red leaves on Haworthiopsis
Quick answer
If your Haworthiopsis has red leaves, the most likely cause is: Haworthiopsis fasciata and H. limifolia flush red across their normally green rosette leaves when they receive more direct sunlight than they evolved to handle, because in their native fynbos and rocky Eastern Cape habitat the plants are shaded by surrounding shrubs and rocks and the leaves cannot dissipate the extra radiant load without changing colour.
Start here:
- 1. Move the plant a few feet back from a hot sunny sill into bright but indirect light, where the leaves will gradually return to their normal green colour once the extra light stress is removed from the rosette.
- 2. Filter harsh midday sun with a sheer curtain or relocate the plant to an east-facing window so the rosette receives gentle morning light and is shaded through the brightest part of the day.
Why Haworthiopsis gets red leaves
Haworthiopsis
Haworthiopsis fasciata and H. limifolia flush red across their normally green rosette leaves when they receive more direct sunlight than they evolved to handle, because in their native fynbos and rocky Eastern Cape habitat the plants are shaded by surrounding shrubs and rocks and the leaves cannot dissipate the extra radiant load without changing colour.
How to reverse red leaves on Haworthiopsis
- 1
Move the plant a few feet back from a hot sunny sill into bright but indirect light, where the leaves will gradually return to their normal green colour once the extra light stress is removed from the rosette.
- 2
Filter harsh midday sun with a sheer curtain or relocate the plant to an east-facing window so the rosette receives gentle morning light and is shaded through the brightest part of the day.
Keep red leaves off this Haworthiopsis
Site Haworthiopsis in bright indirect light rather than a hot sunny window, because unlike most other succulents this genus evolved under fynbos shrubs and a steady green rosette shows the plant is getting exactly the light level it was built for.