Help With my Zebra Cactus

10 years ago

Hello, this is my first post and I am quite concerned about my Zebra Cactus (Hawthoria attenuata). I've added images that will better demonstrate my worries. I'm not sure if I'm watering too much or too little; whether or not the soil is draining properly; or if I am giving it too much sun? I live in Seattle, WA and have the little guy living in a North window which tends to receive late afternoon sunshine.

My concern is although it seems to be producing new life (see middle of plant) it also seems to be developing brown leaves. Is my plant dying? How do I get it to stay green? The soil is a mix of store bought rocks, Miracle Grow soil and some perlite.

thanks!
~vwarner

Featured Answer

Colleen E

10 years ago

This plant can survive by a good window, and it can take pretty cruddy soil, but not if you over-water it. I really ignore mine much of the time and water it every couple weeks, or every few weeks if I'm being neglectful. It's among the robust Haworthia that can take a little neglect and some direct sun. In my experience with it, its lower leaves don't often dry out and die off, but old leaves do eventually leave this world. It's the number of brown lower leaves on your plant that I find a little concerning. It could be not enough water and the lower leaves drying out, but I can't tell for sure what your soil and watering is like. The telltale sign of a problem related to over-watering would be if the brown leaves are at all soft. If they are not, and if you're watering only when the soil is bone dry, I would guess you're OK.

These can take quite a bit of sunshine, and will eventually begin to redden with direct sun, and they can handle that just fine (and the red will fade back to green once light conditions lessen). If you have it indoors, unless the hot sun just blazes in, I wouldn't consider moving it away from the window. It's not easy growing any succulent indoors, and normally you go for as much indoor light as you can get. You're in my neck of the woods--the Pacific Northwest--and definitely keep this guy by your best window during our gray, cloudy winter we have coming soon.

About how often are you watering? And when the soil is dry throughout?

This post was edited by teatree on Sun, Aug 25, 13 at 21:58

Comments (7)

vjwarner
Original Author
10 years ago
teatree, thanks so much for your response. I've never heard that the leaves will turn red with sun.

I may be watering too much, - about 1-2x per week but the toothpick in my plant is dried out when I drag it out. And yes the browner leaves are soft.

My soil seems to drain quite well and again, it's a mix lighter soil, rocks and some perlite.

thanks again.
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Colleen E
10 years ago
Yes, that sounds like way too much water for the soil mix I am guessing you have. If the brown leaves are soft (or any green leaves, for that matter), that's definitely over-watering and a sign that the plant is developing rot. I'd pluck out the plant and check the root system and stem. Remove the brown leaves and any others that are soft, and feel the lower stem for any soft/mushy areas. The roots may also be rotting away.

If there's an issue with the stem being soft (ie. rotting), you'll need to cut from that area of the stem upward until you hit healthy stem (stem that is green on the inside). Then, place the now-rootless plant in new, completely dry soil (absolutely, completely bone dry, so brand-new dry, well-draining soil to be safe). The plant will grow new roots likely in a few weeks' time, and no watering until the plant has re-rooted. No watering a succulent or cactus that does not have roots, ever.

It's a Haworthia that has a strong will to live, so with the removal of the rotten area, it will re-root with some time and do just fine. And, yes, it can turn red with a lot of continued direct sunlight, but it should be the whole plant that will begin to redden, and again, that'll fade off with time as light lessens. It's also fairly unlikely that, from inside the house, this particular Haworthia would get enough sunlight for it to redden. The Haworthias that have windowed leaves are far more delicate, prefer more shade outside, and are more inclined to redden with direct sunlight, even through a window.

This post was edited by teatree on Mon, Aug 26, 13 at 0:22
vjwarner
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you teatree for your help and advice. I removed the brown/soft leaves down to what was still green, checked the roots and they were not rotting (phew).

So we shall see...thanks!

vwarner
Colleen E
10 years ago
Is that soil it's now in damp or wet? It looks like it. Even if it weren't, it's not helping your case. It's a really heavy, heavy mix of mostly peat. It is not well-draining soil. You need to majorly cut it with pumice or perlite, so that the mix is more pumice or perlite than it is that dense, dark soil. Your finished mix should not look dark and heavy. You're bound to have the same problem again if you stick with what you've got. A few pieces of perlite is not going to do anything for drainage; it needs to be more than half of the mix to have an effect.

This post was edited by teatree on Mon, Aug 26, 13 at 22:57
Jeremy Andring
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Help! I've had my zebra haworthia for about 3yrs now. I'm very concerned vwith it because it will not open up. It's bunched up and will not open its leaves up? Any ideas?
chuckerfly
8 years ago
Jeremy, perhaps you could start a new thread for your haws problem. That said, does your haws' leaves always close up or is it a recent problem? Posting a photo would be a great help.