Growing Haworthia
Haworthia are a very popular succulent group because they are easy to grow and have a large variety of beautiful forms. Sometimes people think that they are miniature aloes and some do look a lot like tiny aloes, but they are not. They belong to the Asphodelaceae family of plants, as do aloes, but the the main difference is in the flowers. Haworthia make small, nondescript white flowers that are pollinated by insects whereas aloe flowers are red, orange or yellow and are mainly pollinated by birds. Many aloes are also very large, Haworthia are all small-sized plants. Just to complicate matters, dwarf aloes and grass aloes are the same size as Haworthia and Haworthias can also be hybridised with aloes. Pictured below, aloe flowers on the left and Haworthia on the right.
Haworthia are highly variable looking plants and there is endless argument amongst various experts about the correct classification of the plants and how to separate species and their variations. Haworthia species also interbreed very easily, creating plants that are unclassifiable. There is huge interest in the succulent trade in collecting rarer haworthias and interesting hybrids - some of these sell on ebay for hundreds of dollars. These plants are especially popular in Japan, their small size and beauty make them as prized among indoor gardeners as Bonsai, although really hard-core collectors will have their own greenhouses.
Now that I have my own place, I am planning to start growing collectable succulents on a small scale to sell mainly at shows and I am keen to focus on haworthia because it is fairly easy to keep large quantities of them in small spaces and my garden isn't huge, so my growing area will be quite limited. Fortunately, in my climate, I would not need a green house but would be able to do most of my growing outside, under shade cloth. This is a long-term project because it takes about 2 years for plants grown from seed to reach a saleable size. Haworthia can also be propagated vegetatively, by offsets and leaf cuttings but the rarer ones are slow growing and often don't produce offsets.
I will look more detail at some of the different species groupings to show the diversity of this fascinating group of succulents in my next posts.
Beautiful! I got given a flowering succulent as a gift this week and thought of you! I was wondering if you could let me know if I need to prop up the flowering stem at all? Or is it strong enough to hold up on its own?
It shouldn't need propping but there are reasons why it might sag. Post a picture of it here?
It belongs to the Echeveria family and the flower stalk does curl at the end. If it has been kept in low-light conditions, the flower stalk can get very long and go sideways, as yours has but the curl is normal. It should be able to hold up its own weight as is, I don't think it needs propping. Just get it as close to a sunny windowsill as you can
Oh wow thank you ! That's so good to know, it has been next to a window but I might move it to the back of the house as that gets more sun! I'm really excited to see one flower so I hope it survives, thank you so much for your help!
A south-facing window where it can get a few hours of morning sun will be best
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By the way, I have yet to buy an African Violet to replace my dead plant. Though I read somewhere an Orchard would go well in a bathroom too. They said they like humid places and can survive with little light. Is that true? Would it work?
Orchids are quite variable and the Phaleonopsis orchids don't need much light but they don't always like bathrooms because these can be cold and then any humidity just makes them damp and miserable and the flowers will die and it won't bloom again. So only if your bathroom is warm and ventilated. I keep mine in my upstairs bathroom which has lots of light and is well aerated and warm and they are doing well there. They really didn't like it when I had to put them in the kitchen for a while - the flowers died and they are budding again now that they are back in the bathroom
Perfect thank you!
Very interesting and original plants.
We have a Haworthia on our front porch, they would suit a Japanese theme garden. My daughter always empties her Spiny leaf insect droppings on it when she cleans its enclosure, its thriving so I think its good fertilizer.
You made me go and google that! Interesting creature. Because it is herbivorous, that would make good fertiliser for them, nitrogenous fertilisers from carnivores can be problematic
These are great for terrariums and with veritical twist they catch your eye.
They are very eye-catching plants
Beautiful!
Yes you are right. I, in fact, when I saw Haworthia thought it was another species of Aloe.
I have 2-3 Haworthia.
The stores have choice.
But, unfortunately, my area is not rubber - so I can not have everything I want!
Success to you in your endeavors!
Thank you!
:-)
I like your plants and your pots!
Those pots are unfortunately not mine, they are pictures I took at our local succulent show