Plant care guide
How to care for Haworthia & Gasteria
Haworthiopsis attenuata / H. fasciata (Zebra Haworthia), Haworthia spp., Gasteria spp. and hybrids
Haworthia and Gasteria are compact South African succulents with firm, patterned leaves, from the white-striped zebra haworthia to the bumpy, tongue-shaped gasterias. They are some of the best succulents for indoor life because they are happy in bright indirect light rather than needing full desert sun.
Also known as: Zebra Succulent, Zebra Haworthia, Zebra Plant, Haworthia Savanna, Gasteria Durban, Gasteria Little Warty, Gasteria Zimflora, Ox Tongue, Lawyer's Tongue, Pearl Plant, Haworthiopsis
Just arrived? Your first week at home
- Unbox right away and check that the rosette is firm and sitting upright in the pot.
- Place it in bright, indirect light, such as an east window or a few feet back from a south or west window.
- Do not water immediately; let it rest for about a week, then water only if the soil is fully dry.
- A few soft or reddish leaf tips are normal after a few dark days in a box and usually recover.
- Keep it off cold window sills at night and away from heater vents.
- Wait at least two weeks before repotting.
Every plant is covered by our 30-day plant health guarantee. If your plant arrived damaged or isn't doing well, email a few photos to support@rootandreachbotanicals.com and we'll help you troubleshoot or make it right.
Light
Bright, indirect light is ideal, such as right in an east window or a little back from a south or west window. They can take some gentle morning sun, but hot afternoon sun can turn leaves red, orange or bleached. They tolerate lower light better than most succulents, though they may stretch and lose color in a dim corner.
Water
Water thoroughly only when the soil is completely dry, about every 2 to 3 weeks in spring and summer and every 4 to 6 weeks in winter. Pour water onto the soil, not into the center of the rosette. Thin, wrinkled, or inward-curling leaves mean it is thirsty, while soft, translucent or mushy leaves at the base mean too much water.
Humidity
Normal household air is ideal. No misting is needed, and good airflow helps prevent rot.
Temperature
They are comfortable between 60 and 80 F. Keep them above 50 F and away from frosty glass in winter. They slow down in very hot summers, so water a little less during heat waves.
Soil & repotting
Use a gritty, fast-draining cactus and succulent mix, ideally with added pumice or perlite, in a pot with a drainage hole. They have shallow roots and grow slowly, so a wide, shallow pot works well and repotting every two to three years is plenty. Repot in spring and separate offsets at the same time if you like.
Feeding
Feed lightly two or three times during spring and summer with a cactus fertilizer at half strength. Skip feeding in fall and winter.
Troubleshooting common problems
- Mushy, translucent leavesoverwatering or water sitting in the rosette; let the soil dry fully and water around the plant.
- Stretched, pale growthtoo little light; move closer to a bright window.
- Red, orange or brown leavestoo much direct sun; move it back from the glass.
- Dry, crispy leaf tipsnormal on older leaves, or a sign of long droughts; water a little more consistently.
- Shriveled bottom leavesplants naturally lose old lower leaves; gently remove them once dry.
- Mealybugswhite fuzz at the base of leaves; treat with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.
Tips to help it thrive
- Both plants produce pups around the base; gently separate them with some roots attached when repotting and plant them on their own.
- They look wonderful grouped in a shallow dish garden with other low-light succulents.
- Mature plants send up tall, thin flower stalks in spring or summer with small tubular flowers; snip the stalk once it fades.
Pet safety
Haworthia & Gasteria isn't specifically named in the ASPCA's plant database, and it isn't known to be toxic. As with any houseplant, keep it out of reach of pets that like to chew.
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Zebra Haworthia
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