Tips for Cultivating and Maintaining Tiger Jaws Succulent

Tiger jaws is a reliable perennial succulent characterized by its low-growing rosettes of thick, triangular leaves adorned with spiny “teeth,” which is the origin of its common name. Despite its fierce appearance, the spikes are actually soft and pliable. During the fall or winter, the plant can bloom with striking yellow flowers featuring elongated, slender petals. Indigenous to South Africa, tiger jaws thrives in warm climates and is resilient in zone 9, though it is typically cultivated as a houseplant indoors.

This plant grows slowly and can thrive for several decades when given appropriate care. Once it is well-established, it will generate numerous offsets that can be replanted during its typical growing season in the spring or summer.

Common Name	Tiger jaws
Botanical Name	Faucaria tigrina
Family	Aizoaceae
Plant Type	Perennial, succulent
Mature Size	Up to 6 in. tall, 6 in. wide
Sun Exposure	Full, partial
Soil Type	Moist, well-drained
Soil pH	Acidic
Bloom Time	Fall, winter
Flower Color	Yellow
Hardiness Zones	9–11 (USDA)
Native Area	South Africa

Care for Tiger Jaws

Originating from the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, tiger jaws succulents thrive in rocky and clay-rich soils within the subtropical deserts of the area. Their active growth period starts in spring and continues through summer, showcasing vibrant yellow blooms in the fall. However, it is rare for these plants to produce flowers when cultivated indoors. The flowers bloom during the day in the fall and close up at night.

Tiger jaws can serve as a garden plant in warmer climates, though they are typically cultivated in pots using a coarse, well-draining potting mix. Place your tiger jaws succulent in a bright, sunny area of your home for optimal growth. During the summer, it can flourish on a patio or deck, and while it can withstand short periods of frost, it’s advisable to bring it indoors as consistent cold winter weather sets in. These plants typically reach a mature size of around 6 inches in height and width.

Light

Tiger jaws succulents thrive in sunny conditions, ideally needing a minimum of three hours of direct sunlight daily, with six hours or more being preferable. To ensure they receive adequate light, consider relocating the plant outdoors to a sunny area during the summer. Although it’s rare for these succulents to flower indoors, exposing them to outdoor conditions in the summer can enhance the likelihood of blooming. During the winter, they can manage with reduced light, but it’s still important to keep them in a well-lit spot.

Soil

Similar to many succulents, tiger jaws thrive best in soil that is porous and drains well. In their native environment, these plants typically grow in exposed, rocky regions with clay soil. When cultivated indoors, a regular cactus soil is generally adequate. However, some gardeners believe that even a typical cactus mix retains too much moisture due to the peat moss, and they modify the potting mix by incorporating extra chicken grit or sand.

Alternatively, you can create the perfect potting mix for tiger jaws by combining two parts sterilized potting soil, one part fine pumice, and one part sand.

Water

The jagged teeth of the tiger jaws plant channel rainwater and dew towards the plant’s base, allowing the roots to take in moisture. However, this plant can be sensitive to overwatering; it can easily perish within a single night if excess water accumulates in its pot and fails to drain properly.

Maintain the soil’s moisture while ensuring it drains properly throughout the growing season, which spans from late spring to autumn. Ensure the pot includes drainage holes to prevent the plant from sitting in water.

In the autumn and winter months, let the soil dry out entirely before you water it again, and then thoroughly soak the soil, ensuring it drains well.

Climate and Moisture Levels

Tiger jaws succulents thrive in the arid and warm environment of their native South Africa. They possess the ability to endure cooler temperatures compared to numerous other succulent varieties. The optimal temperature for their growth is around 68 degrees Fahrenheit, although they prefer warmer conditions, reaching up to 90 degrees in the summer. They can withstand short periods of frost, but during the chilly winter months, it’s advisable to bring them indoors unless you reside in hardiness zones 9 to 11.

When cultivated indoors, the typical humidity levels found in homes are suitable for tiger jaws succulents; however, excessive humidity should be avoided, making bathrooms less than ideal for their placement. An optimal humidity range for these plants is approximately 30-40%. High humidity levels can lead to the development of fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

Throughout their active growth phase, which spans from spring to fall, tiger jaws succulents can benefit from one or two applications of a diluted 2-7-7 liquid fertilizer, mixed to 50%, to promote new growth. Fertilization should be avoided during the winter months.

Varieties of Tiger Jaws

Another variety of Faucaria that is occasionally cultivated as a houseplant is F. felina. Commonly referred to as “tiger jaws,” this species features shorter and less intimidating teeth compared to F. tigrina. Apart from this difference, the two plants are quite similar. Some commercial horticulturists view F. tigrina as a mere cultivar of F. felina, and thus label it as Faucaria felina ‘Tiger Jaws’.

Pruning

Tiger jaws require no regular pruning, but be sure to remove any leaves that become brown or mushy.

Cultivating Tiger Jaws

Like aloe and haworthia succulents, tiger jaws succulents are typically propagated by detaching offsets from the parent plant. The ideal time for propagating tiger jaws is during their active growth phase, which occurs in late spring or early summer. Here’s the process:

1. With a sharp knife, gently detach one or more of the small offsets that are emerging near the base of the parent plant.
2. Place the offset in a separate area and allow it to dry for a period of one to two days until the damaged areas form a protective layer.
3. Place each offset in a slightly damp, sandy potting mixture within a pot that has drainage holes.
4. Position the offsets in a location that receives warm, bright light, avoiding direct sunlight for the initial month. Water them sparingly until their root systems are established.
5. After the offset has established itself, typically after about two weeks, slowly acclimate it to bright light, treating it like a mature tiger jaws plant. However, avoid direct sunlight exposure until new leaves begin to grow.

Growing Tiger Jaws from Seeds: A Step-by-Step Guide

Faucaria plants can be propagated from seeds with relative ease, assuming your indoor plant blooms and generates seeds. However, due to the simplicity of separating offsets and the slow growth of seeds, propagation through seeds is not a common practice.

Maintain a consistent temperature range of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal time to begin is during the fall season. Utilize a cactus mix or sand that drains well as the medium for starting seeds, and keep the seedling trays under grow lights until germination occurs. Ensure the seeds are lightly covered with a thin layer of potting mix. Germination typically occurs within 7 to 10 days. Once the seedlings develop multiple sets of leaves, they can be moved to separate pots and placed in a location with ample light.

Transplanting and Replanting Tiger Jaws

Tiger jaws thrive best when planted in shallow pots filled with a coarse cactus or succulent potting mix. These succulents grow slowly, so they don’t need to be repotted often. Typically, repotting is necessary only when they have outgrown their current pot, which is roughly every two years. Additionally, it is important to choose a pot with adequate drainage holes, as tiger jaws are susceptible to rot if they are left in standing water.

Overwintering

Reduce the frequency of watering tiger jaws in the winter months; a light watering once a month is sufficient. Excessive moisture during this season can lead to root rot.

Frequent Insects and Plant Illnesses

Tiger jaws are typically low-maintenance, but you might encounter some issues with mealybugs or scale insects, which appear as waxy fibers or sticky honeydew on the foliage. An indoor insecticide can effectively address these pests.

Excessive watering may lead to a fungal infection known as phytophthora, resulting in discoloration and wilting of the leaves. To address this, remove the impacted leaves and refrain from watering until the plant recovers.

Tips for Encouraging Tiger Jaws to Flower

When exposed to sufficient sunlight—at least three hours each day—these plants tend to produce vibrant yellow flowers from September through early winter. Generally, the blossoms open around midday and close as the evening sets in. It’s not unusual for indoor plants to forgo blooming, as they are primarily cultivated for their distinctive leaves. However, by relocating them outdoors during the summer and early fall, they can often be encouraged to flower before being brought back inside for the winter. Indoor plants can occasionally flower if they are positioned in the brightest window.

Applying a single fertilizer dose in late summer may encourage the plant to bloom in the fall or winter, as long as it receives adequate sunlight.

Frequent Issues Encountered with Tiger Jaws

Tiger jaws is typically an easy-care houseplant that actually flourishes with minimal attention. However, there are a few care issues to be mindful of:

Leaves Fade to a Lighter Hue

This typically suggests that the plant is reacting negatively to excessive moisture. You can still rescue the plant by promptly adjusting your watering habits. Ensure that the potting soil is allowed to dry out entirely before the next watering.

Faded leaves may result from insufficient light for the plant. Prolonged direct sunlight can transform the leaves into a beautiful pink to reddish-purple hue.

Leaves Become Soft and Pliable

At this stage, the onset of fungal root rot is starting to occur. By eliminating the damaged leaves and decreasing the amount of water, you might still be able to rescue the plant. However, if the rot persists, the plant will ultimately have to be discarded. There might be some offsets that you can salvage for replanting.

Is it possible to cultivate tiger jaws in an outdoor garden?

Originating from the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, these plants typically thrive in rocky niches in their natural habitat. If you can replicate these conditions and reside in USDA zones 9 to 11, tiger jaws can be an excellent choice for a succulent rock garden or for planting in the gaps of a stone wall. However, in standard garden soil, tiger jaws often encounter excessive moisture, which can hinder their growth.

What is the lifespan of a tiger jaws plant?

When cultivated in an appropriate potting medium and given the right amount of water, these plants have the potential to thrive for several decades, often being handed down through families. As the plants outgrow their containers, it is typical to propagate them by separating and replanting the offshoots, while the older, overgrown parent is removed.