Haworthia pygmaea

Haworthia pygmaea Haworthia pygmaea

What is the plant

Haworthia pygmae is a small proliferating species forming flattened groups about 6-10 cm in diameter (but often larger in cultivation) The name "pygmaea" refers to small size, but the plant has similar size as other species.

The plant is found in a small area around Great Brak and Mossel Bay in Eastern Cape. In nature it occurs on rocky quartz outcrops often among grasses near to Haworthia parksiana and Haworthia kingiana. The leaves of this plant are 2,5-3 cm long (or a little more in cultivation) and up to1, 8 cm wide, glossy dark green or olive green often shaded of pink with cold weather, retused, narrowly oval, the leaf-end areas are flattish and the leaf-tips rounded-triangular; leaf surfaces pellucid scabrid or papillate with raised tubercles, occasionally very papillose with 4-5 pale longitudinal lines.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Hardiness zone

10a - 11b

Difficulty

Easy

Water
It needs regular water, but do not water again until dry. Also, it is a species that is dormant in the winter and requires very little water (maybe even none) during the cold months.
Sunlight
The plant requires light shade to bright light (protect from strong midday sun). In shade the body colour will remain mostly green, while full sun will darken and give it a rich pink-red body colour. Can be sunburned if moved from shade/greenhouse into full sun too quickly.
Fertilizer
Use a weak solution of fertilizer formulated for African Violets or cacti. Applying too much fertilizer will encourage too much foliage growth, producing grotesque plants. Fertilize during the growing season.

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Soil
Give the plant an airy growing medium which mainly consists of non-organic material such us clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mould. Needs a deep pot to accommodate the long, thick, contractile roots.
Temperature
The minimum temperature for safe growing is 5ºC (but hardy up to -5°C or less.)
Container
If growing in a container, choose a pot with enough drainage holes.