Haworthia arachnoidea (Cobweb Aloe)

Scientific Name

Haworthia arachnoidea (L.) Duval

Common Names

Cobweb Aloe

Synonyms

Aloe pumila var. arachnoidea (basionym), Aloe arachnoidea, Aloe arachnoides, Apicra arachnoidea, Catevala arachnoidea, Haworthia pallida var. paynei

Scientific Classification

Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Asphodeloideae
Tribe: Aloeae
Genus: Haworthia

Description

Haworthia arachnoidea is a succulent plant with numerous leaves, which are uniformly dark green with no translucent area and leave tips, occasionally drying and forming a protective cover for the rosette. Leaves margins and keels are with translucent spines. Size of the rosettes can reach up to 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter. It is usually solitary or very slowly offsetting plant. It is sometimes confused with the widespread Haworthia decipiens.

Photo via flickriver.com

How to Grow and Care

These succulents are not considered difficult houseplants to grow. If you can keep a pot of Aloe alive on a windowsill, chances are you can do the same with a dish of Haworthia. As with all succulents, the most dangerous situation is too much water. They should never be allowed to sit in water under any circumstances. At the same time, these decorative, little plants can be grown in interesting containers such as tea cups and even miniature baby shoes. If you're given a Haworthia in such a container, make sure the container had adequate drainage.

Haworthias are small, usually remaining between 3 and 5 inches (7.5 cm and 12.5 cm) in height, and relatively slow-growing. They are often grown in small clusters in wide, shallow dishes. Over time, clusters will naturally enlarge as the mother plant sends off small plantlets. When the cluster has outgrown its dish, repot in the spring or early summer into a new wide and shallow dish with fresh potting soil. This is also the time to take offsets for propagation.… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Haworthia