H. truncata root cutting propagation anyone?

[MatDz]

I finally managed to do it. Took a good few months, I didn't note the exact date down, though. Shame on me, I know.

[ralphrmartin]

What exactly did you do? Slice through one of the roots at soil level, and wait for it to grow an offset? Or something else?

I find Haworthia roots tend to be deciduous in my growing conditions (i.e. plants often lose roots and grow new ones) - so how would a root cutting work in such a case?

[ralphrmartin]

I once had a Maworthia 'Tarrington' grazed to soil level by a slug, and after a few years it has developed a new top, so this was effectively a root cutting...

[MatDz]

What exactly did you do? Slice through one of the roots at soil level, and wait for it to grow an offset? Or something else?

I find Haworthia roots tend to be deciduous in my growing conditions (i.e. plants often lose roots and grow new ones) - so how would a root cutting work in such a case?

I cannot really take much credit for it... The root broke off at the base in transit and I potted it next to the plant, then kept watering over winter as normal (lights and indoor temperatures, so quite regularly). I think I will try with a few more truncata/maughanii this year, the plan is to cut the root off with some of the plant tissue as I always do with leaf cuttings.

I also noticed that those fleshy roots tend to die off every now and then, but not really all at once like you described.

[edds]

Congratulations Mat! Could be a nice way to multiply some rare cultivars - not quick though!

[MatDz]

Certainly not quick, I would do it only if the root already broke.

On the other hand, I am not convinced that the more "traditional" leaf cuttings are any faster...

[AllanA]

From what I have read, this is the only Haworthia you can take root cuttings of.
I have seen a video of someone removing the soil at one side to expose the root and then cut the outside root. Left to callous over and then soil put back round the plant. The root then produced 2 pups.
Not quick but nothing lost as the original plant is there still growing.