Haworthia Obtusa is a desert succulent that is popular all over the world as a beautiful, low-maintenance houseplant.
In this guide, we aim to equip you with the right tools to care for this plant at home.
So, what are you waiting for?
Dive right in!
Contents
What Is Haworthia Obtusa?
Haworthia Obtusa is a succulent native to Eastern Africa and is known to grow in dense clusters in its natural habitat. This unique-looking succulent often confuses people with its uncanny resemblance to the Aloe vera plant.
Here is some more crucial information about it:
- Haworthia Obtusa is a small-sized succulent and often reaches up to only three to four inches in height.
- Its leaves form a compact, dense rosette that is approximately six inches across in diameter in an adult plant.
- The stems of Obtusa succulents are thick and fleshy. Its leaves are also thick with rounded edges and tips. This is because the stems and leaves of Haworthia are meant to store water for dry periods.
- Each leaf is fresh green in color with pockets on top. These pockets are used by the plant for storing water.
- When in bloom, Haworthia Obtusa produces small flowers that are white with either pinkish or greenish undertones. These beautiful flowers will be a great addition to your home or garden.
Haworthia Obtusa Care
Trust us when we say this, but caring for Haworthia Obtusa at home is super easy and you can easily take out time for it.
Read ahead to find out how to look after them.
– Light Requirements
The light requirements of Haworthia Obtusa are simple and easy to follow.
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Put Under Bright Light
Haworthia Obtusa needs bright light that is indirect in order to grow and get that glowing beautiful color of its leaves. When growing indoors, you should place it in a brightly lit room filled with ample natural light, or near an eastern-facing window that receives adequate sunlight.
Outdoors, you can grow it under the shade of a larger plant or tree.
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Avoid Direct Light
Direct intense sunlight should be avoided with this succulent. It will cause the leaves to sunburn and fall off.
One sign of sunburn you might notice is the curling of the leaves in an unnatural direction. Direct sunlight also leads to stem weakening and stunted growth for this plant. It should not be placed near a southern-facing window for precisely this reason.
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Turn Them Around Weekly
One trick our succulent experts swear by is to turn your pot around every week. This practice ensures that the plant receives uniform lighting from all sides and no side remains neglected.
– Water Requirements
Haworthia Obtusa is a drought-resistant plant that stores water in its stems and leaves. You will have a very easy time watering them.
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How To Water Haworthia Obtusa?
During the warmer growth periods, this plant should be watered regularly. Each time you water your Obtusa succulent, irrigate the soil thoroughly. After that, allow it to dry out completely before it can be watered the next time. You will only need to water it approximately once every month.
During dormant winter months, your succulent will need even less water.
Our experts often find themselves watering it once every two months in winters!
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How To Check if Your Plant Is Ready for Irrigation?
We use the pencil stick method to determine if our Haworthia Obtusa is ready for irrigation. Simply stick a pencil down the soil and see how it comes up. Ideally, the soil should be dry the whole way through.
At the very least, the top 2 inches should be dry. Unless the pencil comes out dry, never water your plant.
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You Can Also Water Obtusa From the Bottom
Another method to water your succulent is to water it from the bottom. To use this method, fill a pan with water and place it under your pot. This pot should have a proper drainage hole. The water will soak up through the soil into the roots. Remove the pan when the top of the soil starts appearing moist.
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The Don’ts of Watering Haworthia Obtusa
Never water unless the soil has completely dried up. Water the soil and not the rosette. Avoid misting the plant at any rate. All of these are recipes for fungal infections.
Haworthia Obtusa Cultivation Needs
Every plant grows the best when the right conditions are provided to it.
Carry on reading to see what those are for Haworthia Obtusa.
– Soil Needs: Loose and Well-Draining
- The soil for Haworthia needs to be quick-drying to prevent moisture retention as well as loose enough to allow the roots to grow unimpeded.
- We always use a cactus or succulent mix for this purpose.
- Adding perlite, vermiculite and pumice will also increase the drainage capability of your soil.
- Adding pebbles to the soil is another popular method of increasing its drainage. However, take care that the pebbles do not hamper the growth of the roots.
- For propagation, the substrate should be 50 percent sand and 50 percent soil.
- The ideal pH of your soil should be between 6.6 and 7.5. — neither too acidic nor too alkaline.
– Temperature Needs
- Haworthia Obtusa are typical desert succulents that grow under warm weather conditions.
- The ideal temperature range for this plant is between 68 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime and 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit at nighttime.
- During their dormancy period in the winters, they can tolerate drops in temperature somewhat.
- However, they are not frost-resistant. If the temperatures in your area fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit during winters, it is better to plant them in a pot so that you can transfer them indoors during those months. Very cold weather will lead to your Haworthia obtusa dying.
– Humidity Needs
- Haworthia is not a plant that needs high humid conditions for its growth and flowering.
- In fact, high humidity levels are downright detrimental for it.
- If you live in a very humid area, you will have to move them indoors and get yourself a dehumidifier.
- Again, don’t mist this houseplant.
– Fertilizer
- Fertilizer should be used sparingly with succulents. Once or twice in the whole year should be sufficient enough.
- Only use fertilizer at the beginning of the growth period in the spring season.
- In winter, the Haworthia obtusa undergoes dormancy. You should never fertilize them at this time.
- Take a fertilizer specifically for cactus and dilute it before giving it to your plant.
Growing Haworthia Obtusa From Seeds
You can grow your own Haworthia succulent from seeds at home. Good quality Haworthia seeds are hard to come by; always choose from a trusted vendor. Mix them in the soil.
This soil should be kept moist and not allowed to dry at all for about one to two weeks during the germination period. Afterwards, when the new roots and shoots emerge, you can resume the usual watering pattern of Haworthia.
Propagation
If you are someone who loves to propagate plants at home, then Haworthia is the ideal houseplant for you. It is super easy to grow and take care of.
Jump down below to learn how best to propagate Haworthia Obtusa.
– Propagating Haworthia Obtusa Through Offsets
- Offset is a complete daughter plant produced by the mother plant asexually. They are usually present at the base of the parent plant.
- Offsets are the most widely used method of propagating succulents worldwide.
- Choose a healthy, medium-sized offset for cutting.
- Take a sharp knife to cut them along with roots by the stem of the mother plant.
- Place the cut offsets on a paper napkin to dry for a couple of hours.
- Plant them in the new pot with the same soil as that of the parent plant.
- Give plenty of light and frequent watering and you will soon see your new plant thriving.
– Propagating Haworthia Obtusa Through Stem Cuttings
- Using sharp shears, cut about 3 inches of a healthy stem containing at least two to three nodes. This stem should have about five pairs of leaves attached along the side.
- Remove leaves that look old and decayed or those that are in contact with the soil.
- Give this stem shallow diagonal cuts with a knife and apply rooting hormone on these cuts.
- Plant in a 50:50 mixture of sand and soil and keep under indirect light.
- Soon you should see new shoots growing.
– Propagating Haworthia Obtusa Through Leaves
- Our experts advise taking leaves for propagation from the bottom half of the plant.
- Choose a healthy-looking one and remove it by twisting it rather than cutting it with shears.
- It is ok to cut them too, but take care not to damage the other parts of the plant in the process.
- Allow the leaf to dry and form callous over time. Then apply rooting hormone to it before planting it into freshly mixed soil.
- Your plant should begin to spread its roots and shoots in a few weeks.
Problems
Luckily, you are not likely to face a lot of problems with this plant. Read ahead to learn how to tackle some potential ones.
– Pests
Haworthia Obtusa is a tough plant that is usually resistant to pests and bugs infestation. Sometimes, however, your succulent can fall under the attack of the following pests:
- Mealybugs
- Thrips
These bugs live under leaves and suck the sap out of your plants. Consequently, your Obtusa succulents will weaken and die eventually.
In order to deal with such a situation, regularly check under the leaves for them. You can remove them physically by water spray or tissue paper.
Applying castor oil on the bugs will also kill them. In case of persistent infestation, buy a strong insecticide or pesticide to get rid of this problem.
– Fungal Infections
Fungal rot is going to be the most serious problem that you might encounter with Haworthia Obtusa. It is caused either by poor, ill-draining soil or overwatering and needs to be addressed aggressively.
Here is how you can deal with it:
- First of all, take a knife to loosen the soil around the roots. Then gently take the plant out of the pot taking care not to damage the roots.
- Discard the old infected soil.
- Carefully examine the roots and cut off those that are decayed. Such roots will appear mushy and brown.
- Also, remove rotten leaves and decayed parts of the stems.
- Apply a fungicide on the cut parts.
- Take a new pot and fill it with fresh, loose soil to replant your Haworthia.
- Hold off on watering for a while. Apply antifungal regularly.
- Don’t forget to sterilize the knife that was used. Otherwise, you risk spreading the infection to your other plants.
FAQ
Can Haworthia Obtusa grow in the bathroom?
Yes, Haworthia Obtusa can thrive in a bathroom due to its preference for low light and high humidity. Place it near a window or under artificial light.
How do you keep Haworthia Obtusa plump?
To maintain a plump Haworthia Obtusa, provide well-draining soil, water sparingly, and ensure indirect sunlight. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
Does Haworthia Obtusa purify the air?
Haworthia Obtusa has limited air purification capabilities but can help improve indoor air quality by releasing oxygen and absorbing some toxins.
Conclusion
You now know all there is to know about growing and propagating the exotic Haworthia succulent.
Below is a list of the most important points for you to remember.
- Haworthia Obtusa is a succulent that is often called the mini aloe plant.
- This plant needs bright indirect light to grow and propagate successfully. Avoid direct light as it can cause sunburn and stunted growth.
- When placed indoors, an eastern-facing window works the best.
- This is a drought-resistant plant. Always allow the soil to dry before irrigation.
- A cactus or succulent mix with perlite, vermiculite, and pumice should be used as it is well-draining and does not retain moisture.
- Haworthia Obtusa grows best in warmer temperatures. They can tolerate cold only upto a limit. When the temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, move them indoors.
- Do not mist this plant or allow water to remain on its surface for long. This can cause root rot.
- You can propagate Haworthia Obtusa by using offsets, cut leaves and stems. Whichever method of propagation you choose, make sure not to damage the parent plant.
- Always apply rooting hormone to the cuttings before planting them in fresh soil.
- Mealybugs and thrips may sometimes affect your houseplant. You can remove them physically or use an effective insecticide to get rid of them.
- Overwatering Haworthia Obtusa will cause severe root rot. You will then need to cut off the infected plant parts, treat them with antifungals and repot your succulents in fresh soil.
With this comprehensive guide to growing and propagating Haworthia Obtusa, you will always have a healthy plant and a beautiful bloom.
Why not buy a new pot and start right now?
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