Greetings, dedicated caretaker. I am your Haworthiopsis, a resilient succulent hailing from the sun-scorched landscapes of Southern Africa. While I am built for harsh conditions, your winter presents a unique set of challenges for me. To ensure I not only survive but thrive, please heed my needs from my perspective.
As the days shorten and temperatures drop, my growth enters a state of near-complete dormancy. My metabolic processes slow dramatically. This means my roots are no longer actively drawing up water. The soil that dried in a few days during summer will now take weeks. The greatest threat to my life in winter is your kindness with the watering can. You must let my soil become completely dry throughout the pot. Wait, and then wait another week or two. A deep but very infrequent drink is all I require, perhaps only once a month or even less, depending on the coolness of my room. Soggy, cold roots will lead to a swift and fatal rot.
The sun is my lifeblood, and in winter, it is a scarce resource. Please place me in the brightest window you have, ideally a south-facing one if you are in the Northern Hemisphere. I will stretch and lean desperately towards the light if I am not getting enough, becoming etiolated and weak. Rotate my pot a quarter turn every time you (sparingly) water me to ensure I grow evenly and do not become lopsided. While I adore summer sun, a few hours of direct winter sun through a window is perfect and will not scorch my leaves.
I do not enjoy the same dry, artificial heat that you do. A cozy spot near a radiator or heating vent will dehydrate me too quickly and confuse my natural dormancy cycle. I thrive in cooler temperatures, ideally between 50-60°F (10-15°C) at night. This cool period is my signal to rest. However, I am not frost-hardy. Protect me from freezing temperatures and cold drafts from a frequently opened door or a leaky windowpane. If my cells freeze, they will rupture, causing irreversible damage.
I am not growing. I am resting. Therefore, I have absolutely no need for fertilizer during the winter months. My system cannot process those extra nutrients, and they will simply accumulate in the soil, altering its chemistry and potentially burning my delicate, inactive roots. Save the feeding for the spring, when I send out fresh green growth and signal that I am ready to begin a new season of life.
