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Haworthia glabrata

Cushion Aloe

Complete Care Guide

🌵 About This Plant

The Haworthia glabrata, often called Cushion Aloe, is a beautiful, hardy succulent known for its striking, warty texture and rosette-forming growth habit. It is an excellent choice for indoor settings and containers, requiring slightly different care than your cacti collection.

☀️ Light Requirements

  • Bright Indirect Light: Unlike cacti, Haworthia glabrata prefers bright, indirect light. Harsh, direct sun can cause the leaves to turn reddish-brown or "sunburn."
  • Ideal Placement: A bright spot near an east-facing window is often ideal.
  • Signs of Etiolation: If your Haworthia starts to stretch out, it needs more light. Slowly move it to a brighter position over a week to avoid burning the leaves.

💧 Watering Routine

  • Growing Season (Spring/Summer): Water when the top half of the soil feels completely dry. Avoid getting water inside the center of the rosette, as this can encourage rot.
  • Dormant Season (Autumn/Winter): Growth slows significantly. Water sparingly, perhaps once every 3–4 weeks, ensuring the plant never stays soggy.

🪺 Soil & Potting

  • Well-Draining Mix: Even though Haworthia prefer slightly more moisture retention than desert cacti, they still require excellent drainage. The standard mix of 60% coarse sand to 40% potting soil works perfectly.
  • Aeration: This mix provides the necessary aeration while retaining just enough moisture for healthy root development.

💨 Humidity & Airflow

  • Air Circulation: These plants appreciate good air circulation. Ensure they are not placed in cramped, stagnant areas.
  • Humidity: If kept indoors, they are very adaptable to average household humidity levels.

❄️ Winter Care

  • Frost Protection: While Haworthia glabrata is hardy, it does not like freezing temperatures. Keep temperatures above 5°C to 10°C during winter.
  • Indoor Relocation: If your plants are outside, move them to a sheltered patio or indoors during cold snaps.

Quick Summary

☀️ Light

Bright, indirect light

💧 Water

Moderate; dry halfway between waterings

🪺 Soil

60% sand, 40% potting soil