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Haworthias are popular plants of easy culture, perfect for beginner gardeners and plant lovers. It is a small genus of diminutive plants native to South Africa that form starlike rosettes often with white or pearl-like bands. Though not bearing attractive flowers, the variety of leaf shapes and coloration is what captures the attention here.
Care guide highlights: Haworthia fasciata favors filtered light to partial shade. If you expose it to too strong, direct sunlight, it turns red or orange and grows slowly. It requires very well-drained soil. Store it in dry place during winter and refrain from watering occasionally at the peak of winter. Propagate from spring to fall using seed or via division.
In this insightful guide, I shall cover the following topics:
- Haworthia fasciata essentials
- Light requirements
- Ideal temperature for this Haworthia plant
- Does it need high humidity?
- What type of soil is most suitable?
- Watering- should you do it often?
- Repotting guide
- Is fertilizing required?
- Haworthia fasciata propagation methods
- Common issues and simple fixes
- Frequently asked questions
Read on to obtain more detailed information about how to care for Haworthia fasciata.
Haworthia Fasciata Essentials
This Haworthia variety is a very popular clump-forming perennial succulent and it belongs to slow growers. It has raised, attractive white dots on the leaf undersides. The leaves are triangular, slightly incurved, up to 8 cm long, and arranged in a basal rosette.
The plant bears tubular to bell-shaped white flowers on long, slender stems from spring to fall, yet they are a very rare sight in household environments. The plant altogether looks bold and daring.
It will grow about 10 cm tall and 30 cm wide. It performs well in zones 12-15, where the minimum temperature is 41 degrees F.
Before we proceed, I’d like to introduce you to a couple of more lovely Haworthias:
Light Requirements
Haworthias come from South Africa, precisely its desert and mountain regions and often grow under bushes in the wild. That’s because it seeks shelter from the strong sunlight.
This makes them perfect for windowsills and places in shade where they will receive just two or three hours of bright indirect sun per day and partial sun to light shade for the rest of the day. It does not need the continuous sun to grow well.
Although Haworthia fasciata can take some full sun, never expose the plant to it at the peak of the summer day, such as at noon. Full light in winter and good bright light in summer with 3 hours of full sun is ideal.
Avoid scorching the leaves since too much direct sunlight may cause the leaves to turn a deep red color. Rather, bring the plant outside in the morning or late afternoon. Keep in light shade.
Don’t be afraid to use supplemental grow lights if your natural source of light is insufficient.
Ideal Temperature for This Haworthia Plant
Maintain your indoor temp above 10 degrees C at all times since Haworthia fasciata cannot tolerate frost.
The ideal temperature is between 12 and 26 degrees C, making sure that the wintertime and nighttime temperatures are somewhat lower than summer and daytime temperatures. Keep cooler in winter, around 10 C in dry soil.
Make sure this plant has fresh air and a slight breeze blowing across it at all times, especially in the summer.
Does it Need High Humidity?
Haworthia fasciata will thrive in regular household humidity, so no misting is necessary. Instead, you can arrange a nice get-together with other plants to increase humidity from which all plants will benefit.
What Type of Soil is The Most Suitable?
Like all haworthias, this one prefers well-draining and well-aerated soil. So, plant this lovely species in sandy or gritty loam with compost. Use good loam-based potting soil or soilless potting mix with 30 percent coarse sand added to air drainage.
Alternatively, you can use a fast-draining potting mix, such as cactus soil which has less or no peat moss and a higher percentage of perlite, pumice, and some sand.
Watering- Should You Do It Often?
Water is stored in the foliage, so add precious liquid only when the soil is about 3 cm dry, twice a month in spring and summer, and weekly during the hottest parts of the year. You always want to check the soil before watering.
Do not irrigate during the dormant phase, which is four to six weeks during the hottest summer months. Taper off in autumn, keep dry in winter and you can’t go wrong.
Room-temperature water is best and also distilled water or rainwater that have fewer mineral salts than other water.
Repotting Guide
Transplant every spring in a container that’s one size larger. Shallow-rooted species grow better in half pots.
Always sterilize the soil and the planters, making sure they have drainage holes. If they are too large, put some mesh on the bottom so that the soil wouldn’t drain out. Pot up as you normally would. Don’t water for 3 weeks after repotting. Set your Haworthia fasciata in a warm place.
Is Fertilizing Required?
As the plant is growing, it will need more nutrients to sustain that growth. This means that the nutrients from the soil won’t suffice.
Rather, fertilizing during active growth will help a plant support new leaves and roots. Use high-potash fertilizer 2 or 3 times in the summer months. Discontinue fertilizing in the colder months.
Haworthia Fasciata Propagation Methods
There are two ways to propagate Haworthia fasciata: from offsets or seeds. Either way, it is preferable to propagate on an early spring morning.
Offsets
The first propagation method is cutting offsets and potting up. Offsets are small plantlets on the ends of mature plants.
Remove few offsets by making a clean cut using a sharp, sterilized knife or tweezers. Place them in a warm and shaded spot for two weeks, waiting for them to callus over.
Plant each plantlet in a pot filled with the cactus mix. Lightly water the plantlet. Let it rest in a shaded area, applying water once the top surface of the compost becomes dry.
Once the plant is established, find it a brighter location and water less frequently, as you would a mature plant.
Seeds
When the plant sets seeds, you can plant them as well. Do that in the following way:
Fill clean containers with damp seed-starting mix. Sow the seeds so they are covered to three times their diameter. Enclose the containers in loose bags to create a humid environment.
When the seeds germinate, move the containers to very bright light and keeping the planting lightly moist. Transplant to individual containers when seedlings have more than three true leaves.
However, it is a very slow process, and taking offsets is a faster method.
Related: 35+ Indoor Gardening Propagation Hacks
Common Issues and Simple Fixes
If green insects appear on flowers and stems, your plant got visited by greenflies. Spray your Haworthia Fasciata with pyrethrum-based insecticide and repeat every 10 days until clear.
If the ends of the leaves shrivel, it is too hot and dry. Water adequately and provide fresh air.
If leaves blacken and rot, it is too cold and wet, and probably too humid. Move the plant to a warmer location and water less frequently.
The plant may get spider mites or mealybugs. Remove with a small paintbrush dipped in denatured alcohol or spray with 50% denatured alcohol. Repeat 3 times in the growing season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Haworthia species toxic to pets?
Haworthia species are pet-safe plants and belong to non-toxic species you can cultivate in your home.
What are some low-light haworthias?
Zebra haworthia or Haworthia attenuata is a perfect candidate for low-light conditions since it can take any type of light, be that bright light, low light, or very little light. This makes the plant an extremely popular indoor species.
Conclusion
Quite small in size, Haworthia fasciata is a nice addition to a sunny windowsill plant gang. It looks especially stunning when potted with a layer of sand or pebbles on top of the soil to highlight its distinctive white dots. For this reason, compost won’t dry as quickly, so bear that in mind.
You can also opt for other Haworthia species such as Haworthia truncata and Haworthia limifolia and broaden your collection.
Have you already got yourself a lovely Haworthia fasciata? Share your impressions and pics with me in the comments section below!
