How to Grow & Love Zebra Haworthia

Owing to their sculptural and textural beauty, hardiness and easy propagation, many Haworthia varieties are readily available and desirable. Seasoned collectors often seek out the rarer cultivars and hybrids. In fact, a very rare Japanese Haworthia truncata sold on eBay for $1,725.00 in January 2012!

Haworthia attenuata remain small, but produce offsets, or pups. The pups can fill a larger pot, be given away, or you can start new pots. The best part is that these pups don't bark or ruin the carpet!

Of all my succulents, Haworthias are the most tolerant of lower light conditions. When short on space for my ever-growing plant collection, they're temporarily moved to the less bright spots, still maintaining compact growth. South African habitat photos often show them shaded by bushy plants or rocks.

Haworthia grow in the cooler winter months. Therefore, they enjoy more moisture during this period. They can survive very dry conditions, proven two years ago when I was battling a Sciara fly infestation. I let them go extremely dry for weeks as a control for these pests. They survived just fine, but the Sciara fly larvae did not. The plants that had lost their roots were able to regrow them and the problem was solved.

I started adding the Diatomaceous Earth to my soil mix after this incident. The larvae, which like to eat roots, will die when they come in contact with tiny sharp skeletons of the diatoms. Knowing this, I am no longer concerned if I see these flies around my plants.

Most of the guidance in this article applies not only to Haworthia attenuata, but most other Haworthia species, like the ones in the following photo gallery.

Photo Above: The common form of Haworthia attenuata or Zebra Plant Credit

START WITH SOIL THAT DRAINS WELL - Soil should be very porous to allow for quick drainage. An easy recipe for soil is provided below. For the years since I started using pumice in my mix, I have had very few plants lost. Before that, I used the commercial cactus and succulent mixes. There are many recipes for cactus and succulent soil--the ones that work offer good drainage (via pumice, gravel, perlite). I sometimes still use commercial cactus and succulent mix, but I add 50% pumice to it.

CONSIDER YOUR CLIMATE - Once you have the proper soil, consideration of your climate will help you know how take care of the plant. If it is hot and dry, you will need to water more frequently than if your climate is cool and humid. If the plant is put in a very sunny position, it will require more water than if it is in a shady position.

WATER LIGHTLY - The soil should be allowed to dry completely between waterings. In the Southwest desert, that usually means watering once a week in the hot summer, less in winter. In more humid climates that would need to be adjusted. If the tips of the leaves turn brown, you probably could provide more frequent waterings. Soil that is wet, rather than moist, can rot the roots of Haworthia. That is why proper soil drainage is important.

In Steven Hammer's Dumpling & His Wife, a book about Conophytum plants, he mentions that if you smell the soil, you will notice that is is different when moist or dry. You can get an accurate soil moisture reading with practice. That tip has helped me tremendously with some of my rare, sensitive plants.

PROVIDE LIGHT, BUT NOT TOO MUCH - While Haworthia attenuata do best in medium bright light, they can take direct sunlight for for several hours (preferably morning hours). They are fine in lower light conditions, or semi-shade. As I mentioned earlier, of all my succulent plants, they seem to tolerate lower light, remaining compact, good-looking and producing blooms. I protect them from the Southwest USA midday sun. Probably in the UK, and other places further from the equator, they would be able to tolerate full midday sun.

TEMPERATURE, NOT TOO COLD - My Zebra Haworthia are kept inside the house during cold months, some nights where I live are 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Haworthia attenuata does not survive freezing temperatures. To keep them healthy, the minimum temperature is around 45 degrees--that's the rule I use for all my succulents.

GIVE 'EM LOVE - You want to observe your plants closely to determine their needs, every day if you can; just like with anything or anyone you love. After awhile, you should start to see the subtle differences in the leaves when the plant needs water and when it does not. Also, you will see any bugs that decided to dine on your plant and be able to take action before they multiply.

Photo Credit

This is an easy recipe for a quick-draining soil for cactus and succulents. I began using this a few years ago when I visited my mother. In recent years, I have become responsible for repotting her succulent collection as it needs it. Every time I visit, usually corresponding to the local Cactus & Succulent Show, I spend time at this task.

When I did this the first time, we purchased a bag of ready-made Cactus & Succulent Soil Mix. She later reported that water was sitting on the soil for some time before draining. So the next time I visited, I brought a box of pumice in my suitcase (it is sometimes hard to locate pumice). Upon mixing the pumice with the existing soil, and repotting the plants, the plants were draining well when watered and are now thriving.

About the ingredients in this Recipe - Pumice is for good drainage. Diatomaceous Earth, which is optional, is used to kill root mealy bugs and larvae of pests such as Sciara fly. It is non-toxic to you, the plants, and your pets--it comes from the skeletons of tiny Diatoms. However, it is powdered and respiratory protection is advised.

Photo Credit

Ingredients

   1 cup Commercial Cactus & Succulent Mix
   1 cup Ground Pumice
   1 tsp. Diatomaceous Earth

Instructions

   1.  Measure ingredients into a bowl
   2.  Mix thoroughly with a spoon
   3.  You're ready to pot your plants!

Looking for instructions for potting?

See my Growing Guide with Step-By-Step Potting Instructions, in my article about Conophytum plants. This guide applies to Haworthia and other succulents as well.

There are numerous reasons to love the Zebra Haworthia but here are my top ten:

  1. Low Price - They are widely available at a low price.

  2. Enhance Your Decor - Add sculptural interest to your decor.

  3. Flexible Light Requirement - They like medium bright light, will grow in shade.

  4. Appealing Striped Pattern - The beautiful striped patterning on the leaves make them extremely appealing.

  5. Easily Propagated - They are easy to propagate, producing lots of pups to quickly fill a pot.

  6. Friendship - When your plant makes offsets, you can give one to a friend.

  7. Low Water Needs - They can survive drought conditions. But like any plant, look best with regular watering.

  8. Pest-free - They are relatively pest-free.

  9. Small Size - Their small size allows them to easily be moved around and they fit on a windowsill.

10. Great Plant for Kids - It is an easy plant for children to grow. It's small size is appealing to kids.

Photo Credit

Because Haworthia attenuata is such a good clumper, producing many offsets quickly, you can fill a bowl in a few years...Or if you want to keep it small, just remove the offsets and give them to a friend...Or start another pot for yourself!

This is a full bowl of Haworthia attenuata, or Zebra Haworthia, that I've had many years. It started with one plant.

You might notice the tips of some of the leaves are brown. This is due to keeping them very dry. To avoid this, water just a little more.

Photo Credit

This Haworthia attenuata has been living happily in this retired Yixing pot in my bathroom window. There is no drainage hole in the bottom, but when I water it, I just wait a minute, then tip the pot as if pouring tea to drain excess water.

The plant has been carefully anchored with well-placed rocks to keep it from falling out during the watering. It has lived this way for several years. Although it is bit of trouble to water, I like the way it looks.

Yixing (Pronounced='ee-shing') is a city within Wuxi in Jiangsu province, in eastern China. It is well-known for its Yixing clay and the pottery -- especially the teapots made from the local clay.

My Chinese friend tells me that tea drinkers use one pot for each type of tea they prepare, never mixing them. Over time, the pot enhances the flavor of the tea. Once used as a planter, that should be its only purpose. There are many interesting pots available in different styles.

Photo Credit