Haworthia Cooperi: The Star Shaped Plant With Glowing Leaves

Haworthia cooperi is a gorgeous succulent of the Asphodelaceae family with translucent leaves, which makes it a well-loved plant that is sought-after by many hobbyists. You might even think it is an alien plant from another planet.

Growing and propagating this Haworthia genus plant is extremely easy. Read our comprehensive care guide to learn all about its requirements here.

What Is Haworthia Cooperi?

Haworthia cooperi is a rare succulent with a rosette-type growth pattern. This means that it has petal-like leaves that are arranged in a circular pattern to form a compact plant. It is also known as the star window plant as it has translucent grey-green leaves with a window on top for letting light in.

Haworthia Cooperi Care

Plant care for Haworthia cooperi is really simple. Keep this plant in an indirectly-lit place with temperatures around 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and good air circulation. Water only when the soil dries throughout. There is absolutely no need to fertilize this plant.

Read more in detail here.

Water Requirements 

Water the Haworthia plant only when its soil is completely dry. Water at least once a week in the summer.

Read all the details here.

– How Often To Water These Succulents

You should water these haworthia succulent houseplants at least once every 7 to 10 days in summers. In winters, water once a month at most. You should only water these plants once all of their soil is dry.

How often you will need to water depends on how dry your soil becomes.

Obviously, in summer and with enough sunlight, it will dry up faster, whereas it will take a longer time to dry all the way through during winters.

– How To Tell if the Soil Is Dry Enough

Here are some ways to determine whether the soil of your plant is dry enough for another watering or not.

• The easiest way is to put a stick in the soil. Take it out and see the kind of soil it comes up with.
• Place the stick near the rim of the pot. This is so that you don’t accidentally damage the roots.
• A moisture meter is an instrument that accurately measures the moisture level of the soil. It can be a bit expensive as well as delicate to handle.

– What Is the Safest Water for Haworthia?

Distilled water is the safest for succulents because it has no minerals, salt or harmful elements like chlorine and fluorine. These substances have been known to cause burns, stunting and exfoliation in these plants.

The second best option you have is to use filtered water. A filter will also remove a large number of these chemicals.

In the case of tap water, leave it in an open container all night before using. This way, all the chlorine will evaporate from it and it will become relatively safer for use.

Light Requirements 

The Haworthia cooperi succulent grows under shaded conditions in nature. It needs to grow in bright light but only indirectly. Its leaves are unaccustomed to direct light and will get burnt very quickly.

– Keeping This Plant Indoors

Keep this plant in a brightly lit room of your house. Ideally, this room should have large windows so that natural sunlight is available for photosynthesis. Given below are some general tips regarding the placement of this plant indoors.

• Keep the plant at a distance of at least 3 feet from an eastern window. This window receives direct light for only a few hours during the morning. Even then, you shouldn’t place this plant very near it. 
• You can cover the window with a sheet or curtain during the morning hours. In that case, the plant can be placed near the window but be very vigilant. One day of forgetfulness and you will have a sunburnt plant at hand.
• The southern-facing window is the most dangerous one. Very intense light comes in from it, so make sure your plant is at least 6 feet away from it. 
• The northern-facing window is relatively safer. Only indirect light comes in through it. You can place this plant near this window.

– How To Tell if Your Plant Is Receiving Enough Light

You can tell whether your plant is receiving enough light by looking at the color of its leaves. Normally, this plant should be a translucent green with a tinge of silver and blue.

Under conditions of low light, they will start turning dark green. In cases of too much light, the leaves will start turning brown or yellow as well as dry and wrinkly.

Soil Requirements 

A soil mix with excellent drainage is an absolute must for growing Haworthia cooperi var plant. This is because this plant cannot tolerate even a little bit of water retention. 

You can make your own soil for succulent plants by taking succulent potting mix then adding in sand, perlite and pieces of bark in it to promote water drainage.

Such loose soil is also healthy for the roots of the plant. It allows them space to grow. It also provides good air circulation around them.

Temperature Requirements 

Haworthia cooperi is a desert plant. Naturally, it likes to grow in hot weather conditions. The ideal temperature range for this plant is 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t allow the temperatures to fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

This plant is not frost tolerant. When subjected to cold temperatures, it will undergo frost shock. Its leaves will begin to fall and it will start dying.

– Save Your Plant From Cold Shock

Here are some tips to prevent cold shock in your plants:

• In the summertime, if you are growing them as indoor plants, take care that temperatures don’t fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Often, inside conditions can also get too cold due to air conditioning.
• Keep this plant away from cold drafts of air. This air could be from vents or air conditioning units.
• Don’t keep the windows open at night. 
• If you keep this plant outside the house, it is best to move it inside the house during winters.

Humidity Requirements 

This plant has no humidity requirements per se. As desert succulents, they are used to growing in a dry environment. High humidity levels around 30 to 40 percent might be tolerated by them. 

Take note that this is not an absolute requirement and caution should be exercised under such high humidity conditions. Make sure your plant is not being overwatered. Also, maintain adequate air circulation. 

Fertilizing Requirements 

Haworthia cooperi is not a heavy feeder. It will survive and keep growing without fertilizer just fine. If you want to, you can fertilize it using just a moderate amount.

Continue reading to learn the different types of fertilizers you can use.

– Slow-release Fertilizer

Slow-release fertilizers are quite safe for these plants. They come in the form of pellets and you can bury these pellets in the top layer of the soil near the roots. They will slowly continue to release their nutrients into the soil over time.

– Liquid Fertilizer

Liquid fertilizers are a bit dangerous because they release their nutrients quite rapidly. That is why you must dilute this fertilizer with clean water. Dilution should be done at one-third to half its original concentration.

Also, don’t forget to water the plant prior to fertilizing. This is to save the roots from developing fertilizer burns.

Pruning 

This compact succulent doesn’t really need to be pruned a lot. Just keep an eye out for old, dead and decaying leaves. Keep removing them to improve the air circulation around the plant.

One thing you need to take care of while pruning is to always use clean instruments. Wash instruments with water then rub alcohol on them. 

Propagation

You can propagate your Haworthia cooperi using three different methods. You can use either leaf cuttings, offsets or seeds to grow a new plant all by yourself.

Read this section to learn the step by step process of all three methods.

– Propagation Using Leaves

Here is how to propagate your Haworthia cooperi using leaves:

• Look for two to three healthy and mature leaves that are free of pests and diseased spots. Remove them from the stem by twisting them off gently with your hand. You can also cut them off with a knife.
• Place these leaves flat on a piece of paper towel. Allow them to rest there for a while and to develop calluses on the cut end of the leaves.

• Now take these leaves and apply the rooting hormone at the cut end. 
• Take a pot and fill it with the right type of potting medium. Slightly dampen it.
• Place the leaves in the soil. Make sure its cut end is touching the soil, but there is no need to push it in.
• Take your pot to a bright area lit with indirect light. Make sure to keep it moistened for the first few weeks. However, take care not to let the soil get too watery.
• In 6 to 8 weeks, your new plant will begin to grow in its new pot.

– Propagation Using Offsets

Offsets are tiny baby plants produced asexually at the base of the parent plant. These can be used to propagate Haworthia cooperi too. Follow this guide to propagate using offsets:

• Take a sharp knife. Make sure that it is thoroughly clean and disinfected. An infected knife or gardening tool will ruin your entire propagation.
• Identify the offsets at the base of the main stem. Cut them off the plant at the point where they are joined to the stem.
• Place the offsets in a dark and dry place for a couple of days. Ultimately, the cut end will form calluses.
• Now mix the right type of potting soil in a small-sized pot. Make a hole in the center of the soil and gently place the offset in it.
• Take great care of the plant in the first few weeks. In four to six weeks, the offset will have established its roots sufficiently. You can then leave it to itself.

– Propagation Using Seeds

Propagation using seeds takes more time and patience than the first two methods. Here is how you can achieve this:

• Obtain healthy and authentic seeds. You can order them online or buy them from your local nursery.
• Soak the seeds in water overnight. They will absorb water and swell.
• Next, take a shallow seedling tray. Fill this tray using an appropriate nutrition medium for succulents.
• Very lightly sprinkle water to moisten the medium.
• Now take each seed and bury it in the medium. Keep each seed at a distance of one to two inches from one another.
• Place the tray someplace warm and bright, and keep the growth medium moist but not runny.
• In one to two months, the seeds will finally germinate. Wait for another one to two months until the roots of the new plants are strong enough to hold up the plant.
• Transplant each baby plant in its own pot.

Problems

This is not a problematic plant per se. The only thing you need to be careful about is fungal rot due to overwatering. Your plant might also suffer from attacks by pests and gnats.

Want to find out more? Continue reading below.

– Root Rot

Root rot is a fungal infection caused by a variety of fungi. This plant is quite susceptible to developing this infection. It primarily occurs when you overwater your plant or if the drainage of the soil and the pot isn’t adequate enough.

Carry on reading to learn its symptoms and treatment.

– How To Identify Fungal Rot

Here are some signs and symptoms to watch out for:

• Fungal rot initially manifests itself by yellowing the grey-green leaves of this succulent.
• Then yellow, brown or black rot spots will appear all over the plant. These spots are moist and irregular in outline.
• The leaves become lifeless, start drooping, and might curl around the edges.
• Within weeks, the leaves will begin falling off. The plant is on its way to being dead.

– How To Treat Fungal Rot

Here is what you need to do:

• First of all, take an objective look at your plant. Assess whether it can be saved or not. If one-third or more is rotten, then it is best to simply get rid of the plant. Also, discard the soil and the pot as you should not even recycle them.
• If the disease isn’t much advanced, then your plant can still be saved. Dig around the soil to take the whole plant out and wash its roots.
• Take a sharp knife or gardening shears and chop off the dead and rotten parts of the plant. 
• Repot the plant again, using new soil and pot. Make sure this time the drainage is fool-proof.
• Use a copper-based fungicide and spray it on the plant every week according to the instructions given on the label.
• Remember that fungal rot is a lethal disease. Your plant might not survive even after all that effort. 

– Pests

Mealybugs and thrips are the two pests you need to be on the lookout for. Make sure to catch them early on.

Read how to identify and get rid of pests in the upcoming section.

– Mealybugs

Mealybugs are small bugs that look like cotton balls. They are slow-moving and easy to spot. You will usually see a lot of them huddled under the leaves.

Small yellow spots will appear all over the leaves, and occasionally, entire leaves might lose their translucency and turn yellowish. You might also notice puncture marks all over the leaves.

To treat this, wash the affected plant thoroughly with water and soap — use insecticidal soap for best results. Alcohol is also effective at killing bugs. Dilute ethyl alcohol and dab it on the colonies of bugs using a cotton swab. Apply a few drops of neem oil, which can be applied to both the pest colonies and the leaves.

– Thrips

Thrips are extremely tiny black-colored insects that cannot be seen with bare eyes. They suck on the sap of your plant. They also act as carriers of several viruses.

Small white patches appear on the leaves of the affected plants. You might also notice silvery streaks forming over the stems and foliage. Leaves then turn yellow and may fall off. Over time, the growth of the plant is severely affected.

You can get rid of a thrips infestation firstly by washing the plant, which will physically remove most of these bugs. Then dip a Q-tip in neem oil and apply it to the affected leaves. You can also use insecticidal spray, but don’t forget to wear protective clothing and eyewear when using the insecticidal spray.

– Fungus Gnats

These are small flies that commonly affect the soil, potting mix and nutrient media of plants. These are commonly found within the top one inch of the soil. The primary food source of these flies is the organic matter present in the soil. 

These bugs also chew on the roots of the plant and block the absorption of nutrients. Common signs of the gnat infestation in your haworthia cooperi plant are wilting of leaves, stunted growth of the plant, and rapid leaf loss.

These gnats can be killed using three percent hydrogen peroxide. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with four parts water and spray it on the soil every week. Essential oils can kill them too, so buy commercial anti-gnat sprays containing essential oils to kill these flies. You can also use a mixture of water and insecticidal soap to get rid of them.

– Leaf Yellowing Due To Overwatering

This is a common problem with all succulents. Their leaves start turning yellow when overwatered.

First, they will lose their translucency, then their color. Eventually, they will become too swollen to hold their weight up and they will start to droop down. An overwatered plant will soon develop fungal rot if not treated in time.

What you can do when this happens is to improve your watering regime. Make sure your soil has the best possible drainage. Look under the pot at its drainage hole, which must not be too small. Water only when the soil has dried all the way through, and don’t use a very large amount of water each time. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Have anything to ask about Haworthia cooperi? Carry on reading to find some expert answers!

– Is Haworthia Cooperi an Aloe Plant?

No, the cooperi succulent plant is not an aloe plant, but they both belong to a different but closely related genera. It is often called the mini aloe plant, cushion aloe, or the cooper’s aloe because its leaves resemble those of the aloe vera plant. They are also translucent and triangular in cross-section, just like aloe leaves.

– What Are Some Plants That Are Similar to the Window Haworthia?

Haworthia obtusa is a plant that looks quite similar to the Haworthia cooperi var plant. The only difference between these two varieties is that the leaves of the obtusa plant have slightly different shapes. Their leaves are more boat-like and slightly less transparent.

Another similar-looking plant is Haworthia cymbiformis. Their boat-like leaves are pale green with dark longitudinal stripes running through them.

Conclusion

Carry on reading as we summarize the most important points regarding Haworthia cooperi care:

• Haworthia cooperi is also called the mini aloe plant. It has translucent leaves growing in a rosette pattern. This plant is drought-resistant, so never water it unless all of its soil is dry.
• Keep this pot in the brightest spot of your house, but keep it away from direct sunlight. Maintain temperatures around 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. There are no strict humidity requirements.
• Propagation of new haworthia cooperi can be carried out using leaf cuttings, seeds or offsets. Always use rapidly draining soil.
• The only serious problem this plant faces is developing fungal rot of the roots. Stay away from overwatering at all costs.

Haworthia cooperi, like all succulents, is extremely low maintenance. Just put it in a warm, bright spot, and you don’t even need to water it very often. Trust us, there is no plant more rewarding than this.