An incredibly beautiful plant is the haworthia flower. Such an interesting name the plant received in honor of the researcher of African nature - Adrian Haworth. Many flower growers would love to decorate their collections with this beautiful flower, but in order to grow a healthy plant that will please the eye, you need to know how to care for it. This is what we will talk about in our article.
Haworthia feature
Almost all species of this plant do not have a stem, the only exception is the Reinvardt haworthia. The flower has fleshy leaves of a triangular shape, expanded at the bottom and tapering to the tip. Depending on the type, the surface of the leaf may be smooth or rough, and the plant also has a variety of patterns and color.
Succulents branch well, have lateral shoots and daughter sockets. As soon as a peduncle appears, which can reach 40-90 cm, it is necessary to remove it, since it does not have special value, but the plant can greatly weaken, or even die after flowering.
The haworthia plant in appearance is very similar to aloe, but still has certain differences and a more compact size.
What microclimate is suitable for the plant
The home microclimate is very comfortable for succulents, while in nature this flower grows in very adverse conditions. Its usual habitat is sandy and rocky soil under the scorching rays of the sun. The flower retains its moisture in fleshy leaves, using it very sparingly.
A haworthia plant tolerates home care even unprofessional very well. This flower is unpretentious and perfectly adapted to the apartment microclimate.
Haworthia flowers are white in color, seemingly inconspicuous. At home, the plant practically does not bloom, but you should not be upset about this, since the flowers do not represent decorative value.
Plant species
Currently, about 150 different species of haworthia are known, but only some of them are used for home cultivation. The most common are:
- Haworthia fasciata (haworthia striped) is a perennial plant. Pointed, slightly curved leaves of dark green color with white convex stripes. The diameter of the plant is not more than 15 cm. The leaf length is approximately 10 cm.
- Haworthia attenuate (haworthia drawn) - a plant of a saturated green shade, on the leaves of which there are dots of greenish or white color. This flower is not as expressive as, for example, striped haworthia, since it does not have bright white bulges on the shoots.
- Haworthia reinwardtii (Haworthia Reinwardtt). The plant reaches a height of about 15-20 cm. Perhaps the only species that has a stem, albeit a short one. The leaves have a pointed triangular shape, the tips are bent inward. The leaf is smooth above, but rows of white dots appear on the surface below. With a lack of sunlight, the leaves become darker.
- Haworthia limifolia (Hawoltia limonifolia) - a miniature flower of not more than 10 cm in height. Dense hard leaves in the form of wide triangles. Small white warts cover the leaf, forming transverse stripes. The color of the plant is dark green.
If you have a desire to grow such a flower at home, you obviously will not lose, because it will bring a little African exoticism to your life, since it is South Africa - the birthplace of the haworthia plant. The species of this flower are numerous and diverse. But only a few of them are adapted for growing at home.
What care does haworthy need?
Home care for this plant is quite simple. The flower survives well during transplantation and grows rapidly. Since in nature it grows under rather extreme conditions, in the apartment it feels quite comfortable and does not require special care. The plant is very attractive in appearance, as it has an interesting shape, and the leaf structure is very similar to aloe. No matter what kind of haworthia, home care will be identical for everyone.
- Lighting is one of the most important factors. Sunlight is essential for a flower, however, periodically it needs to be put in the shade. In winter, the plant is placed in the brightest place.
- Temperature condition. In the summer, the temperature should be moderate, it is best to place the flower on the balcony or in the garden. In winter, 10-12 degrees are enough for the plant.
- Watering. It is not necessary to water the plant abundantly in the summer, it is enough 2 times a week for it. In spring and autumn, watering is done once every 7 days, but in winter, watering is enough for a flower once every 5-6 weeks. It should be noted that the land dries well between waterings. Watering must be done very carefully, since it is undesirable to get water in the middle of the outlet. This can cause the flower to rot. If the lower leaves die off, then the watering was organized incorrectly, and in this case the plant may die.
- Fertilizers Potassium is very useful for the plant, therefore, to fertilize the flower, use preparations with its high content. Top dressing is carried out monthly from May to July.
- Humidity. It tolerates a lack of moisture and is tolerant to a dry climate haworthia.
What you need to know about a plant transplant
As a rule, a succulent transplant is performed in the spring. This procedure should be carried out if the plant is too crowded in a pot. At the same time, it is worth noting that it is in cramped conditions that the plant grows and develops better, so you should not rush to transplant excessively.
The best capacity for planting will be a shallow, wide pot, in which there is a drainage system. Pay special attention to drainage, since stagnation of water can cause the death of the flower.
Soil preparation
Haworthia (photo of which is presented below) loves non-acidic soils, where the pH is 7-7.5, and organic compounds do not exceed 50%. With a high organic content and high acidity, the soil is unsuitable for growing this exotic flower.
When choosing soil, keep in mind that it should consist of three components (sand, clay sod and sheet soil) in equal amounts. Some professional gardeners advise adding brick crumb to the soil, which is responsible for regulating humidity. The baby absorbs all excess moisture, and the earth becomes porous. After a year, it is better to renew the soil, as the crumb brick is crushed and loses its characteristics and properties, and poor soil is harmful to the flower’s health.
How exactly does haworthia propagate?
Home care, as we found out, is quite simple, so even a not too experienced flower grower can easily cope with the task.
To get new flowers, you can use several methods of reproduction:
- Daughter sprouts. In the spring, when a plant is transplanted, children who already have their own root system are separated. Young shoots are planted in small pots. It is not necessary to wait for the roots to ripen, you can carefully cut off a daughter outlet without roots from the mother flower and plant it in a fairly moist soil, where young haworthia will take root.
- Propagation by seed. A painstaking and long way to grow Haworthia. It is extremely rarely used by flower growers, since from planting to the first shoots more than one week will pass. You can buy seeds in specialized flower shops.
- Leaflet. A good way to propagate succulents is to cut or carefully break off a leaf from the mother's outlet. The cut sheet does not need to be planted immediately after separation from the main bush, it will dry out for 2-3 days, and only after that it will be planted in specially prepared moist soil. You need to water the plant no sooner than after 3-4 weeks, by this time the plant will harden, and roots will appear in it.
Which pot to choose for a flower
When choosing a pot, special attention should be paid not to the materials of which it is made, but to its size. Haworthia prefers to grow in a narrower space, so a low but wide pot is exactly what you need.
Pay attention to the roughness of the inner surface of the pot, such conditions allow the root system of the plant to better strengthen behind the walls.
You need to choose a round pot, because in a square container, the roots of the plant bend at right angles and rot the bowl.
If you use all the tips and recommendations described above, you will grow a beautiful haworthia flower (photos of this plant are presented in our article).
This type of plant is perfect for beginner gardeners who do not have enough experience and knowledge in growing flowers. Some connoisseurs of succulents collect small collections from different types of haworthia. Such a collection of exotic beauties looks impressive.
To grow beautiful haworthia, take care of it at home with love, and it will delight you with its beauty for many years.