I bought this plant (a zebra haworthia?) in December. He has been sitting in a west-facing window since then (zone 8a).
I don't know what I'm doing with this plant. I can't tell when the soil is dry because there is some moss-like stuff all around him that I'm afraid to remove and he's in a nursery pot with no drainage holes. I've been giving him a little water once every 3-4 weeks. Should I move him into a different pot?
Here is a comparison between December and today. Looks more brown and slightly smaller, to me. Can this plant be saved? What can I do?
by Electronic-Muffin934
4 Comments
It’s probably still alive, so I think it’s worth trying to fix the growing situation. Luckily these plants are not fragile.
I would get a pot that has drainage, and an appropriate potting mix. The simplest option would be cactus/succulent soil mixed with perlite and/or pumice, so that it is only 40-50% brown soil parts.
Then unpot the plant, trying not to damage the roots. Remove all the moss and soil and examine the roots. If any of the roots are firm and light colored, keep them. If they are mushy or feel hollow, cut them close to the base of the plant with a sharp tool (I use a pocketknife). Then pot it up in the new pot with the new mix, water it, and wait to water again until the soil is dry -and- the plant seems a little bit deflated.
https://reddit.com/r/succulents/w/beginner-basics
https://reddit.com/r/succulents/w/soil_and_potting
You’re going to have to remove it from the pot and remove all the soil. That is, if it isn’t already dead. Good luck.
Edit: [I’ve done it myself.](https://www.reddit.com/r/plantclinic/s/imrdDhJksM) You can, too.
[Here’s another example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/s/kxygqeFsK0)
It’s quite alive, just very sun-stressed. I think more than anything it’s just not had enough water to go with that pretty intense sun.
I do agree that it needs repotting as well. It needs to be watered more deeply and regularly, but it’s rather risky to do so until it’s out of the moss and in succulent soil, to ensure it dries out properly. I would also move it into less direct sun for a little while, or hang a sheer curtain on the window to filter it a bit.
That little plant is getting a lot more sun now than it did in December. It might still be fine in a west window if you watered it more. I second getting a plastic pot so you can better determine when it’s dry.
I have mine in an east facing window and they are doing fine, but I live in 6a. I think the haworthiopses look better without sun stress. If you agree, moving the plants or getting a sun permeable curtain might be a good choice.