Haworthia: Glassy Succulent Plant Resembling Tiny Opals Can Brighten Up Your Interiors

Haworthia: Glassy Succulent Plant Resembling Tiny Opals Can Brighten Up Your Interiors
(Karnwela/Shutterstock)
Epoch Inspired Staff
5/26/2020
Updated:
5/26/2020

Succulent plants can easily enhance the beauty of any place, be it a kitchen table, a window sill, or some forsaken corner of a room. But there is one “pearl-like” succulent that makes it the perfect add-on to your interior and exterior decor planning.

Let’s explore the world of this “tiny cluster of jewels” known as Haworthia cooperi or cushion aloe.
(Phiphop Iamrunwan/Shutterstock)
(Phiphop Iamrunwan/Shutterstock)

With its almost see-through leave rosettes resembling tiny opals, this particular variety of Haworthia—a genus with over 150 species—definitely knows how to enchant plant growers.

Haworthia has around 20–25 fleshy leaves growing per rosette, with each having a soft and glassy look. According to World of Succulents, a variety known as H. cooperi truncata resemble a small grape cluster and its “fat little colonies” are around 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter.
(L: metita ungsumeth/Shutterstock, R: Thiti.S/Shutterstock)
(L: metita ungsumeth/Shutterstock, R: Thiti.S/Shutterstock)

The leaves are usually round-tipped and slightly spherical with translucent patterns in mostly bluish or greenish color. However, the leaves take over a reddish shade if exposed to too much sun or if not watered enough.

Most of these unusual-looking succulents are native to Eastern Cape Province in South Africa, but its eye-catching presence has made it one of the gardeners’ favorites.

(chaylek/Shutterstock)
(chaylek/Shutterstock)

Growing any succulents can be fun and tricky at the same time, and it is the same for these opal-resembling Haworthia.

The most important thing to take care of while growing Haworthia is watering the plants. Keep an eye on the topsoil of the pot; if it appears dry, it means it is time to water them. In the summertime, Haworthia mostly needs to be watered once a week, and in the winters, roughly once a month.

However, never allow the plant to sit in water, warns World of Succulent, a website dedicated to succulent lovers.

(L: oradige59/Shutterstock, R: InkHeart/Shutterstock)
(L: oradige59/Shutterstock, R: InkHeart/Shutterstock)

Haworthia doesn’t ask for much space in your backyard garden or in your room as some other indoor plants, but it does prefer a partially shaded spot.

If placed in too strong sunlight, the leaves can develop the hues of yellow or red, which does add on to its charm. However, World of Succulents notes that “deep shade tends to weaken the plant over a prolonged period.”
You can easily pot them in shallow dishes or small cups to allow proper drainage of extra water. For this, you can either use commercially available succulent soil or make your own well-draining potting mix: use two parts soil, two parts peat moss, one part sand, one part perlite or the less expensive charcoal, and a small amount of limestone to balance out the pH.
(anystock/Shutterstock)
(anystock/Shutterstock)

Repotting Haworthia that has outgrown its dish is not hard, but spring or early summertime is preferred for such activity. You can re-pot the entire plant to a bigger pot. Propagating Haworthia by offsets or leaves or seeds is also a common method.

These tiny green, pink, or blue opal-looking plants definitely take your indoor or your outdoor space decorations to another level. So when are you planning to grow your own Haworthia cooperi?
Epoch Inspired staff cover stories of hope that celebrate kindness, traditions, and triumph of the human spirit, offering valuable insights into life, culture, family and community, and nature.
Related Topics