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4.8 out of 5 (98 experiences)

About Fairy Washboard
These tiny succulents are native to Southern Africa, but now grow in homes around the world! Since they're adapted to harsh, dry cliamtes, their succulent leaves store water during the dry season. They also use a special form of photosynthesis that helps them retain water by only exchanging gases at night! 🌌
Taxonomy
Haworthiopsis limifolia
Haworthiopsis
Asphodelaceae
Asparagales

How to care for Fairy Washboard

How often to water your Fairy Washboard

every 12
Fairy Washboard needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
12

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Fairy Washboard in your home

a window
Fairy Washboard may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Fairy Washboard in your home 🏡.

How to fertilize Fairy Washboard

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Fairy Washboard after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Fairy Washboard is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!
Water Needs
Fairy Washboard thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Sunlight Needs
Fairy Washboard may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
Toxicity
Fairy Washboard is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.
Humidity
Fairy Washboard prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.
Soil
Fairy Washboard is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!
Fertilizer
Fairy Washboard grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
Native Region
Fairy Washboard is native to Southern Africa.
Flowers
Fairy Washboard produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.
Growth Pattern
Fairy Washboard grows in a rosette pattern, with leaves neatly arranged in a circle. New growth will emerge from the center.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Fairy Washboard can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Fairy Washboard can be propagated by the leaf method. To propagate:
- Remove a leaf by gently twisting until it pops off.
- To get the leaf to root, you can either:
- Place the leaf in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the leaf directly into well-draining soil
Common Issues
Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Fairy Washboard. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.
Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!
Care Summary for Fairy Washboard
Fairy Washboard
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 12 days

< 3ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say











Honestly I’ve had this little guy for so long and even though mine looks a bit worse for ware I’ve had him 4/5 years which includes my neglectful teenage years where I forgot he existed but no matter what this little plant pulls through and I would recommend this plant to anyone who’s new to plants and wants something small and easy to look after

