Haworthia pearl is a succulent. She comes from hot Africa. This means that caring for it is somewhat different from what plants require in moderate climatic conditions. How to grow pearl haworthia at home? Rules and useful tips from professionals will be presented to your attention.
Description
The plant is a succulent plant with fleshy leaves and pointed tips. They have a rich dark green hue, as well as convex white growths, due to which the haworthia is pearl and got its name. The leaves are quite stiff, triangular in shape and assembled into a beautiful outlet. Their width is about 2 cm, and the maximum length reaches 12 cm.
At home, the plant blooms quite rarely. Its flowers are small, white-pink or greenish. In order to achieve flowering, it is necessary to create a plant growing conditions as close to natural as possible.
Optimal conditions
Depending on the season, the growing conditions of haworthia pearl should also change. In the spring-summer period, the optimum temperature is + 23- + 25 degrees during the day and + 15- + 17 degrees at night. The plant feels great on the windowsills, however, it is advisable that direct sunlight does not fall on it. To protect from the open sun, blinds or an ordinary curtain from tulle will do. Despite the fact that the plant is native to the African continent, direct sunlight can leave burns on its leaves.
In winter, the air temperature should drop to +10 degrees. This can be done by moving haworthy onto a glazed balcony. Since there is no scorching sun in winter, the plant feels great on the balcony. At the same time, experts recommend bringing succulent inside the apartment if the temperature in the street drops to -5 degrees and is colder.
Soil requirements
Pearl haworthia is quite demanding on the soil. Care at home for this plant involves performing the necessary steps to ensure that it pleases the eye for a long time. One of the most important factors is the choice of the right substrate for the growth of a tropical plant.
Soil should include sand, shell rock, clay and nutritious light earth. Such a filler can be purchased at a flower shop, or can be made independently, in proportion. It is important that the soil on which haworthia grows is slightly alkaline and has neutral acidity, otherwise the succulent is doomed to death.
Haworthia also loves rocky soils. In order to provide the plant with growing conditions that are close to natural, stones, broken bricks or perlite of large fractions, pieces of lava or pumice can be added to the soil.
Pot selection
Photos of haworthia pearl show all the charm of a given plant. However, in order for it to feel good, you need to choose the right pot. The shallow and wide round-shaped container is considered the best option. Square pots should be discarded, as the roots in them can be wrapped.
Transfer
Immediately after acquiring a plant, it is recommended to transplant it into a new pot with soil. This is due to the fact that often the containers in which the Haworthia are put up for sale are smaller than necessary.
Plant transplantation is performed according to the following algorithm:
- Haworthy must be carefully removed from the old pot.
- An earthen lump is preferably left on the roots, however, you need to make sure that they are alive. Dry or decayed haworthia pearl roots must be carefully trimmed with scissors.
- The new pot should be slightly larger than the previous one, however, it is not recommended that the difference between them be very large, since in this case the plant begins to grow the root system instead of leaves. Suitable containers made of plastic or ceramic, shallow, but wide.
- It is also important to ensure that there is a hole in the bottom of the new pot to drain excess fluid when watering. Otherwise, the water will stagnate and contribute to root decay.
- At the bottom of the pot you need to lay the drainage. This can be both expanded clay, perlite, and a simple foam, crushed to the desired size.
- At the bottom of the pot you need to pour a small amount of soil in which to form a hole.
- In the pit you need to place the plant and sprinkle it with earth, then lightly tamp.
At this stage, the plant transplant is considered completed. It is also recommended immediately after the manipulation to water the plant with clean water at room temperature.
Watering
In the care of pearl haworthia at home, one of the main points is watering. It must be regular so that the plant receives enough fluid and nutrients from the water. It is recommended that you follow these simple tips from professionals:
- Watering should be carried out as the topsoil dries. In the summer, this is approximately 1-2 times a week. In winter, watering is reduced to 1 time in 2 weeks.
- The water should be plentiful so that excess water spills out through the hole in the bottom of the pot.
- It is important to use standing room temperature water. Water directly from the tap contains a large amount of calcium and chlorine salts, which can harm Haworthia. Upon sedimentation, these substances form a precipitate.
Also, it is not recommended to use cold water for irrigation, as it can lead to burns of the root system and their freezing. In addition, watering should be carried out in the ground so that water does not get inside the outlet - this can lead to decay of the plant.
Succulent is indifferent to air humidity, it is able to adapt to any conditions. At the same time, it is also not recommended to spray the leaves, it is allowed only occasionally to wipe the dust on them with a slightly damp cloth.
Top dressing
For haworthy, pearl care also involves periodic fertilizing. Succulent can be fed only in the spring-summer period, since in winter the plant hibernates and the sap flow inside the leaves slows down.
Most often, universal fertilizers for cacti are used. They contain all the necessary nutrients in the right proportion. Fertilizing with nutrient complexes is recommended no more than 1 time per month, because from an overabundance of useful minerals haworthia can change the color of the leaves.
Bloom
A photo of haworthia pearl shows that her flowers are pale and inconspicuous. Fortunately, the plant blooms quite rarely at home. Specialists in growing domestic plants recommend pruning the peduncle when it appears. This is due to the fact that the plant gives all its strength for the appearance of flowers, as a result of which its appearance may deteriorate and growth may slow down.
Common mistakes
People who have not previously encountered the cultivation of succulents can make such mistakes when caring for haworthy at home:
- With a lack of natural light, the leaves of the plant lengthen, and the rosette stretches.
- At too high a temperature in the winter, the edges of the leaves begin to curl, and the white color of the growths becomes yellowish and becomes dull and inconspicuous.
- With close proximity to heating appliances in winter, haworthia leaves may turn yellow and curl.
- If necessary, a transplant succulent begins to stretch in length, and its outlet is deformed.
- With an excess of moisture, the outlet becomes loose, and the leaves easily come off.
- If the leaves have acquired an unusual reddish or yellowish tint, this may indicate an excess of fertilizer.
- If water gets inside the outlet or excessively frequent watering, especially in winter, the plant may begin to rot. It becomes pale, soft. Only an emergency flower transplant can save the situation.
- If the temperature is too low, haworthia can change the color of the leaves to a darker shade, and also begin to rot.
Most of the problems described above can be resolved by establishing a succulent care system.
Pests
Like any other plant, pearl haworthia is susceptible to attack by pests. Among them, the following are often found:
- Aphids are small black or green insects whose only purpose in life is reproduction, as a result of which the population is growing steadily. It feeds on the juice of plants, so in order for the flower not to die, urgent treatment with drugs such as "Aktara", "Spark Bio" is required. It is also recommended that you check other domestic plants for aphid detection.
- The spider mite is characterized by the appearance of cobwebs on the leaves. You can fight it with the help of treatment with the preparations "Agravertin", "Neoron". Use drugs with an interval of 1 week for a month.
- The mealybug leaves a sticky mass on the leaves. To get rid of it, the drug "Aktara" is used.
- The scabbard is able to suck the juice from the leaves. For its destruction, any drug described above is suitable.
- When thrips occurs, a dark shiny coating on the leaves occurs. Affected plants should be treated with Fitoverm.
Use any means to control pests must be strictly according to the instructions, otherwise the plant may die.
Reproduction by "kids"
Often in the spring, "succulents" appear near the succulents - small plants that grow near the mother and are woven by the root system. They must be separated and transplanted. This is done according to the following scheme:
- The places of cuts during the separation of haworthia should be treated with a fungicide to prevent decay and left to dry for several hours.
- For small young plants you need to choose small sized pots.
- Drainage must be placed at the bottom for better waste of excess water during irrigation.
- After that, half of the tank must be filled with earth and make a small depression.
- A small plant is placed in it, after which it is sprinkled with earth and slightly tamped.
After transplanting, the haworthy should be watered. Young plants also need a dormant period immediately after separation from maternal succulents. In the period of 5 weeks after planting, they can not be moved from place to place, and watering should be moderate.
Leaf propagation
You can increase the haworthia pearly population at home without waiting for the moment when the children grow from the mother plant. To do this, carefully, using a sharp knife or scalpel, separate the sheet from it and grease it with “Fundazole”. After which the sheet should lie to dry for 2 days. Then it needs to be planted in the sand, occasionally moisturizing.
After a month of being in a sandy substrate, the leaf should take root. After that, he is ready to transplant into a pot of soil. If rooting has not occurred, the leaf will begin to fade, dry out or rot.
Seed propagation
Waiting for seeds to appear in haworthia can last quite a while. However, there are breeders who are trying to propagate the plant in this way:
- The best option is to plant the seeds in individual containers.
- The substrate is a mixture of vermiculite, sand, fine perlite, ceramis, dolomite flour and universal soil for succulents.
- It is not necessary to fill the seed with a substrate, since it will be difficult for it to germinate.
It is also recommended to cover the pots with foil to maintain a constant level of humidity. When choosing this method of propagation of haworthia pearl, you need to prepare for the fact that this process will take a lot of time. The first seedlings appear 2 weeks after sowing the seeds, and haworthia can grow to the size of an adult plant in only a few years.
Conclusion
Pearl haworthia is a rather unpretentious succulent, even a novice plant grower will cope with it. The secret of an attractive appearance is the selection of the right soil, good lighting, regular watering, as well as periodic application of mineral and organic fertilizers. Subject to these conditions, the plant will grow and give a large number of "children".