How to Grow Haworthia cymbiformis and Points to Note

Haworthia cymbiformis (scientific name: Haworthia cymbiformis (Haw.) Duval) is a succulent plant of the genus Haworthia in the family Asphodelaceae, native to South Africa. The plant is short, with a height generally of 5-6 cm.

Management and Care

 For potting, use a culture soil of half fertile loam and half coarse sand, with a small amount of bone meal added. Its root system is very shallow, so it should be planted in a relatively small, shallow pot. In summer, when temperatures are high, the plant enters a dormant or semi-dormant state; watering should be reduced and appropriate shade provided, and water can be sprayed on the potting soil to lower the temperature, as high temperatures and excessive moisture easily cause rot. In winter, give it plenty of light and maintain the temperature above 10°C.

Simply apply a dilute liquid fertilizer based mainly on phosphorus and potassium once or twice each spring. When top-dressing, do not let the fertilizer solution drip onto the leaves, otherwise yellow spots will appear. Because the fleshy leaves of Haworthia cymbiformis store a considerable amount of water, it should not be watered too frequently at ordinary times; during the growing season, water once every 2-3 days and just keep the potting soil moderately moist. It is relatively sensitive to sunlight; too strong sunlight will cause poor growth and a light red color, while a plant kept in partial shade will be emerald green and transparent, like sparkling jade, very lovely.

How to grow Haworthia cymbiformis:

Haworthia cymbiformis is mostly propagated by division, that is, the offsets are broken off and inserted into soil separately. The new plants should not be watered too much, to avoid causing rot; only after the new plants have grown new roots can they be watered normally.

Soil selection: for potted Haworthia cymbiformis, choose a soil that is half sand and half soil, and some bone meal may also be added to increase the soil's phosphorus content. Because Haworthia cymbiformis is a short plant with shallow roots, it is best to plant it in a shallow pot. Management and care: the peak growing seasons for Haworthia cymbiformis are spring and autumn; when the temperature is too high or too low it will enter dormancy, so appropriate shading should be provided and watering reduced. Water can be sprayed into the pot to lower the temperature, as Haworthia cymbiformis easily suffers root rot under high temperature and excessive moisture. In spring and autumn, keep the potting soil moist and apply a dilute fertilizer solution once a month.

Haworthia cymbiformis is relatively sensitive to light, and the light should not be too strong; strong light will cause the plant to change color. Haworthia cymbiformis is best placed in partial shade; grown in partial shade, it is emerald green and translucent like jade, extremely lovely.

Points to note for Haworthia cymbiformis:

In summer, it is best to water Haworthia cymbiformis in the evening; do not water if the potting soil is not dry, and do not water on cloudy or rainy days. Keep the potting soil loose to facilitate drainage. If too much water is accidentally given and the rhizome rots, the wisest approach is to keep the leaves intact, place them in a ventilated, cool place to dry slightly, and then place them on moist soil. Before long they will grow aerial roots and can be replanted; but if the leaf base has already rotted, then it will be very difficult for the plant to survive.