| Based on my experiences
growing in North Wales an area of moderate temperatures,
relatively mild winters and high rainfall. In the main I use
the same methods for all three genus. It is important to
bear in mind every greenhouse creates it's own micro-climate
influenced but the type, size, location, ventilation,
heating, layout and number and types plants therefore what
works for me may not be the ideal for you and your plants,
but a variation on it may do.
Benching:
Unusually my benches are solid, basically large waterproof
trays, with 1/2 inch (12mm) of gravel on. Any water that
runs out of the pots remains on the bench for up to a day
and creates a short term dose of high humidity around the
plants, which I feel is beneficial. I can drain the surplus
if it is too cold to naturally evaporate.
Pots: Usually
BEF square plastic
Soil: I use a mix of 30% John Innes No3, 30%
horticultural grit, 30% vermiculite and 10% Tescos Premium
Cat litter (expanded clay) this gives me a very open free
draining mix.
Watering: I only ever use
rain water and water early evening, this gives the plants
all night to take up the moisture. I never completely soak
my plants, I look to the pots to be drying out in less than
a day. I water every 7-10 days from March/April to July,
then only once or twice if exceptionally warm in August,
back to every 7-10 days until November and then maybe once a
month of if needed until April.
I never ever water any that have plants have not dried out
from the previous watering.
Feeding: Simply put I don't.
If you feel the need use either
a weak tomato feed
or one the proprietary ones like Chempak Cactus and
Succulent Feed.
Heat: I maintain a minimum of 5 degrees centigrade
all year
Light: My greenhouse is lightly shaded by use of
bubble insulation all year and most Haworthia and Astroloba
are on the top shelf, the Gasteria seem to thrive under the
bench, although they will be moving to a higher bench in the
spring, I'll let you know how they get on. I don't use
artificial lighting for normal growing.
Ventilation: I have a fan running constantly and
automatic vents in the greenhouse these start opening at 21
degrees centigrade, during the summer I leave the doors open
24/7. Because of our local squirrel population all vents and
doors have 1/2" (12mm) mesh covers over them.
The result of all this is I rarely have trouble with root
loss and plants rotting, my plants grow well and they and I
are happy.
I hope this is of help, there are others who may have a
differing opinion but this is what works for me.
For further help you could try
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Haworthia/
Some very very good growers are members of the group. Or
think about joining the
Haworthia
Society
or visit the
BCSS Forum |
