Haworthia
This is one of the few succulents in this KB that genuinely prefers indirect rather than direct light — useful for a spot too shady for Echeveria or Crassula but still reasonably bright.
Care
Tolerates lower light than most succulents — a real advantage for a north-facing windowsill — but avoid strong direct sun through glass, which can scorch the leaves (unlike most sun-loving succulents in this KB).
Allow compost to dry out completely between waterings; reduce further in winter.
Free-draining cactus/succulent compost.
Not applicable; remove any offsets (small rosette plantlets) around the base if a more open display is wanted, and pot them up separately.
A very dilute cactus feed once or twice over the summer. These grow slowly by nature and fertiliser does not speed them up — it mostly makes the rosette loose and pale.
Detach the offsets that cluster round the base, each with a few roots if possible, and pot them into gritty compost. Leaf cuttings are possible but slow and much less reliable than the offsets.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilResume light feeding with a dilute succulent feed as growth picks up. how ›
- JuneSmall, inconspicuous flower spikes may appear on established plants — a minor feature next to the foliage.
- NovemberCut watering right back for winter. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilResume light feeding with a dilute succulent feed as growth picks up. how ›
- JuneSmall, inconspicuous flower spikes may appear on established plants — a minor feature next to the foliage.
- NovemberCut watering right back for winter. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilResume light feeding with a dilute succulent feed as growth picks up. how ›
- JuneSmall, inconspicuous flower spikes may appear on established plants — a minor feature next to the foliage.
- NovemberCut watering right back for winter. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilResume light feeding with a dilute succulent feed as growth picks up. how ›
- JuneSmall, inconspicuous flower spikes may appear on established plants — a minor feature next to the foliage.
- NovemberCut watering right back for winter. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Brown or bleached patches on leaves facing a sunny window.
What to do. Unlike most succulents, this genus prefers bright but indirect light — move out of direct midday sun through glass.
How to spot it. Mushy, translucent leaves, often starting at the base.
What to do. Almost always overwatering — let the compost dry out completely between waterings.
How to spot it. Rosette opens up and stretches upward instead of staying tight and compact.
What to do. Move to a brighter spot, though still avoiding harsh direct sun.
Questions
Haworthia: is it hardy?
H2: Tender. It survives down to 1 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
A classic small-pot and windowsill succulent, well suited to shallow pots given its compact root system.
Haworthia: when do you prune it?
Not applicable; remove any offsets (small rosette plantlets) around the base if a more open display is wanted, and pot them up separately.
Haworthia: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in May–June.
When do you feed it?
A very dilute cactus feed once or twice over the summer. These grow slowly by nature and fertiliser does not speed them up — it mostly makes the rosette loose and pale. Feeding months, UK: May, July.