Managing Wounds

written on Dec 31, 2017 and last revised on May 25, 2020

Propagation and care for Haworthias can lead to wounds. Proper management not only promotes faster healing but also reduces the chance of pathogen infection which leads to rot. If wounds are on leaves or stem above the ground, no special treatment is needed as long as they won’t be dampened during next waterings. If wounds are on roots or underground stem, the plant cannot be planted back to the growing medium before the wounds are fully healed.

Plants are kept upside down to keep wounds clean.

In low humidity, let fresh wounds air out after cleaning up any dirt on them. In high humidity, it is recommended to treat wounds with a ~70% isopropyl alcohol solution (often branded as rubbing alcohol) mixed with a small amount of fungicide (for example, Thiophanate-methyl) powder. Alcohol can kill certain pathogens and assist fungicide to permeate the plant tissues. Keep the plant in a cool and shaded place for ~1 month to wait for calluses to develop. After that, the plant can be rooted.