Artisan's Blog

My paper on experiments with creating wide hybrids between Haworthia and its relatives: Exploring Wide Crosses in Haworthia and Its Relatives. George Theodoris, Haworthia Journal, October 2024, Volume 38, Issue 3, pp. 58-63.

Haworthia thrive under the correct environmental conditions:  well draining pumice-rich soil, sufficient light and temperatures and correct watering.  But in the long term, some individuals may become prone to dormancy syndromes that can lead to dehydration and death. Some plants may lose their plumpness and take on a more dehydrated look. Dry older leaves are often visible.    In this blog, I will guide you through diagnosing and managing this problem to ensure the ongoing health and beauty of plants that have started down this path. Underground Stem formation From my observations these dormancy/dehydration problems are usually linked to the formation...

Powdery mildew, while generally not a major concern for most succulents, can occasionally affect certain species, such as Euphorbia francoisii, particularly during the winter months. Though it's not as formidable a pest as the mealie bug, powdery mildew can still be a nuisance for succulent enthusiasts. It looks like fluffy white mold on the leaves.  Prevention can be attempted by keeping the plants relatively dry throughout winter. However, I've noticed that powdery mildew can still occur even in plants that are kept dry. When I detect powdery mildew on leaves, I typically use one of three spray treatments: 70% alcohol,...

Succulents, or 'piante grasse' as they're called in Italian (literally 'fat plants'), have a unique plumpness that sets them apart in the plant kingdom. But what accounts for their 'plump' appearance? It's not fat, as one might find in animals, but rather a specialized water storage tissue known as parenchyma. In the challenging conditions of arid environments, these plants have evolved remarkable adaptations to store precious water, enabling them to thrive where other plants falter. This water-retentive superpower comes from a modification of the standard plant structure, where certain tissues become engorged with water, often altering the plant's shape to...