Hi Everyone - I got this plant when it was about 2" tall, and have had it about 5 years. I noticed last week that it has these growths coming off of it. I cut one off - and it didn't appear to be any type of cocoon. It seemed solid on the inside. There's also another brown dot, which I thought was scale, but couldn't really pick it off. It didn't seem like a bug either.

It's mainly at the bottom part of the large stalk, and that large stalk is now wobbly where these things are. Is this a watering issue? Are these roots? I'm no plant expert, and I really don't want to lose this plant.

Thanks for any help!

sumifisna said:Hi Everyone - I got this plant when it was about 2" tall, and have had it about 5 years. I noticed last week that it has these growths coming off of it. I cut one off - and it didn't appear to be any type of cocoon. It seemed solid on the inside. There's also another brown dot, which I thought was scale, but couldn't really pick it off. It didn't seem like a bug either.

It's mainly at the bottom part of the large stalk, and that large stalk is now wobbly where these things are. Is this a watering issue? Are these roots? I'm no plant expert, and I really don't want to lose this plant.

Thanks for any help!

yes they are roots, you mentioned the plant seems wobbly? Give the top the plant a good tug. If the plant comes out easily. I can help you fix it.

Thank you! I was worried it was some kind of infestation. It's just weird with roots being that high up (there are some that are higher).
Yes, right where most of the roots are, where all the leaves connect it seems a little wobbly (I've also been micro-examining it lately). I just gave it a little tug, and it didn't come apart.

Is there any reason that these roots would start so high up? Does it need to be planted deeper or need more water?
Thanks again!

Sometimes aerial roots are a sign the regular roots are not functioning well, sometimes they just happen for no particular reason. For what it's worth, your plant is H. attenuata and not H. fasciata, because it has tubercles on the upper leaf surface.

I appreciate the response! And thank you for letting me know about it being Attenuata - it is helpful, in case I have an issue in the future I can google the correct plant. Thanks for all of the help! Hope you both have a great weekend!

sumifisna said:Thank you! I was worried it was some kind of infestation. It's just weird with roots being that high up (there are some that are higher).
Yes, right where most of the roots are, where all the leaves connect it seems a little wobbly (I've also been micro-examining it lately). I just gave it a little tug, and it didn't come apart.

Is there any reason that these roots would start so high up? Does it need to be planted deeper or need more water?
Thanks again!

these are tough non complaining plants. That can make it hard to know what's really going on. I have 2 plants one like yours and 1 one of a different plant but in the same family. One I over watered. But the plant looked healthy and was flowering. I thought it was healthy until I tipped the pot over and it fell out. It had no roots. But it had Arial roots like yours. One I bought it looked healthy and was in bloom as well when I repotted it....again no roots. There easy to reroot. There little survivers. I would definitely not water it more. Here's some pictures of what I am talking about. This plant is in the same family as yours and when I bought it the top looked the same in the picture but it had no roots. You can see the new roots growing.

I like these forgiving plants. Hallow, I love your bloom. Interesting.

My Haworthias only deliver nondescript little blooms but the hummingbirds like them.

These plants multiply freely when happy. Those pieces with aerial roots can be separated to form a new plant. I prefer to allow the plant to clump and fill in.

Now it is going to require someone with more knowledge than I have but... I recall reading that when a Haworthia plant goes dormant, the roots recede. At that point the plant requires less moisture.

I don't have any of the "windowpane" type so won't speak for them but I rarely water mine in winter.

pod said:I like these forgiving plants. Hallow, I love your bloom. Interesting.

My Haworthias only deliver nondescript little blooms but the hummingbirds like them.

These plants multiply freely when happy. Those pieces with aerial roots can be separated to form a new plant. I prefer to allow the plant to clump and fill in.

Now it is going to require someone with more knowledge than I have but... I recall reading that when a Haworthia plant goes dormant, the roots recede. At that point the plant requires less moisture.

I don't have any of the "windowpane" type so won't speak for them but I rarely water mine in winter.

I didn't know the roots recede. I have a couple of the zebra type. Since I figured out how to water them they always seemed very solid rooted.

Wait, I did put the disclaimer on it

Now it is going to require someone with more knowledge than I have but

after all as an elderly friend always said, you can hear anything but meat frying and money rattling.

I cannot remember where I read that and do not know it for a fact. But the article indicated that was a survival instinct during dormancy. It sounded valid but...

That is a pretty cool bloom, Hallow. It would be awesome to have these bloom, but I heard it requires quite a bit of trickery with lighting and temperatures to make it happen. They seem happy. I moved them in the window today to get a little more light in case there was too much water. I don't water them a lot, but when I do, it's only a little at a time. I don't want water to sit on the bottom.


Pod - If this does end up separating where it seems loose, I may try to replant it using those aerial roots, but I'd like to keep it together so it's more full. With this quarantine going on, I have so many pots of little plants sprouting in my tiny apartment that it's getting out of control. I'll probably have to move it to a bigger pot. I wasn't familiar with the meat frying and money rattling phrase - I had to google it. LOL I had no idea what it meant.

This picture made me realize that during this quarantine, I really should get to cleaning my windows.

sumifisna said:That is a pretty cool bloom, Hallow. It would be awesome to have these bloom, but I heard it requires quite a bit of trickery with lighting and temperatures to make it happen. They seem happy. I moved them in the window today to get a little more light in case there was too much water. I don't water them a lot, but when I do, it's only a little at a time. I don't want water to sit on the bottom.


Pod - If this does end up separating where it seems loose, I may try to replant it using those aerial roots, but I'd like to keep it together so it's more full. With this quarantine going on, I have so many pots of little plants sprouting in my tiny apartment that it's getting out of control. I'll probably have to move it to a bigger pot. I wasn't familiar with the meat frying and money rattling phrase - I had to google it. LOL I had no idea what it meant.

This picture made me realize that during this quarantine, I really should get to cleaning my windows.

a lot of plants bloom dew to stress. An effort to reproduce just in case it dies. Like the ones I had in bloom but they had no roots for example. I have one now I had for a number of years now thats starting to bloom but it gets sun baked through a window and I water it monthly. The plant maybe under stress but it won't die. There dessert plants and are very well adapted to those conditions. Look at pictures of these plants in the wild. You'll see what I am talking about.

Will do, thanks. If you're watering yours monthly, I will cut back on how much I water these.

sumifisna said:That is a pretty cool bloom, Hallow. It would be awesome to have these bloom, but I heard it requires quite a bit of trickery with lighting and temperatures to make it happen. They seem happy. I moved them in the window today to get a little more light in case there was too much water. I don't water them a lot, but when I do, it's only a little at a time. I don't want water to sit on the bottom.


Pod - If this does end up separating where it seems loose, I may try to replant it using those aerial roots, but I'd like to keep it together so it's more full. With this quarantine going on, I have so many pots of little plants sprouting in my tiny apartment that it's getting out of control. I'll probably have to move it to a bigger pot. I wasn't familiar with the meat frying and money rattling phrase - I had to google it. LOL I had no idea what it meant.

This picture made me realize that during this quarantine, I really should get to cleaning my windows.

I am just thinking out loud.... I noticed yours is longer and more slender than mine. Is that because of the plant itself or growing conditions? Mine is a chunk compared to yours 😂😜😂

Hallow said:



I am just thinking out loud.... I noticed yours is longer and more slender than mine. Is that because of the plant itself or growing conditions? Mine is a chunk compared to yours 😂😜😂

I had wondered about that. I've seen them do that when growing conditions change whether it be nutrients, water, or lighting

I have friends who have those with the fatter leaves, too. I always figured that it was a different type. Nothing special here with Growing conditions. In the DC area and it sits kind next to a window, but during the winter I usually set it by a lamp that shines on it.
I read somewhere they grow about 4-6" tall. I'm just about at the 6" mark, but hoping it will keep on growing.

sumifisna said:I have friends who have those with the fatter leaves, too. I always figured that it was a different type. Nothing special here with Growing conditions. In the DC area and it sits kind next to a window, but during the winter I usually set it by a lamp that shines on it.
I read somewhere they grow about 4-6" tall. I'm just about at the 6" mark, but hoping it will keep on growing.

do your pots have drainage? What kind of soil do you have. Drainage is extremely important for these. Your soil looks real fine. They do best with very corse soil. Like a fine gravel, or kitty litter course. Don't use kitty litter it clumps into a solid eventually I was just useing it for a reference.

sumifisna said:I have friends who have those with the fatter leaves, too. I always figured that it was a different type. Nothing special here with Growing conditions. In the DC area and it sits kind next to a window, but during the winter I usually set it by a lamp that shines on it.
I read somewhere they grow about 4-6" tall. I'm just about at the 6" mark, but hoping it will keep on growing.

do your pots have drainage? What kind of soil do you have. Drainage is extremely important for these. Your soil looks real fine. They do best with very corse soil. At least 50% course and a catus soil mix. Like a fine gravel or Decomposed granite is your best choice but can be difficult to find.
I live in tricky conditions for succulents too. "Wisconsin" damp humid air, dark winters. Even if the air is damp desert extremest can live off just that alone. Haworthias are not that extreme but you get the idea.

Haworthia is my favorite succulent. Theres something about its amazing symmetry that attracts me. And the fact that they are so low maintenance. I"ve had this one since it was 1" tall. Rescued it for $1 in a Santa pot at Lowe's one January I love Lowes for their "Dead Plant Sale" as we call it. But I hate that they are so abusive to plants. When you rescue a plant from Lowes, it is a true rescue.

Sorry got off track there....I pivked up a new haworthia in March, again attracted to its symmetry. I left it in the rain by mistake. The leaves turned transparent from excess water. It took weeks for that to subside and is still working on it

@ShadyGreenThumb
Cheryl, I think those leaves will always be transparent. That's how those forms collect sunlight to manufacture food. It allows them to trap light under lower light conditions. It's a really cool feature. Your plant looks very nice.

ShadyGreenThumb said:Haworthia is my favorite succulent. Theres something about its amazing symmetry that attracts me. And the fact that they are so low maintenance. I"ve had this one since it was 1" tall. Rescued it for $1 in a Santa pot at Lowe's one January I love Lowes for their "Dead Plant Sale" as we call it. But I hate that they are so abusive to plants. When you rescue a plant from Lowes, it is a true rescue.

Sorry got off track there....I pivked up a new haworthia in March, again attracted to its symmetry. I left it in the rain by mistake. The leaves turned transparent from excess water. It took weeks for that to subside and is still working on it

Your transparent plant. Is in good shape. It's a cool adaptation they have to protect themselves from desert heat. In extreme conditions they grow mostly underground, the windows let sunlight in.
https://images.app.goo.gl/Y5wZ... like this one.