How to care for the succulent plant Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera
This article provides detailed experience on caring for the succulent plant Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera. Let's take a look together.
Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera is a variety of the "soft leaf series" in the Haworthia genus of the Liliaceae family. There are many varieties in this series, including common ones such as grass Haworthia, jade chapter, princess Haworthia, large Haworthia, spiny Haworthia, and so on. Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera plants are exquisite and small, rich in variety, with crystalline and transparent leaves that are full of changes, like living handicrafts, very adorable, and one of the popular small succulent plant varieties in recent years.
Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera habits:
Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera prefers a cool semi-shaded environment, with the main growing period in the cooler spring and autumn seasons, requiring a certain level of humidity in the air. It is drought-resistant, not cold-resistant, and avoids high temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight. It is afraid of shade and waterlogging in the soil, usually cultivated in greenhouses or outdoor beds.
Selection of environment:
Temperature:
Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera is native to South Africa, preferring a warm and dry semi-shaded environment, not cold-resistant, avoiding high temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight. It fears waterlogging and has a suitable growth temperature of 18-22 degrees. It grows well in environments that are warm in winter and cool in summer. In summer, when temperatures are high, the plant enters a dormant or semi-dormant state, growth is slow or completely stops, and it should be placed in a ventilated, cool, and dry place for maintenance, avoiding direct sunlight and long-term rain, and not overwatering or fertilizing. Normal management can be resumed in the fall when it cools down. In winter, the lowest night temperature should be around 8°C, with daytime temperatures above 20°C for the plant to continue growing, and normal watering should be provided. If watering is restricted, the plant will enter a dormant state. It can tolerate low temperatures of 3°C to 5°C, even short-term 0°C, but if it is exposed to temperatures below 5°C for a long time, the leaves will have frostbite marks, especially the outer leaves, which are easily frozen and cannot be restored. Therefore, it is best to maintain a winter temperature above 5°C for Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera.
Light:
It is sensitive to light. If the light is too strong, the leaves will grow poorly and appear light reddish-brown, and sometimes strong direct sunlight can burn the leaves, leaving ugly scars. If the growing area is too shady, it will cause the plant to become loose and not compact, with thin and long leaves, poor transparency of the "window," and such plants are difficult to restore to their original appearance, only waiting for these elongated leaves to fall off and new healthy leaves to grow. Plants grown in semi-shade have thick and plump leaves with high transparency, so a shading net can be added from May to September, and the shading net should be removed from October to April of the following year to provide full sunlight.
Soil:
Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera is suitable for growing in loose and fertile soil with good drainage and aeration, containing lime and coarse particle-sized sandy soil. A mixture of 2 parts of deciduous leaf soil and 3 parts of coarse sand or vermiculite is commonly used, mixed with a small amount of bone meal, etc. For high-end varieties like 'Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera "Zhoujin" and "Mao Haworthia," artificial materials like red jade soil, orchid stone, and planting stone can be used, but an appropriate amount of peat soil should be added to increase the organic matter content of the soil.
Regular maintenance:
Watering:
During the growing period, water only when the soil is dry and water thoroughly, avoiding waterlogging and especially avoiding long-term rain, to prevent root rot. However, it is also not suitable to let the soil dry out for too long, as the plant will not die, but the leaves will become shriveled and the leaf color will fade. When the air is dry, water can be sprayed frequently on the plant and its surroundings. In the growing season, a transparent colorless beverage bottle with the top cut off can be used to cover the plant, allowing it to grow in a humid environment, making the leaves plump and the "window" more transparent. However, the beverage bottle must be removed during the high summer temperatures to prevent heat and humidity from causing the plant to die.
Fertilization:
During the growing period, for vigorous plants, a thin liquid fertilizer or a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizer can be applied once a month. New plants or weak plants do not need to be fertilized. Fertilization is not necessary during the dormant period of high summer temperatures or low winter temperatures. The best time to fertilize is on a sunny morning or evening.
Repotting:
Since Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera roots secrete acidic substances, causing soil acidification and root aging, it is best to repot once a year in spring or autumn. If the plant stops growing and the leaves become shriveled during the growing period, it is likely that the roots are damaged and should be repotted and the roots tidied up immediately.剪掉老化中空的根系，过长的根系剪短，保留粗壮的白色新根，再用新的培养土栽种。新栽的植株可勤喷水，但要少浇水，这样可使植株尽快恢复生长。
Since the flowers of Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera are not highly ornamental, if not leaving seeds, the flower stems can be pulled out from the base to avoid consuming too much nutrients. Note that the flower stems should not be cut with scissors but pulled out by hand to avoid leaving residual flower stems between the leaves, which can negatively affect the growth of new leaves.
Seven, Disease and Pest Control:
The main disease is root rot, caused by poor aeration of the growing medium and long-term soil waterlogging. Therefore, the growing environment should be improved, and well-draining soil should be used. In addition, long-term waterlogging in the center of the plant can cause heart rot. If the soil is not changed for a long time, the aging and hollowing of the roots can cause physiological diseases in the plant, causing the plant to stop growing, leaves to become shriveled and not plump. In this case, the soil should be changed promptly. The main pest is root mealybug, which can be controlled by high-temperature treatment of the soil before planting and by adding insecticides to the soil.
The above sharing on how to care for the succulent plant Haworthia obtusa var.pilifera is hoped to be helpful to green plant enthusiasts!