29/08/2026
Do you remove the old, dead leaves from your Haworthia?
I usually don't.
As Haworthia grows, it naturally loses its older leaves. Some growers remove them as soon as they dry out, but I prefer to leave them in place.
Why?
Because a dead leaf isn't necessarily waste. It becomes an organic food source for microorganisms living around the plant.
Bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms break down the dead plant tissue through decomposition. As the leaf breaks down, nutrients that were stored in that tissue are gradually released back into the growing media.
So, in a way, the old leaf eventually becomes food for the plant again.
There is also another part of the cycle that I find interesting. The presence of organic material provides a food source for the microbial community itself. As microorganisms multiply and become active, they help break down more organic matter and contribute to a living, biologically active growing environment.
Of course, I'm not suggesting that a pot full of rotting leaves is a good thing! 😄 The important difference is between controlled decomposition and material that stays excessively wet and starts to rot anaerobically.
I only remove the old leaves when I repot the plant.
For me, repotting is a good opportunity to clean everything up and essentially reset the cycle. The plant gets fresh growing media, and from there, the natural process starts again.
Sometimes what looks like dead material is simply another stage in the life of the plant. 😊
