Discussion on the winter闷养 of family Haworthia plants
Sharing knowledge topics about Haworthia plants, a brief discussion on the winter闷养 of family Haworthia plants, followed by detailed content sharing.
Many people believe that succulent plants grow in desert areas and do not need much water, but this is completely a misunderstanding. Succulent plants, especially Haworthia, can indeed withstand longer periods of drought compared to other plants, but it is not absolute that these plants do not need water. This is because Haworthia plants are mainly produced in the Cape region of South Africa, which due to its variable climate, often experiences two rainy seasons in areas with a high concentration of Haworthia, meaning there is rain in both summer and winter. Therefore, for such Haworthia plants, water should be supplemented reasonably according to the plant's growth and development, rather than mechanically watering every day or every few days without considering specific conditions. Any plant's growth cannot be separated from water, and there is also a high requirement for the relative humidity of the environmental air.
Haworthia plants do not have high light requirements but prefer a larger temperature difference to promote growth. Low relative humidity in the air often accelerates the aging of the plant's epidermis, dulls the leaf color, causes old leaves to fall off, and the leaf tips to wither, making the plant's characteristics less distinct and reducing its ornamental value. Additionally, low relative humidity can trigger the occurrence of pests and diseases such as spider mites, which can harm the plants. As a northern flower enthusiast, I know that in the north, there are heating devices in winter, which make indoor temperatures high but very dry, with usually very low relative humidity. Therefore, to keep the plants lively with bright, fresh, and plump leaves, it is necessary to increase and improve the temperature difference in the care environment and enhance the relative humidity of the space.
Most flower enthusiasts place Haworthia plants on windowsills or enclosed balconies due to better lighting. However, it is impossible to change the large environment to increase the relative humidity of the care environment, even with the use of household humidifiers, which are not effective for such a large space. Since the large care environment cannot be changed, the only way to increase the temperature difference and air relative humidity in the care environment is to work on the local environment.
Flower enthusiasts have come up with many methods to improve the local environment based on their different conditions, such as using plastic film to enclose the shelves, creating small plastic film greenhouses, etc. Inspired by flower enthusiasts and combining their methods, I have mainly adopted two approaches to improve and increase the relative humidity of the air: glass jars and plastic cups. I practiced闷养 in January 2009 with good results, and this winter, I started闷养 again. Here are my brief methods for reference:
One, homemade glass jar
Use colorless transparent glass to design the length, width, and height of the glass jar according to your space and the height of the plant pot to be placed. After cutting to size (which can be processed at a building materials market glass store), use transparent glass glue for bonding. Wait a day for the glue to fully bond before using. This type of glass jar is suitable for displaying more flower pots, has a relatively large space, more air, and good sealing, making the temperature and humidity inside the glass jar quite ideal. However, be sure to open the lid for ventilation every day, and do not let water accumulate to avoid waterlogging in the pot that could cause root rot.
Two, creating a small "greenhouse" using transparent plastic products
Colorless transparent plastic products with good light transmission are easy to obtain in daily life, such as cola bottles, disposable plastic bowls (pots, cups), and plastic bags. Choose suitable plastic products based on the size of your home-grown pots and place them directly over the plants. Holes can be opened in the plastic products for ventilation but are not necessary, depending on each enthusiast's specific situation. I use plastic cups, and since they are placed directly on the potting soil of the flower pot, the sealing is not very good, so I do not open them for ventilation every day except when watering.
Precautions:
One, plants suddenly changing care environments during闷养 may cause the plant surface to crack or wilt. Therefore, when temperatures rise, increase the time for opening the lid to allow the plant to gradually adapt, preventing sudden changes in the environment from causing damage or even death to the plant.
Two, the frequency of watering during闷养 should be reduced. In a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, it is easy to cause root rot or rapid growth, leading to cracks in the plant's window surface, which I have learned from experience.
Three, long-term闷养 can lead to a decrease in the plant's immune system, so闷养 should start from the beginning of winter and be removed in time when temperatures rise in the following spring.
Four,闷养 can cause excessively high air humidity in a local space, leading to diseases and scale insects. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the local environment moderately according to the plant's condition, and other management measures should also be considered.
The above is a brief introduction to the methods of winter闷养 for family Haworthia plants, which can be used as a reference suggestion.