Haworsjais a graceful and undemanding plant with an original appearance, somewhat reminiscent of the more famous aloe. As a succulent, it has low growing requirements and even an amateur can handle it. We advise what are the most interestingspecies and varieties of Hawaiiand how to care for it to keep it he althy. We also explainwhat is the difference between havorsia and aloeand how toreproduce havorsiain pot cultivation.
Havorsia - Haworthia
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Havorsia(Haworthia sp.) is a leaf succulent native to South Africa with about 80 species belonging to this genus. Haworsia grow very slowly, forming small rosettes of fleshy leaves and they are the main ornament of the plant. It is true that haworsias are blooming, but small, bell-shaped flowers are inconspicuous, and in home conditions you can wait for flowers for up to several years.Haworsja is an excellent plant for window sillsand for combinations with other succulents with similar needs, such as eg Eseveria or lithops.
Is havorsia poisonous?
Haworsia are not poisonous , so they can be safely grown at home as ornamental plants. Haworsias are also not poisonous to cats and dogs. In the case of havorsia, we do not have to worry if our pet sometimes likes to nibble on potted flowers.
Havorsia - species and varieties
Haworthia fasciata(Haworthia fasciata) is one of the more resistant and less demanding species among other species.It has dark green, juicy leaves flecked with white growths forming regular streaks. It perfectly tolerates heat and relatively low temperatures (min. 10 ° C) and does not have to be dormant, so it is an ideal houseplant.
Band havorsia - Haworthia fasciata
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Haworsia 'Big Band'- Dark leaf blades are decorated with contrasting white outgrowths that cover the entire length of the leaves. Ultimately, it reaches 15-20 cm in height and much wider.
Banded Haworsia 'Alba'- this is a variety with leaves dominated by white in the form of wide rings along the entire length of the leaf.
Haworsia 'Variegata'- thin, stiff, upward-pointing leaves form dense, two-color rosettes. The stripes in a contrasting white color stand out against the yellow-green background.
Ribbon havorsia 'Concolor'- its stiff, raised, pointed green leaves are concentrated in dense rosettes. The surface of the leaves is dotted with characteristic white, small outgrowths, which makes the plant look like covered with frost.
Havorsia limifolia(Haworthia limifolia) - This species of havorsia forms a dense rosette of raised, stiff, pointed leaves. The leaves are quite smooth, slightly mottled. The dots do not form regular shapes, they are scattered all over the leaf.
Havorsia limifolia 'Marloth'
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Haworsja limifolia 'Spider White'- creates a rosette of fleshy, silvery leaves with a pattern resembling a white cobweb.
Haworsja limifolia 'Variegata'- its impressive rosettes are about 10 cm in diameter. Triangular, pointed leaves are distinguished by a contrasting combination of dark green and yellow. Additionally, the surface of the leaf blade is covered with convex stripes.
Havorsja limifolia 'Zebra'- the dark green surface of the leaf blades is covered with convex, white stripes, which evoke associations with the color of zebra - hence the name of this variety.
Haworthia limifolia x longiana- has stiff, pointed leaves forming dense rosettes. The dark green leaves are covered with very fine white warts.
Haworsja cooperi(Haworthia cooperi) - distinguished by original, translucent leaves. Due to the small amount of the dye and the delicate surface, you can see the veins embedded inside the leaf.
Havorsja cooperii var. picturata- its compact rosette of smooth leaves with tips turned inwards, gives the impression of a blooming flower. Some of the leaves have translucent windows through which the plant can absorb more light.
Haworsja cooperi var. optusa
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Haworsia cooperi var. obtusa- creates leaves whose distinctive feature are rounded tips with a translucent skin. This structure allows the plant to deliver a large amount of sunlight to the inside of its tissues. Haworsja v. Obtusa creates compact rosettes of dense, closely adjacent leaves.
Havorsia - cultivation
All havorsias prefer bright locations, but with diffused lightIntense sunlight damages tissues and can burn delicate havorsia leaves.
Best for growing haworsia will be the eastern exposition , but it does not necessarily have to be a window sill. When havorsia stands in full sun, plant pigments begin to accumulate in its tissues and, due to chlorophyll deficiency, it turns reddish. Fortunately, it is a reversible process, it is enough to provide the plant with a shadier position and the havorsia will turn green again.
Haworsia feel good at room temperature of 18-24 ° C.In winter, when the plants are dormant, the temperature of havorsia cultivation should be lowered to a level of 14-16 ° C.
Soil for havorsia should be permeable and fertileThe best choice is soil for succulents or a mixture of compost soil with the addition of clay and sand.
In summer, havorsia requires regular watering on average once a weekWhen watering, avoid getting the leaves wet, as havorsia are prone to rot. Between waterings, the soil in the pot should dry out slightly. Forfertilization of havorsiait is worth using a fertilizer for cacti and succulents with a reduced nitrogen dose.In autumn and winter, during the dormant period, water the havorsia very sparingly and stop fertilizing.
Composition of succulents: Haworthia fasciata, Echeveria 'Red Taurus', Sansevieria cylindrica
Photo. shutterstock.com
Why does havorsia rot?
Haworsias do not actually get sick or are not attacked by pests, although quite often gardeners askwhy havorsia rots Plant base rot is caused by improper watering. Therefore, we should allow about 1/3 of the top layer of the substrate to dry out between waterings. Toavoid wetting the leaves and rotting the base of the havorsia , instead of pouring the water from the watering can directly under the plant, it is better to put the havorsia pot in a flat container or a saucer with water and let the soil soak up with moisture from the bottom. Pour the excess water from the base after 15-30 minutes.
Havorsia - reproduction
Havorsia should be exaggerated once every 2-3 years. It will be a great opportunity toreproduce havorsiaWhen transplanting, take cuttings from the side suckers of the mother plant. Place new seedlings in pots with a suitable substrate and a layer of drainage at the bottom. According to some sources, seedlings should be kept for 2-3 days in a dry place and only then planted in a pot.Havorsia can be propagatedalso by sowing seeds, but this task requires a lot of experience.Hybrid varieties of havorsia may also not repeat the characteristics of the mother plant.
Haworsja a aloes
It is easy to confuse havorsia with aloe at first glance. After all, both species belong to the same Asphodelaceae family, so it's no wonder that some of their varieties are very similar to each other. Sohow to distinguish havorsia from aloe ?
First of all, by looking carefully at the leaves.The leaves of the aloe vera have a noticeably serrated edge, and the havorsia smooth.These plants also differ in habit - aloe is branchy, and havorsia forms a compact, regular rosette. When the plants are blooming, you cannot confuse them - the havorsia flowers are inconspicuous, small, white, with petals curled outwards, while the aloe blooms colorfully and effectively creating long red, yellow and pink inflorescences.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
