a lot of light, but quickly fears excessive humidity.
Haworthia bayeri
H. bayeri, named also Moonshine Haworthia, is an easy to grow succulent with a tight rosette of beautiful dark, olive-green to red leaves. This very rare species has the most spectacular reticulated, pointed, fleshy leaves with random fine white strips. Small whitish-green flowers appear on erect and wiry racemes from spring to summer.
Haworthia truncata
Haworthia truncata, commonly known as Horse’s teeth, is a very small, slow-growing species that measures 2 cm in height. This perennial species, typically grown as a houseplant, is indigenous to Calitzdorp, South Africa. This unusual plant is characterized by unbranched plant habit, fleshy root system and grey-green, rectangular, fleshy leaves with flat ends, arranged in opposite rows. Moreover, in late spring, this fasciated Haworthia blooms in small, white flowers that appear on a slender, long stem.
Haworthia cooperi
H. cooperi, known also as cooper’s Haworthia, Ice lantern or Window Haworthia, is a small succulent that grows in a rosette form. The short stem of this slow-growing succulent bears fleshy, tiny blue-green leaves lined with light veins in some varieties. In addition, the leaves are variably patterned with translucent stripes at the tips called fenestrations. This structure is an adaptation to the harsh light conditions in its native habitat. Also, this attractive indoor plant produces whitish, narrowly elongate flowers on long stalks.
Haworthia limifolia
Haworthia limifolia, known also as File Leafed Haworthia or Fairies Washboard, is a very excellent indoor charming succulent. It has large rosettes of dark green leaves that have series of distinctive, pronounced ridges resembling those of a washboard. Moreover, this wonderful succulent produces flower clusters in the summer, but the small, tubular, white flowers are not showy. They appear in a cluster from the top of the stem growing from the center of the rosette.
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