Greetings, dedicated caretaker. We are Haworthiopsis, a resilient genus of succulent plants hailing from the arid landscapes of Southern Africa. To truly help us thrive, one must understand our world from our perspective. Here is our guide to the core elements of our existence.
We have evolved to bask under the bright, but often diffused, African sun. Our plump, water-filled leaves are susceptible to scorching under intense, direct light, particularly the harsh midday sun of summer. This damage manifests as unsightly brown or white spots, a literal sunburn. Ideally, place us in a location with bright, indirect light for most of the day. An east-facing window is perfect for its gentle morning sun. A south or west-facing window is acceptable if filtered by a sheer curtain. You will know we are content when our rosettes maintain a deep, rich green hue, sometimes with hints of red or purple—a sign of just the right amount of sun stress. If we begin to stretch out unnaturally, becoming leggy and pale, we are etiolated and desperately reaching for more light.
Water is life, but for us, it is also the greatest peril. Our roots are adapted to cycles of thorough soaking followed by a period of complete drought. The most critical rule is this: never let our roots sit in water. You must provide us with a pot that has excellent drainage holes. The watering technique is simple yet vital. Please drench our soil completely until water flows freely from the drainage hole, then allow all excess water to drain away completely. Then, you must wait. Wait until the soil is entirely dry, and then wait a bit longer. In the warmer growing seasons (spring and summer), this might be every 2-3 weeks. During our winter dormancy, we require far less—perhaps only once a month or even less. When in doubt, it is always safer to err on the side of underwatering. Soggy soil will lead to root rot, a swift and often fatal condition for us.
Our need for perfect drainage extends deeply into the very substrate we call home. Standard potting soil is a death sentence for us; it retains too much moisture and suffocates our roots. We require a gritty, sharply draining mix that mimics the rocky, poor soils of our native habitat. A specialty cactus and succulent mix is a good start, but we truly prosper when it is amended with extra inorganic materials such as perlite, pumice, or coarse sand. A ratio of 50-70% inorganic grit to potting soil is ideal. This creates air pockets, provides anchorage, and ensures water flows through quickly, leaving behind just a hint of moisture for our roots to absorb. Our dwelling pot, while a matter of your aesthetic choice, must be functional—terra cotta pots are excellent as they are porous and allow the soil to dry out more evenly.
