Saturday, January 31, 2009

Easy Going

Haworthia fasciata hybrid

Last year I wrote about purchasing a five dollar flat of fire-burned Haworthia plants that had belonged to one of our local Cactus and Succulent Society members who had been seriously burned in a house fire. Hundreds of plants had been rescued after months of neglect from the burned house property. These were then sold during the CACSS annual show and sale.


The plants I bought were really sad looking H. fasciata and H. limifolia hybrids. I had little hope that they would survive, having been scorched badly on one side, and partially knocked out of pots. They had not been watered in months. Well, I repotted them all, and now they all look great! In the photo above you can see some lingering evidence of the scorching on the lower leaves of this plant. It has clumped and grown considerably. I have about eight pots of H. fasciata hybrids now.


I thought they looked good in summer, but during the past two months, they've all really taken off and look their best. One of the reasons may be is that H. fasciata comes from the Eastern Cape of South Africa, and this species is a summer grower. Summer in South Africa is from mid-October to mid-February, so this succulent is currently in its growth phase.

H. fasciata cannot take frost, and does better in Phoenix with light shade in summer. I keep mine on the patio year round. It should be watered when dry. Too much water can result in root rot, however, the plant is easy to re-root. Just repot into new soil after removing the rotted roots and old soil. New roots will begin growing in a few weeks. I'm now glad to have this easy care species in my succulent collection.

14 comments:

Claude said...

It's really amazing how tough some plants are, isn't it? I've always like hawthorias, but I've never had any. They're cute little guys though. This one's found a good home though.

kesslerdee said...

I always learn so much from you! I have two Haworthia plants- one which looks like yours, and both are doing really well right now. I had no idea why though until I read your post!

beckie said...

Aiyana, last week Rose and I were plant 'looking' and we saw a few of these. Marked only as assorted succulents, we thought at first they might be aloe. But no not quite(they were very small). thanks to you I now know. :) I'm glad you had a chance to rescue and save these plants. They look like they are rewarding you wel for doing so.

Rose said...

Beckie (Dragonflycorner) and I just saw one of these plants recently at a garden center and wondered what they were, since they weren't marked. Thanks for identifying them! Amazing that you were able to rescue so many plants--this one seems to have recovered nicely.

I enjoyed your Blooming Tuesday post as well. I saw several of the Baja Fairy Dusters when I was in Phoenix in December and thought they were really interesting--the bees and butterflies were very interested in them, too:)

Barbara said...

I remember a friend having this hawthoria plants as indoor plants and they grew well and didn't need much care. However they looked much smaller. I don't know the exact name of it.

Green thumb said...

Its great that these rescued plants are thriving under your tender love and care, after all they are fortunate to be in expert hands.
Hawprthias are great plants to have in one's garden b'coz of their unusual looks and their non-exacting nature. My haworthias too survive quite well in the extreme weather of my place.

Rock rose said...

I am glad to know the name of the plant I have many of. I can't even remember where it came from originally but it has multiplied over the years and I find it a very easy plant to grow. I now have multiple pots. Like yours this plant does better with some shade. Do you mix up your own cactus soil? If so would you please share your formula?

Rosemary said...

Your plant looks very healthy.
Enjoying reading your blog.

verobirdie said...

I like this one very much. I remember your post about buying those plants. You must be so glad they are doing well now.

Julie said...

Oh...how BIG and beautiful! I am jealous. I just bought those little tiny ones!!! Maybe I can get mine this large????? Hopefully!

Sisah said...

I agree, Aiyana, they are some of the easiest succulents....if you treat them as you described. I have a few of Haworthias and had to find out they don´t like the sun, not even the one her in Nothern Germany :-)) , so I hope the one that got a sunburn last year will recover! Some of that genus even survive on a nothern window-sill in my kitchen!
Dear Aiyana, I promise to write on my blog in english, just for you :-) .as one of my most loyal readers !!
Viele Grüße
Sisa

Lythrum said...

I love when damaged plants can be saved. I have always been hit or miss with it, but you never know if you can save it if you don't try. Good job!

Lythrum said...

P.S. I love that pot!

kml said...

It has really thrived under your care - even looks like it has reproduced.