Haworthia Truncata Care Guide- This is How to Grow Horse’s Teeth Haworthia Successfully

Haworthia is a large and varied group of diminutive succulent plants that have small, patterned foliage often decorated with speckles, spots, stripes, or streaks. Some varieties have smooth and chubby leaves, like our Haworthia truncata here, while others are spiky with spiny tips. They are widely grown as house plants because they are very intriguing and well-adapted to indoor conditions.

Care guide highlights: Haworthia truncata favors light shade in summer, some full sun during the less hot months. Keep the compost almost dry in autumn and winter, just enough to prevent the leaves from shriveling. Fertilize once in spring with half-strength liquid fertilizer.

This article will tell you more about:

1. Hawortrhia truncata essentials
2. How to adjust proper light amount?
3. Is too low temperature dangerous?
4. Ideal humidity levels
5. How to select adequate soil?
6. Is yearly repotting necessary?
7. Watering Haworthia Truncata
8. Fertilizing Do’s and Dont’s
9. Propagation methods and steps
10. Common issues and how to polish them
11. Frequently asked questions

What follows is a more detailed guide on how to care for Haworthia truncata!

Haworthia Truncata Essentials

Truncate haworthia may not be the most beautiful plant in the Haworthia family, but it is certainly one of the most unusual ones and not so common in gardeners’ collections.

Leaves

It forms two rows of fleshy deep green leaves with tops that look like they have been cut off to form blunt and flat tips at soil level. The leaf-end is oblong, greyish-green with paler veining, translucent, and scabrous with small tubercles. This makes the plant distinctive and recognizable at once.

Besides, it is precisely those abruptly truncate leaves with flat to slightly corrugated end-areas that earned the plant its very name.

Flowers

The flowers are small, tubular, and greenish-white with brownish veins and they appear in summer, but they are not very showy. Don’t expect to see them, because they rarely appear if grown as house plants, only in their native habitats.

Height

It can achieve a height of up to 10 cm and spread up to 20 cm. As such, it is ideal for a slightly deeper pot in neutral colors.

If this Haworthia has caught your attention, I’m pretty sure these lovely cousins will as well:

Let’s find out Haworthia truncata care requirements!

How to Adjust Proper Light Amount?

Position the plant in light shade during the sweltering hot summer months and in some full sun during the less hot months, ideally in the morning and late afternoon.

That said, east or west exposure would be ideal since it provides bright indirect light, so avoid south exposure to direct sunlight during the extreme heat.

Haworthia plants also perform well under artificial lights positioned at a reasonable distance from the plant.

Is too Low Temperature Dangerous?

The ideal temperature range for Haworthia truncata is between 12 and 27 degrees C.  Keep it around 20 degrees C during the summer, slightly lower during the night, and above 12 degrees C during the winter season.

Always provide good airflow, but protect the plant from draughts. Keep away from heaters and air conditioners.

Haworthia truncata is not frost-hardy, so if your plant is soaking up some sun outside during the summer, bring it indoors before snow paints everything white.

Ideal Humidity Levels

Haworthia truncata is fond of low humidity, so you won’t have to bother much about it. It is desirable to group plants together after watering, but don’t mist the leaves.

Low-humidity preference is the main reason why Haworthia truncata thrives in regular household conditions.

How to Select Adequate Soil?

The necessary soil requirements are good aeration, drainage and texture that’s not too compact and not too loose so that oxygen can travel from the roots up.

With that in mind, plant Haworthia truncata in cactus compost, or a 50:50 mix of loam-based compost and 4 mm grit.

Is Yearly Repotting Necessary?

Plants should be given a new home when they outgrow the old one, which for succulents is usually every 2-3 years. As the plant grows, its roots fill the container until it becomes root-bound and so compressed that it is no longer able to absorb water and nutrients to grow well.

Water Haworthia truncata 2 days before repotting. Remove the plant from the old pot carefully, teasing apart any compressed roots and brushing away the old compost. Check the roots for pests. Plant it as you normally would and firm the compost gently. Top dress with a grit mulch. Water after a week or two.

And most importantly, always make sure a pot has drainage holes. If not, drill a few.

Watering Haworthia Truncata

Water when the top 2 cm of compost is dry in spring and summer. Use a finger test to check if you aren’t sure.

In autumn and winter, keep the compost almost dry, watering just enough to prevent the leaves from shriveling.

It is easy to overwater either in summer or winter, so always err on the drier side. Always use distilled or rainwater, because tap water contains components that damage the plant’s health. Make sure water is at room temperature to avoid shocking the plant.

Fertilizing- Dos and Dont’s

Fertilizing won’t help if your plant is living in poor-quality soil and receiving inadequate light or amount of water, so always ensure these fundamental conditions are met.

Then, you can consider fertilizing. Apply a half-strength liquid fertilizer once in spring. Don’t fertilize in the winter.

Propagation Methods and Steps

Take offsets or leaf cuttings in early spring by following the procedures described below.

Offsets

Offsets are tiny babies produced by a mature plant. They can be removed and potted up easily to make new plants and this approach is ideal for beginners.

You will need:

• Offset-producing Haworthia truncataSmall plastic pots with drainage holes
• Cactus compost or a 50:50 mix of loam-based compost and 4 mm grit
• Gloves
• Tweezers or a sharp knife
• Watering can fitted with a rose attachment

7 steps to follow:

1. Remove a few offsets from the mother plant by pulling them off gently with your hands or tweezers.
2. Place the offsets in a warm, dry and shady area for about 2 weeks or until the ends have callused over.
3. Fill the plastic pots with cactus compost.
4. Place one offset in each pot, so the base is in contact with the compost.
5. Water lightly from above.
6. Leave the offsets in a lightly shaded area, watering when the top 1 cm of the compost is dry.
7. Move to a sunnier position as the offsets mature.

Related: 35+ Indoor Gardening Propagation Hacks

Leaf cuttings

For this method, always select plump and fully grown disease-free leaves.

You need:

• Mature and healthy Haworthia truncata
• Small pots with drainage holes
• Cactus compost or a 50:50 mix of loam-based compost and 4 mm grit
• Kitchen towel or plate
• Plastic container
• Cocktail sticks
• Watering can fitted with a rose attachment

5 simple steps to take:

1. Detach a few plump and mature leaves near the bottom of the stem.
2. Place the leaves on a tray and set them in a warm, dry area for a few weeks to allow the base to callus over. Do NOT mist or water.
3. Fill the pots with compost and pot up the leaf cuttings by burying any roots and propping up the leaves with cocktail sticks.
4. Water frequently.
5. Repot once the new plant is established to a pot one size larger.

Follow its specific care advice, gradually increasing the amount of water and light.

Common Issues and How to Polish Them?

Rot

If the compost is wet, Haworthia truncata will rot. Examine whether you are watering your plant adequately and always allow the plant to dry out slightly before watering again. Place in a warm, bright spot.

Mealybugs

Look out for mealybugs that leave a white powdery web on the plant’s leaves. Get rid of them by using a cotton pad or swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, repeating the procedure after a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Cultivating Haworthia truncata is a great way to make your plant collection stand out because of its odd, distinctive and iconic shape that will grab attention in shop displays, office desks or windowsills.

It is a low-maintenance plant ideal for first-time indoor gardeners of all ages.  And since it is quite difficult to limit yourself to growing only one Haworthia, you can also check other intriguing Haworthia species.