Haworthia: types, care & flowering

Haworthia is not just easy to care for, but also rather pretty to look at. Here we give an overview of the most beautiful species and what you should be mindful of when growing them.

Plants of the genus Haworthia are particularly captivating due to their variety of shapes and colours. Being undemanding and therefore easy to care for, they are extremely popular as houseplants. We will give you a brief overview of the most popular species and show you what you should pay attention to when caring for them.

Haworthia: flowering, origin, and characteristics

These generally dwarfed and compact plants of the genus Haworthia are native to South Africa and southern Namibia. There they grow mainly in desert-like, dry regions, often on rocky sites as well as in the shade of other plants. They are extremely slow growing and remain small even when mature. The rosette-like plants can reach a diameter of 2 to 15cm, depending on the species.

Haworthia, like other well-known species such as Aloe (Aloe vera), is a genus of succulents. These have sap-rich, often fleshy shoots or leaves in order to survive in areas without much rainfall. Both Haworthias and Aloes are members of the grass family (Xanthorrhoeaceae) as well as the subfamily asphodel (Asphodeloideae). These two species are most easily distinguished by their flowers, which, however, do not always appear in our houseplants. Haworthia flowers are usually white to pale pink. Aloe, on the other hand, has reddish to orange flowers that are arranged in clusters. However, the small stature as well as the smooth leaf edges can also help distinguish Haworthia from Aloe. Plants of the genus Aloe are often larger and have small teeth on the leaf edges that can be seen or felt.

The most beautiful Haworthia species

With over 160 different species, the genus Haworthia offers an enormous variety of forms for houseplant lovers. All species are very easy to care for and fairly low maintenance. They remain small and can therefore be kept together in a larger dish. The main differences between varieties can be seen in the leaf shape, patterning, and green colouring.

• Haworthia fasciata: On the upright green leaves of this succulent variety are small, pearly white warts or spots that give the plant its decorative appearance. It grows up to 18cm high, with leaves that are slightly curved inward.

• Haworthia cooperi: Due to its small, almost roundish leaves, it is also called cushion Haworthia. In terms of colour, this species appears almost blue-green or sometimes reddish. The leaves can be slightly translucent. It reaches a diameter of about 12cm.

• Haworthia limifolia: In this variety, it is not the colour but the structural pattern of the leaves that makes it particularly popular. The rib-like, three-dimensional structure can also be white in colour here, while the leaves are green to brownish green. The plant can have a diameter of up to 7cm.

• Haworthia attenuata: Similar to Haworthia fasciata, this variety also has a white pattern on its green leaves, which is made of more or less white dots. These ridges give the leaves, which grow to 13cm long, a rough surface. This Haworthia is also known as a zebra cactus or zebra plant because of its striped pattern.

• Haworthia pentagona: This variety has a more plain and simple appearance. The leaves have a beautifully rich green colour and have no white pattern.
• Haworthia retusa: The leaves of this Haworthia have a rounded-triangular shape. They may have lines or window-like translucent structures. The leaf colour is brownish green.

• Haworthia truncata: The leaves of Haworthia truncata look as though they have been abruptly cut off. This makes their shape entirely different from the other Haworthia varieties. There are small warts on its grey-green leaf surface.

Soil and location

As expected, given the Haworthia‘s native environment, this plant does not require much water. In summer it likes moderate humidity, whereas in winter it prefers drier conditions. Choose a pot with a hole to allow water to drain away easily. The growing medium should be permeable to water and retain it for a long time – structurally stable soils with a high mineral content work best. This could be a special succulent soil or a mixture of cactus soil with pumice gravel and quartz sand. It is also possible to make cactus soil yourself. As a basis for a particularly sustainable mixture, a peat-free soil such as our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost is ideal, which provides Haworthia with essential nutrients over an extended period of time. To ensure that water does not build up, place a layer of broken clay or pebbles at the bottom of the pot before planting.

Place your Haworthia in a bright location, out of direct sunlight. A windowsill facing east or west is best suited for this. It is also possible to put the plant outside in the summer – in this case, you should pick a location in partial shade. In winter and summer, Haworthia requires different temperatures. During the dormant period from October to March, temperatures just above 10°C are sufficient. During this time, the succulent also needs less water and light. In the summer months, conditions should be appropriately warmer, ideally between 15 and 25°C.

When it comes to nutrients, Haworthia is not very demanding: It has moderate nutrient requirements and rarely needs fertilising.

Tip: White, dark red or yellow leaves can be an indication of too much light, while a fading of the green colour tends to indicate a lack of light.

Haworthia care: top tips

“Less is more” is the golden rule for this undemanding succulent. When watering, it is important to avoid waterlogging; in other words, do not leave the plant in standing water. Do not pour the water onto the plant, as this can cause the leaves to rot: it is better to pour the water directly into the soil. Wait a few days after watering to allow the soil to dry out, then water again, moderately. In summer, watering once a week should be plenty. In winter, Haworthia hardly needs any water, so watering every few months should suffice.

This popular houseplant hardly needs any fertiliser. In small amounts, however, a little fertiliser can support healthy plant growth. By using a natural all-purpose fertiliser such as our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food, you minimise the amount of fertiliser needed. Simply mix a small quantity of the purely plant-based pellets into the soil each time you repot, and the nutrients they contain will then be released slowly and over a long period. Weak cactus fertilisers would also do the trick. Only fertilise in summer, during the main growth period.

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Repotting regularly is usually sufficient to give the plant all the nutrients it needs. You do not necessarily have to use a new pot for this; simply replacing the soil is good for the plant and provides it with new nutrients. Do this roughly every two to three years in spring or early summer, at the beginning of the main growing season. Remove any brown or dead leaves. You can also use repotting as an opportunity to propagate Haworthia. In summer you can also put the plant outside in partial shade, which increases the chances of flowering. When doing this, it is important to gradually accustom the plant to direct light, otherwise it can get sunburnt.

Except for propagation or removing dead leaves, you need not prune this small houseplant.

Tip: The most common mistakes in caring for Haworthia are excessive watering, too much sun, and over-fertilising.

Propagating Haworthia: how to do it

The different varieties of Haworthia can be propagated in two ways:

Propagating Haworthia from offshoots

As the succulent often forms offshoots, the simplest method of propagation is to remove and replant the daughter plants. It is convenient to use this method of propagation when repotting. In spring, at the beginning of the growth phase, the offshoots have often already formed roots. Simply separate them from the mother plant and plant them in a separate pot with suitable soil. If there are no roots yet, let the offshoot dry out in the air for a few days before planting.

Propagating Haworthia from cuttings

Another way to propagate Haworthia is from cuttings. This method is a little trickier and is not always successful. To regenerate a cutting into a new plant, cut off a leaf of the mother plant with a sharp knife and leave it to dry for about three days. Then place the cutting with the surface of the cut facing downwards into the soil, the same as that used for the mother plant. Place the potted leaf cutting in a bright and warm location and keep the soil moist. As soon as roots have formed, you can care for the plant normally.

Is Haworthia poisonous?

Haworthia is not poisonous to humans or animals and so you do not need to worry about keeping it in the home. The liquid that is excreted when the leaves are cut off is simply stored water that the plant would make use of in nature during long periods of drought.

Aloe vera and its relatives are also low-maintenance succulents that can easily be kept as houseplants. Here is our overview of the most beautiful Aloe species.