Fairy Washboard

Fairy washboards are small hardy succulents that grow in a rosettes up to 10cm wide. They have deep green leaves with ridges resembling a washboard.

A perennial succulent plant, this is a good beginner indoor plant that can be used for succulent arrangements. There are a number of variegated varieties that have a mix of bright yellow or cream, with dark green stripes that make this a striking center piece for your indoor garden.

Sun and soil needs:

Fairy washboards thrive in 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight, but are vulnerable to sunburn in areas with more than 4 hours of direct sunlight. Plants do best in pots with sandy soil at least 5cm deep.

Growing:

Fairy washboards are slow-growing and generally low maintenance. They do well with slow-release balanced fertilisers once a year during repotting, and will flower occasionally. Prune off spent flowers to keep the plant neat.

This plant requires very little water and is vulnerable to root rot. Consider bottom watering this plant once every two weeks or less to reduce the chances of rot.

As with all potted plants, regular repotting once a year will prevent it from becoming root bound.

Propagation:

Fairy washboards can be grown from seeds or division of offsets.

Common problems & solutions:

These plants are usually quite resistant to pests if kept healthy.

Mealy bugs and spider mites often infest the plant if it has underlying problems like repeated waterlogging. Mechanical pest control methods like pruning the infested parts are the best methods for managing these pests in the short term, but resolving the underlying problem will prevent them in the long term.