Star Cactus
Haworthia is a genus of succulent plants endemic to southern Africa, named after the British botanist Adrian Hardy Haworth. they resemble small Aloes. They belong to the Asphodelaceae family, to the Alooideae subfamily to the Haworthia genus
General characteristics
Haworthia is small succulents, easy to grow, which boast abundant vegetation and which are very decorative due to their characteristic rosette shape. They are generally devoid of the stem, or with a short stem and covered with leaves.
The fleshy and pointed leaves are adorned with raised point formations, spots, or streaks. The belonging to this genus easily hybridizes with the plants near which they are grown. The flowers, not very significant, usually have long peduncles. The most common varieties include Haworthia cymbiformis and fasciata.
The characteristic is the curved shape of the leaves, very flattened on the ground. Each leaf forms a transparent triangle.
How to take care of Haworthia retusa “Star Cactus”
Haworthia is considered easy houseplants to grow, if you can keep an aloe pot alive on a windowsill, it is likely you can do it with a Haworthia plant. As with all succulents, the greatest risk is over-watering. A feature of these plants is that they are decorative plants that can be grown in original and decorative containers such as cups or old shoes.
While most succulents love full sun, Haworthies are best suited to semi-shade conditions. They often grow under shrub plants or near rocks. In their native habitats, Haworthies are very difficult to find due to their small size.
A wonderful feature of Haworthia is a great variation in appearance. Textures and colors vary a lot between species and often amaze with extraordinary combinations. Growers carefully select parents to create even more beautiful hybrids.
haworthia-fasciata Exposure and temperature
Haworthia grows well in not too sunny locations. The intense light and heat can cause burns or dehydration and cause an unsightly reddish color in the plant. So they are perfect as indoor plants. Outside it is good to place them in shady areas.
They love constant temperatures throughout the year, between 15 and 22 ° C. During the winter they tolerate a light cold, but it must not drop below 5 ° C
Ground
The ideal soil for haworthia is poor and extremely draining. It is advisable to mix medium and fine river gravel with sand or agricultural agri-perlite.
watering
For these plants in nature, the humidity left over from the night on the ground is sufficient. At the end of winter, during the period of maximum vegetative growth, a little more frequent irrigation should be irrigated more frequently, always leaving the soil dry for one day.
During the warm months, you can leave more time between one watering and the next. However, the plant can be vaporized. During the winter, irrigation can be suspended almost completely.
Repotting of Haworthia
Repotting can be done at any time of the year when the roots no longer have space available
It is advisable to opt for pots that are taller than wide and made of natural material
Composting
Starting from spring and throughout the summer, a fertilizer is administered with the irrigation water once a month, the doses must be halved compared to what is stated in the package.
The fertilizer must have nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and the microelements, necessary for correct and balanced growth.
Flowering
It blooms during the summer only if grown in particularly favorable conditions. Indoors it does not show flowering The flowers that haworthia produces are small and insignificant and it is preferable that they are removed as soon as they are formed.
Pruning
Haworthia is not pruned. only the leaves that dry up overtime should be eliminated to prevent them from becoming a vehicle for parasitic diseases.
How to Propagate Haworthia retusa “Star Cactus”
Haworthia multiplies by seed or by the division of the shoots
Multiplication by shoots
At the beginning of spring, the shoots that form around its base can be detached from the mother plant. They are then left to dry for 3-4 days and planted in pots with soil for Cactaceae. Every day the sprouts must be nebulized until they are completely rooted. When new shoots begin to appear, the plant should be treated as if it were an adult.
Multiplication by seeds
In spring, the seeds are placed on gravel and the soil for Cactaceae in small pots. The soil should be kept moist and in a warm place away from direct sunlight and cold air currents. When the seedlings are large enough to be handled, they are transplanted into the final pots.
