How to water and fertilize Bear's Paw (Cotyledon tomentosa) to grow it plump and thick?

The Bear's Paw (Cotyledon tomentosa) looks just like a little bear paw, with a ring of red edges at the tips, just like the claws of a bear paw, making it look very cute. Bear's Paw is a common houseplant, so when growing it, you need to master some techniques to make it grow plump and thick.

How to grow Bear's Paw plump and thick

1. Soil. The potting soil should be sandy soil with medium fertility and good drainage. You can use 1 part each of coarse sand or vermiculite, garden soil and leaf mold, mix them evenly and use the mixture.

2. Light. And temperature. Bear's Paw likes warm, dry places with plenty of sunlight, and tolerates high temperatures of 30 degrees. Normally, Bear's Paw should be placed in a sunny spot. Sufficient light can shorten the spacing between leaves, make the leaves plump and thick, and enhance its ornamental value. If it is too shady, the plant's leaves will become weak, the internodes will lengthen, and the fine hairs on the surface will lose their luster. But when the temperature is above 35 degrees, it should be shaded appropriately to avoid the scorching sun burning the leaves and affecting its ornamental value.

3. Propagation. The propagation method usually used for Bear's Paw is cuttings, and it is best to propagate in spring and autumn, when the temperature is about 23 degrees. At this time, Bear's Paw stops dormancy and begins to grow, which helps increase the survival rate of the plant. When propagating Bear's Paw, choose healthy branches with plump leaves and cut the branches below 4-6 pairs of leaves on the plant, then dry the wounds of the branches in a cool, ventilated place. Insert the branches with dried wounds into the soil and place them in a cool, ventilated place to wait for rooting, because at this time the branches have no roots, and exposure to strong sun will cause a large amount of water in the plant's leaves to evaporate, causing the plant to dry up. For the soil for branch cuttings, it is best to choose a mixed soil of vermiculite + perlite + peat soil, as this makes it easier for the plant to root.

Bear's Paw watering and fertilizing tips

Watering:

1. Summer temperatures are relatively high. When the temperature reaches above 35 degrees, Bear's Paw will enter a dormant period. At this time, the amount of watering should be controlled appropriately, otherwise soil that is too wet will easily cause its roots to rot.

2. When repotting or changing the soil, be sure to water only a little. At this time, just keep the soil slightly dry.

3. In winter, water according to the indoor temperature and sunlight conditions. If there is not enough sunlight, just keep the soil slightly moist, and do not let it become too wet.

4. Newly rooted Bear's Paw cuttings should not be watered at first. At this time they have no root system, so the water given cannot be absorbed, and it may also cause the bottom to rot, so water only after they have grown roots.

Fertilizing:

1. Actually, Bear's Paw does not have high fertilizer requirements, but you should not fertilize blindly. The above two fertilizers can provide it with the corresponding nutrients. Fertilize about once every two weeks, and the concentration of the fertilizer each time should not be too strong, nor should you be greedy with the amount. Medium fertility is enough to let it grow healthily.

2. When applying liquid fertilizer, do it together with watering, to avoid applying liquid fertilizer right after watering, which makes the soil too wet, or watering right after fertilizing. In that case, nutrients will be lost because of watering, and the plant will not be able to absorb nutrients normally.

Bear's Paw propagation methods

Bud cuttings method: Bud cuttings are the most recommended method, with a very good survival rate. Even beginners at growing succulents can easily root a pot. Pay attention to the following cutting tips:

1. Selection of small cuttings: For cuttings, choose tender buds cut from robust plants. Be sure to cut off branches that have already become seriously woody. Tenderness is the key to the survival of cuttings.

2. Drying: After beheading, be sure to dry the branches in a cool place for 1-2 days, or apply plant ash to the wounds, and then pot them.

3. Shading: Place the small tender buds directly on the surface of the soil. Do not expose them to the sun before they have rooted. Avoid direct sunlight, and do not keep picking them up to see whether they have rooted. This is a very bad habit and must be corrected.

Bear's Paw diseases and treatment methods

Wilt disease and leaf spot disease are two common conditions of Bear's Paw. In the early stage, the symptoms are the same: black disease spots appear. When wilt disease is severe, the leaves turn yellow and fall off, and large areas of the plant die, making it highly harmful. Leaf spot disease mainly harms the leaves, and in the later stage dense spots appear, seriously affecting its ornamental value.

Prevention and treatment methods: Once disease is found, remove the diseased leaves in time, and use 50 grams of captan diluted 800 times and spray it on the surface of the plant.

As long as Bear's Paw is well cared for, it will be relatively plump and thick. Generally, it starts with the choice of soil. Then light is also relatively important. Later, the management of fertilizer and water should also be strengthened. Only by doing these aspects well can Bear's Paw grow well.