Schefflera, also known as the umbrella plant, is a popular houseplant admired for its glossy leaves and elegant upright growth. It is easy to care for and adapts well to indoor environments with stable light and watering routines. Providing bright indirect light and well-draining soil helps the plant stay healthy and vibrant. With occasional pruning and proper watering, Schefflera can grow into a striking indoor tree. This guide covers everything you need to know to care for Schefflera successfully at home.
Our January box featuring Cotyledon Pendens, Haworthia Turgida, Crassula Moonglow, Haworthia Batesiana, and Airplant Tillandsia Bulbosa Belize.
1. Cotyledon Pendens
Cotyledon Pendens, or Cliff Cotyledon, is one of the most beautiful trailing succulents in the world. This plant is rare and highly sought after. It has fleshy, almond-shaped grey-green leaves with a hue coral shade at the tips. Its stems spread randomly, reaching up to 2 feet long.
This miniature plant blooms breathtakingly beautiful bell-shaped flowers in white and orange-red colour.
Porous soil with adequate drainage.
The Cotyledon Pendens grows well in Full Sun to Partial Shade. If grown indoors, put it in a spot with bright light and ample airflow.
Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch then let drain completely.
Can be mildly toxic to pets and humans
2. Haworthia Turgida
Haworthia turgida is a delightful, compact succulent that’s is very easy to care for. It has plump, finger-like leaves with soft, pointed tips, forming loose rosettes that cluster together. The leaves have a soft, translucent green color with a smooth, sea-glass-like texture, accented by subtle veins and speckled patterns. These details give the plant an almost magical, crystal-like appearance.
One of the most fascinating features of Haworthia turgida is its ability to change color depending on the light. In bright, indirect sunlight, the green foliage takes on a beautiful reddish tint, adding a dynamic element to its appearance. When placed in shadier spots, the leaves return to their vibrant green hue. With its compact size—reaching only 3 to 4 inches across at maturity—this succulent is perfect for small spaces, terrariums, or as part of a larger arrangement with other drought-tolerant plants.
Haworthia turgida grows by producing offsets, which emerge at the base of the main rosettes. These offsets expand outward, forming a dense mat of closely packed plants. This growth habit makes it ideal for filling in spaces in containers or rock gardens.
Native to South Africa, Haworthia turgida thrives in arid environments and is naturally adapted to handle a variety of light conditions. This adaptability, combined with its striking looks, makes it an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned plant enthusiasts.
Haworthia turgida thrives in bright, indirect light but can also adapt to partial shade. While it enjoys a bit of sun, too much direct sunlight can scorch its delicate leaves. If you want to encourage the reddish tones in its foliage, give it access to more intense, filtered light, but be ready to move it to a shadier spot if the leaves start to fade or scorch.
This succulent loves warm weather and thrives in temperatures between 60°F and 80°F. It doesn’t tolerate frost, so if you live in a cooler climate, make sure to bring it indoors during the winter months. While it’s not picky about humidity, it’s best suited for dry conditions, making it perfect for most indoor spaces.
To keep Haworthia turgida happy, plant it in a fast-draining soil mix, like one designed for succulents or cacti. A pot with drainage holes is essential to prevent the roots from sitting in water. Place it somewhere with good airflow to keep the plant healthy and reduce the risk of fungal issues.
Like most succulents, this plant prefers to dry out completely between waterings. Using the "soak and dry" method is the best approach: water thoroughly, allowing any excess to drain away, then wait until the soil is completely dry before watering again. Overwatering is one of the few ways to harm this resilient little plant, as it can lead to root rot or invite pests.
In the spring or early summer, a happy Haworthia turgida may produce delicate flower stalks with tiny, tubular white blooms. While these flowers are modest compared to the plant’s striking foliage, they’re a charming bonus for careful caretakers.
Haworthia turgida is non-toxic to pets and humans, making it a safe choice for households with curious animals or small children.
3. Crassula Moonglow
Crassula Moonglow has thick fleshy gray-green leaves that form compact square rosettes stacked on top of each other like a tower as high as 18 inches. The plant needs a lot of support so that the stacked column will not fall over. Its leaves are covered with fine short hairs, giving it a chalky fuzzy look.
Crassula Moonglow produces clusters of small pink-orange flowers in winter or spring.
Full sun. Full shade is not recommended to prevent etiolation and rot.
Porous and well-drained potting mix.
Water thoroughly only when soil is dry to the touch, then let drain completely.
Cold Tolerance: Down to at least 27 °F.
4. Haworthia Batesiana
Haworthia Batesiana has miniature rosettes with translucent bright green leaves marked with a net of deeper green. These succulent leaves have smooth margins and a terminal white spine. Rosettes offset freely to form dense clumps
Their shape and coloration make them perfect for succulent arrangements and make perfect gifts in a pot for the home or office desk.
Bright light, but not direct sunlight.
Use a cactus mix or very fast-draining potting soil mixed with sand.
5. Tillandsia Bulbosa Belize
Tillandsia Bulbosa Belize is an air plant with long twisting curly leaves grown from a large bulbous base. The leaves can turn from green to bright red when the Bulbosa is about to bloom beautiful tubular bright purple flowers.
Bright filtered light.
Frequent misting several times a week is necessary, especially during its growing season in the summer. Bulbosa will also benefit from a soaking bath every month. Give it a little shake off afterwards to make sure water doesn't collect in the bottom leaves to prevent rot.
