Consulta Plantas

Care of the succulent plant Haworthia truncata or Horse teeth

The genus Haworthia, family Asphodelaceae, comprises 100 species of succulent plants native to southern Africa. Some species are: Haworthia truncata, Haworthia retusa, Haworthia reinwardtii, Haworthia pumila, Haworthia marumiana, Haworthia limifolia, Haworthia herbacea, Haworthia attenuata, Haworthia angustifolia, Haworthia fasciata, Haworthia cooperi, Haworthia arachnoidea, Haworthia variegata, Haworthia cuspidata, Haworthia viscosa, Haworthia turgida.

Common name: Horse teeth. This species is native to Western Cape, South Africa.

They are small succulent plants that reach 3 cm (1.18") in height and 10 cm (3.93") in width. The strange fleshy leaves, arranged symmetrically in two rows, are bluish-green or coppery if they receive a lot of sun; the apex is flat and translucent. The flowers are white, small and appear on a 20 cm (7.87") long flower stalk. They bloom in summer and early fall.

Due to their small size, they are used in pots and planters that are wider than they are tall.

Truncated Hawortia can grow in full sun or light shade exposure. In winter it's better not to expose it to less than 4 ºC (39.2 ºF).

The soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of coarse siliceous sand, leaf mulch and blond peat or a commercial substrate for cacti.

Water with lime-free water, waiting for the substrate to completely dry. They are very sensitive to excess humidity especially in winter.

They do not need fertilizers or pruning.

They are quite resistant to pests; sometimes they are attacked by mealybugs (poor ventilation) or fungi (excess moisture).

They propagate by seeds sown in spring and by leaf cuttings; root in slightly damp sandy substrate.

Images of the succulent plant Haworthia truncata or Horse teeth