Haworthias

I'd like to introduce you to another of my many favorite plant families this week. Haworthia is one of several favorite succulent genuses of plants. It is a member of the lily family from southern Africa.

Description

Haworthias come in many forms, from plants that look somewhat like a row of bricks on its side to symmetrical rosettes of leaves. Some appear very succulent while others are soft and fleshy leaved. Visit The Last Peyotero Page to view pictures of Haworthias.

Also visit Haru's Haworthia Page for pictures of additional Haworthia species. These reveal the wide variety of plant forms available in this genus of plants. It is impossible to give a description of a "Haworthia and have everyone recognize this plant family when you see one in your local greenhouse.

Cultivation

Most Haworthias are easy care plants which will reward you with winter flowers if given a bit of care and good sunshine in the winter months. [Haworthias normally bloom in the "winter" for us northern hemisphere dwellers. Remember, they come from the southern hemisphere so our winter is really their summer.] A word of caution though is necessary because some of the Haworthia species are extremely difficult to grow well in cultivation.

Presently I use a mixture of ½ soilless mix and ½ perlite to grow my Haworthias. However, after spending several hours reviewing the archives of the Haworthias email list, I'll start using coir when I repot next time. Hopefully, this will eliminate part of the fungus gnat problem I experience when using the peat-based mixes.

My haworthias thrive on being watered just once a week. They are planted in clay pots which also helps to make sure the potting media doesn't stay too wet. If planted in plastic, I'd be extra careful about checking each plant to be sure it really needs water this frequently. When using clay pots, I soak the plant for a couple of hours every month or so just to be sure the clay isn't absorbing all the water so the plants have none.

I seldom fertilize these plants. I've read recommendations ranging from every watering (a low nitrogen fertilizer, 1/20 strength) to spraying them with superthrive which is a vitamin mixture. I like to use Schult's liquid houseplant fertilizer at the rate of 2 drops per quart of water monthly, or whenever I think about it.

Since they are slow growers, I don't need to repot more than every couple of years. However, I do like to renew the potting media more frequently.

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