Avatar for Helen42
Nov 13, 2021 12:25 PM CST
Thread OP

Hi. I'm new to growing succulents. I have what I think is a hawarthia? Hope I've spelt that right. I have just reported it and have noticed the base of the leaves are brown. Please can someone help? It has grown quite a lot since I baught it in a tiny pot from b and q. I thought it was looking great till I repotted it. I dont water a lot, I wait for the soil to dry a bit. It is placed in my kitchen window so not in direct sun. Hope someone can help me.
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Nov 13, 2021 12:35 PM CST
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Name: Baja
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Welcome!

Did you water right after repotting?

Remove the soil that's covering the base of the leaves. Only the roots should be below ground. The risk is rot. I like to use a chopstick to clean out the nooks and crannies, but use what works for you. And then next time you water, aim the stream around the base of the plant to finish the job.

I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with the plant, unless the brown parts are soft or seem to be spreading rapidly.

Water well (to saturation) and then allow the soil to go dry or almost dry at depth (which takes longer than it takes for the surface to dry out). Provide the maximum possible amount of light indoors. The more, the better.
Last edited by Baja_Costero Nov 13, 2021 12:36 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for Helen42
Nov 13, 2021 12:45 PM CST
Thread OP

Thankyou for your reply. I havent watered it after repotting. I hadnt for a while before. I repotted today, the soil is already damp. I will move some of the soil from around the top. Also I checked if the brown bits were soft and they are not, it's still hard.
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Nov 13, 2021 12:48 PM CST
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Name: Baja
Baja California (Zone 11b)
Cactus and Succulents Seed Starter Xeriscape Container Gardener Hummingbirder Native Plants and Wildflowers
Garden Photography Region: Mexico Plant Identifier Forum moderator Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Level 2
OK, then you should be good. It's usually better to wait a few days to a week after repotting to water for the first time. These plants tend to enjoy a rockier mix (like half perlite/pumice/gritty equivalent) than what you used, but they will do just fine in an all organic mix if you are careful with when you water (especially over the winter, if you're in the northlands).
Avatar for Helen42
Nov 13, 2021 12:54 PM CST
Thread OP

I'm in lancashire uk. I'm wondering if I've watered it wrong. Before I read up on them I put water on the plant not just on the soil. Only the once. I only water when its quit dry. Is this right?
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Nov 13, 2021 1:19 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Baja
Baja California (Zone 11b)
Cactus and Succulents Seed Starter Xeriscape Container Gardener Hummingbirder Native Plants and Wildflowers
Garden Photography Region: Mexico Plant Identifier Forum moderator Plant Database Moderator Garden Ideas: Level 2
Watering is a bit of a matter of personal choice, but I usually try to water the soil and not the plant, especially during the darker/cooler months. The thing you want to avoid is water trapped in between the leaves afterward. So maybe go in there and blow out the droplets that remain, and then let light and air flow take care of the rest.

This first winter is going to be a test for you, being at 53°N, which for our North American friends is north of Calgary. These plants enjoy a lot of light.

The days right now are short (9h for you at the moment). The sun is rising lower in the sky (currently maxing out at 20° from horizontal, which is less than a quarter of the way to vertical). And it is traveling less distance from west to east over the course of a day.

That means that objects on the horizon are likely to block the sun for more of the day. The actual solar energy is less strong and occurs for less time. And orientations other than southerly are going to see hours cut out of the day. When your plant no longer "sees" the sun for hours a day, weather permitting, you need to reduce the watering frequency. You might water half as often in winter compared to summer when light is limiting (maybe monthly), or less often if it also gets cool. These variables play out until early spring, at which point you can resume a more active rhythm. When in doubt over the winter, wait to water.

Once you work out a rhythm, the next year will go like clockwork. Smiling My advice for watering is to saturate the soil and not water partway. And dry soil resists rewetting, so water in more than one pass, separated by a few minutes, to help that process along. Then make sure all the water has time to exit the container (and that container does not sit in a lake afterward).
Last edited by Baja_Costero Nov 13, 2021 1:30 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for Helen42
Nov 13, 2021 1:31 PM CST
Thread OP

I was thinking I wouldn't need to water as much in the winter months. My kitchen does get quit warm but I'm going off the soil more. Thankyou for your help. I baught this little one today
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Nov 13, 2021 8:31 PM CST
Georgia (Zone 8a)
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That one looks like:
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Nov 14, 2021 2:45 AM CST
Thread OP

Oh that looks lovely. Can you tell me what it's called and how to look after it best? Thankyou
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Nov 14, 2021 5:45 AM CST
Georgia (Zone 8a)
Region: Georgia Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Dog Lover Cactus and Succulents Annuals Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge)
Birds Hummingbirder Butterflies Bee Lover Composter Garden Art
It's related to spider plants (I'm not sure if you're familiar with those).

I'm probably not the best to recommend how to care for one, but there is a houseplant forum (they're more of a tropical plant than a succulent like your Haworthia) if you'd like to ask there. Smiling

Link to the houseplant forum:
https://garden.org/forums/view...
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