- The South African plant Cotyledon tomentosa subsp. ladismithiensis is also known as Cotyledon Bear Paw or Bear’s Paw. This species is extremely rare.
It is a 12-inch (30-cm) tall succulent shrublet. It has a velvety appearance thanks to its extensive branching and delicate, microscopic white hairs. Up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, succulent, lime-green leaves with creamy yellow variegation and occasionally reddish tips are available. These leaves often feature 1 to 3 “bear claw”-like apical teeth.
Late spring is when Cotyledon Bear’s Paw blooms with clusters of yellow to orange-red bell-shaped flowers.
Porous.
Beginning with the growing season, fertilize with a controlled-release product.
Sempervivum By separating offsets and replanting them in planting material, Grape Tone can be easily propagated.
Size & Growth
Fast-growing and like a bear’s paw, the bear claw cactus can reach heights of up to 20 inches and has bright green, hairy leaves with pointed points that look like teeth.
Three to ten “teeth” that can turn bright red are present on each leaf. The plant begins to mature as new paws sprout.
The leaves have a rough surface and are hairy. The plant is compact and lush throughout.
Flowering and Fragrance
Cotyledon In the spring, tomentosa succulents produce bell-shaped flowers.
The bear paw flower’s typical hues range from pinkish to orange-red to light yellow.
Light & Temperature
Although it doesn’t like direct sunshine with good airflow, the bear claw cactus prefers bright light.
Make sure to place the tomentosa plant where it will receive at least six hours per day of bright, direct sunlight.
If you’re growing a plant indoors, put it close to a south-facing window so it gets enough of light.
Watering and Feeding
In the summer, when the soil feels dry to the touch, these succulent plants prefer to be thoroughly watered.
Watering during the winter should be done with caution, though, as plants lose roots when exposed to extended periods of cold or wet soil.
The soak and dry method is optimal, and you should make sure the soil is totally dry in between waterings.
For plants in pots, make sure to fully soak the soil until water begins to flow out of the bottom of the pot.
Just enough water is needed over the winter to prevent the soil from drying up completely.
Feed this plant once every two weeks during the growing season, which is usually in the summer, with a light, balanced all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer for succulents.
Soil Mix & Transplanting
This plant, which is indigenous to South Africa, thrives on rocky quartz fields with excellent drainage provided by porous soil.
Use a pot with at least one drainage hole at the bottom if you’re planting inside.
Make sure to pick a container that is a little bigger than the root system.
On order to avoid root rot, Cotyledon Tomentosa flourishes in a soil mixture that drains effectively.
Bear paws sprout where?
In zones 9b to 11b, Cotyledon tomentosa is cold hardy. They cannot be kept outside in colder climates; instead, they must be cared after like a houseplant. To keep your Bear’s Paw healthy, just make sure it receives adequate light. During the summer, you can move them outside.
My bear paws are vanishing—why?
In the winter, the requirement for light decreases as the temperature rises. Keep your bear paw succulents out of the warm living room if they want to hibernate. The leaves stay put even in the dead of winter in a bright, comfortable space.
Wet Substrate
Succulents with bear paws have a clever method of retaining water in their leaves, branches, and roots. They are able to survive in difficult environments all over the world in this way. It is not necessary for the soil to be consistently moist in order for sap-rich growth to occur. Bear paw succulents, on the other hand, require dry, poor soil. Leaf fall is inevitable if the roots become flooded.
The maximum size of a bear paw succulent
Just wait—if you thought mermaid succulents were cute, you’ll like bear paw succulents. The plant not only has the appearance of being formed of tiny, fluffy, green bear paws, but it also makes you feel cozy and warm whenever you look at it.
Bear paw succulents, also known as Cotyledon Tomentosa, have thick, fluffy green leaves with dark red toothed edges. They are a low-growing plant but can reach more than 30 centimeters in height, according to the online succulent retailer Succulents Box. Even better, in the spring, they typically produce orange, bell-shaped flowers.
How often should a bear paw succulent be watered?
When it comes to watering, Bear’s Paw is similar to most succulents in that they prefer their roots to be sopped up but need time to air dry. Overwatering makes succulents very unhappy! Watering your plant once a week is often safe, and you should water it less during the winter when it is dormant.
Simply touch the ground if you’re ever unsure. It will likely be ready for a drink when it feels dry to the touch. Give it a bit more time if the soil is wet or damp.
A bear paw succulent needs how much sun?
South Africa is the natural home of the Cotyledon tomentosa. They flourish in a dry, bright climate there.
Bear paws appreciate a lot of light. Give your bear paw plant as much light as you can inside. The optimal location is beside a sunny south-facing window where it receives roughly six hours of indirect sunlight daily.
The tips of the leaves take on a deep crimson color if the plant receives a lot of direct sunlight.
Succulents with bear paws can grow in reduced light levels, but the color or any variegation may fade and the growth will become lanky and slow.
How is a bear paw kept alive?
The bear paw plant needs regular deep watering during the summer while it is actively growing. When there isn’t rain, deeply water garden plants once a week with about 1 inch of water. Watering for potted plants is necessary when the soil has almost entirely dried out.
Can dogs be poisoned by bear paws?
How toxic is bear’s paw succulent? Although the plant is typically thought to be non-toxic, there have been a few reports suggesting that it may be somewhat hazardous to children and animals.
The bear paw succulent blooms, or not?
Put the plant in a well-lit area both inside and outside. Some advocate getting a full sunspot, but the majority only suggest getting used to the early sun. Naturally, this is influenced by the season and place.
In more southern regions, the afternoon light may be too strong for the plant, resulting in leaf drop. The majority of producers advise six hours of direct, bright light. Once you’ve found your plant, you can make a judgment.
During the spring, the contented bear claw may grow sizable, orange bell-shaped flowers. Water it in the early spring if your climate allows it to continue growing outdoors through the winter. To promote blooming, you can lightly fertilize after watering with phosphorous-rich food. Avoid using too much water in the winter. This plant is dormant in the summer and not cold-hardy.
Bear paw—is it a cactus?
A species of flowering plant from the crassulaceae family that is indigenous to South Africa is called Cotyledon tomentosa. It is an evergreen succulent shrub with thick, ovate-shaped leaves that are fuzzy green. The distinctive “tooth” at the tips of its leaves have earned its autonymous subspecies the nickname “the bear’s paw.” In the spring, it develops enormous orange bell-shaped flowers. Cotyledons typically grow in rocky quartz fields in their natural environment, the Little Karoo region of South Africa, where the soil is relatively porous and provides great drainage.
Why are the leaves on my bear paw thin?
Yes, cardiac glycosides, which are neurotoxins capable of inducing cardiac arrest and heart failure even at low dosages, are present in all cotyledons.
The majority of these symptoms have been observed in animals who consumed Cotyledon tomentosa that was growing in its natural environment. However, it’s always best to be cautious than sorry, so keep your bear paw plant out of the reach of kids and animals.
You’ll need to give your bear paw loose-textured, quickly draining soil because succulents naturally flourish in hot, dry areas. Any of the many specific soil mixtures for succulents and cacti that are available should be suitable for your bear paw.
First, regulate your watering: If your bear paw appears particularly soft and yellow, offer less water; if the leaves are shriveling, provide more water.
Give it a dosage of cactus fertilizer to increase its chances of making a comeback if nothing else is working.