How to Grow the Succulent Haworthia cooperi? Detailed Guide to Cultivation Methods and Precautions

Haworthia cooperi is a type of succulent, and it is widely loved by everyone. So has anyone grown Haworthia cooperi, and do you know how to cultivate it? Anyway, this editor certainly doesn't know, but in order to answer everyone's questions and also broaden my own knowledge, this editor has decided to gather all kinds of information on Haworthia cooperi and put together a more detailed guide for everyone. Let's learn about it together.

How to Grow the Succulent Haworthia cooperi

1. How Haworthia cooperi behaves through the four seasons

Generally, temperature is very important and determines whether it does well or poorly. The suitable temperature for Haworthia cooperi growth is 15-25 degrees, with humidity controlled between 70 and 90. Take the Yangtze River Delta region as an example. The temperatures in spring and autumn are the most suitable, and Haworthia cooperi grows rapidly. Usually the fluid inside cannot fill up in time, so it looks like a balloon without enough air, and the surface looks as if covered with a white powder with slightly lower gloss. After the temperature rises in summer, Haworthia cooperi stops growing and enters dormancy, with the surface turning white and transparency decreasing. In winter, the indoor temperature should be kept above 5 degrees; growth is slow and a semi-dormant state appears, the fluid inside fills up like a fully inflated balloon, and the window surface has the highest gloss, with high gloss on the windows.

2. Watering Haworthia cooperi in different seasons

In spring and autumn the temperature is suitable. If you observe that Haworthia cooperi has started growing, it means the roots are strong at this time. After the potting soil dries, water the potting soil thoroughly, place it in a ventilated spot for a few days, remove the remaining moisture in the potting soil, and then grow it covered. In summer the temperature is higher, Haworthia cooperi stops growing, and the transparency of the window surface decreases. At this time the root hairs are dry and have no water-absorbing ability, so watering should be stopped. You can mist in the evening to add humidity and relieve leaf shrinkage. In winter, if the temperature is above 10 degrees, Haworthia cooperi will still grow slowly, so keep the potting soil slightly moist. At this time it is most suitable for covered cultivation, improving the transparency of the window surface and increasing ornamental value. When the minimum temperature drops to 5 degrees, frost protection is needed. After Haworthia cooperi is frostbitten, the window surface turns white, affecting people's enjoyment of it.

3. Create a suitable micro-environment

The environment is also crucial, and everyone needs to pay attention. The suitable environmental humidity for Haworthia cooperi mentioned earlier is between 70 and 90, so it is clear that a small covered environment needs to be created. Specific methods include: placing a plastic cup over the flower pot; covering a storage box with plastic film or pressing down a glass panel; using glass or polycarbonate sheets to build a small cabinet or small shed; on a security window, using stainless steel to separate it and pressing glass on top to prevent rain, with the other three sides covered by polycarbonate sheets or thick transparent plastic sheeting, and so on. It should be noted that the smaller the space, the more easily the temperature and humidity inside change suddenly, which is bad for the plants. In spring and autumn, the temperature from 12:00 to 15:00 will rise very high, reaching 40-50 degrees, so before going to work in the daytime you should open it for ventilation, and only cover it again in the evening to add humidity. Remember that covered cultivation during this period must mean ventilation during the day and covering only at night. Many friends do the opposite, and the plants develop problems. High temperature and high humidity in summer are fatal to Haworthia cooperi. During this period, ventilation and cooling must be the priority. Remember, covered cultivation must not be used. On a clear day, it can be sprayed and humidified around the plant at night.

4. Planting, soil mixing, and potting up

First, place relatively large bluestone granules at the bottom of the pot so that the base can spread out. Hold Haworthia cooperi with one hand and pour akadama granular soil mixed with a small amount of peat and vermiculite along the walls with the other hand. Some people feel that akadama will break down over time. I use hard akadama soil of the Nihon line; in use, the hardness is acceptable. Spread the soil to two-thirds of the pot. Here, note that the soil covering the roots is best kept slightly moist, as this helps root growth. Next, cover the surface with pure granular soil, spreading it to 0.5 cm from the pot rim to finish the top dressing. After potting up, spray it with a spray bottle; the soil surface just needs to be slightly moist. Then place it in a cool, ventilated spot, and after 3 to 5 days of acclimation, the pot can receive normal light.

Cultivation Methods and Precautions for Haworthia cooperi

I. Cultivation methods for Haworthia cooperi

1. Temperature: Haworthia cooperi originates from South Africa and enjoys a warm, dry, semi-shaded environment. It is not cold-tolerant. It fears water and dampness, and the suitable growth temperature is 18-22 degrees. It is suitable for growing in an environment that is warm in winter and cool in summer. In summer, when temperatures are high, Haworthia cooperi enters dormancy or semi-dormancy, growing slowly or completely halting. It can be placed in a ventilated, cool, dry place for care, avoiding exposure to blazing sun and prolonged rain, and do not water too much; stop fertilizing, and wait until autumn cools down before resuming normal care. In winter, when the minimum nighttime temperature is around 8°C and the daytime temperature is above 20°C, the plant can continue to grow and should be watered normally. If watering is restricted, Haworthia cooperi will enter dormancy. It can tolerate low temperatures of 3°C-5°C, and even short-term low temperatures of 0°C. If kept in an environment below 5°C for a long time, although the plant will not die, frostbite marks will remain on the leaf surface. In particular, the outer leaves of the plant are very easily damaged by freezing, and the frostbitten leaves turn white and cannot return to their original appearance. Therefore, the winter temperature is best kept above 5°C.

2. Light: Haworthia cooperi is sensitive to light. If the light is too strong, the leaves grow poorly and turn light reddish-brown, and sometimes strong direct light can scorch the leaves, leaving ugly marks. If the cultivation site is too shady, it will cause Haworthia cooperi to have a loose, non-compact shape, with thin, elongated leaves and poor transparency of the "window." Such Haworthia cooperi is very hard to restore to its original appearance; you can only wait for this batch of etiolated leaves to slowly fall off and then grow strong new leaves. In contrast, plants grown in semi-shade have thick, plump leaves and high transparency. Therefore, from May to September you can add a layer of shade netting, and from October to April of the following year remove the shade netting, as it will provide ample lighting.

3. Soil: Haworthia cooperi is suitable for growing in loose, fertile sandy soil with good drainage and permeability, containing calcareous material, and with relatively coarse granularity. A common planting mix is 2 parts leaf mold and 3 parts coarse sand or vermiculite, mixed with a small amount of bone meal and the like. For high-grade varieties such as "Haworthia cooperi 'Yulu Shou Nishiki'" and "Haworthia cooperi var. pilifera," you can also use artificial synthetic materials such as akadama soil, orchid stone, and Kanuma soil for planting, but an appropriate amount of peat soil should be added to increase the organic matter content in the soil.

4. Watering: During the growing season, follow the principle of not watering until dry, and watering thoroughly when you do. Avoid water accumulation, and even more avoid rain, especially prolonged rain, to prevent root rot. However, it should not be kept dry for a long time either, otherwise although the plant will not die, the leaves will shrivel and the leaf color will become dull. When the air is dry, you can often spray water on the plant and the surrounding environment. During the growing season, you can cut off the upper half of a transparent colorless beverage bottle and cover the plant for covered cultivation, letting it grow in a small environment with moist air, which can make the leaves plump and make the "window" more transparent. But in the high-temperature summer season, the beverage bottle must be removed to avoid plant death caused by muggy heat and dampness.

5. Fertilizing: During the growth period, the principle of watering is not to water or to water, and the principle of watering is to prevent the plant from dying due to hot and humid conditions. There is also no need to fertilize during the dormant period when summer temperatures are high or winter temperatures are low. In northern regions, a foam incubator is needed to cope with the cold climate.

II. Precautions for cultivating Haworthia cooperi

It can keep in warmth, improve the transparency of the window surface, and increase ornamental value. In northern regions, a foam insulation box is needed to cope with colder climates.

Pest and Disease Control for Haworthia cooperi

The main disease of Haworthia cooperi is root rot, which is caused by poor permeability of the cultivation material. Also add insecticide to the soil. Therefore, the cultivation environment should be improved, and loose soil with good air permeability should be chosen for planting; do not allow prolonged water accumulation. In addition, if water accumulates in the center of the plant for a long time, it will cause heart rot. If the soil is not changed for a long time, root aging and hollowing will cause physiological disease in the plant, making it stop growing and the leaves shrivel and become less plump. In such cases, the soil should be changed promptly. Among pests, there is root mealybug. The soil can be treated at high temperature before planting, and soil should not be waterlogged for a long time.

For succulents like Haworthia cooperi, more important than pest problems is root rot caused by poor permeability of the cultivation material, which leads to rapid aging of the plant and then the plant beginning to wither. So when cultivating Haworthia cooperi, you must pay attention to these problems to reduce the risk of plant death.