How to Grow Bear's Paw (Cotyledon tomentosa)? Detailed Guide to Care Methods and Precautions

Bear's Paw is one of the smaller succulents. Its color is commonly green with red edges, giving it great ornamental value. Bear's Paw currently sells very well on the market, and many people like to buy a pot to grow at home. So before growing it, you need to have an in-depth understanding of it.

How to Grow Bear's Paw

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 then 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 and make the leaves thick, enhancing its ornamental value. If it is too shady, the plant's leaves will become weak, the internodes will lengthen, and the down on the surface will lose its luster. However, when the temperature is higher than 35 degrees, it should be properly shaded 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. 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 on the plant, then dry the wound of the branch in a cool, ventilated place. Insert the branch with the dried wound into the soil and place it in a cool, ventilated place to wait for rooting, because at this time the branch has 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 used 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 Cultivation Methods and Precautions

Methods:

1. Plant shape: Repot every spring. When the plant height is 15 cm, it must be pinched back to encourage branching. When the plant grows too tall, it needs pruning to lower the plant shape. After 4-5 years, it should be re-propagated by cuttings to renew it.

2. Watering: During the growing period, water once every 2 weeks to keep the potting soil moist. In summer when temperatures are high, spray water around the plant. In winter, it enters dormancy, and the potting soil should be kept dry.

3. Fertilizing: Fertilize once a month. Use diluted cake fertilizer water or “Huiyou” 15-15-30 special fertilizer for potted flowers. If light is insufficient and fertilizer and water are excessive, the stem nodes will elongate.

Precautions:

The main precaution is summer care. In summer, Bear's Paw will enter a dormant state, and the amount of water should be gradually reduced. During the dormant period of Bear's Paw, it is best not to expose it to direct sunlight. It can be placed in an environment with diffused light, and ventilation should be increased to reduce the hot and humid condition. Spraying water on Bear's Paw can wash away dust and make the leaves cleaner. Be careful not to let water remain in the center of the leaves for a long time, otherwise the heart will rot.

Why Bear's Paw Drops Leaves

Too much watering. One case is too much watering during the dormant period, and the other is too much watering during the growing period, causing water accumulation.

During the dormant period, Bear's Paw basically does not grow and does not need much water. If watering is not controlled at this time and the potting soil is wet, the roots and stems of Bear's Paw are very likely to rot, causing the leaves to fall off.

During other growing periods, too much watering can also cause root rot, or even leggy growth. Long stems and small leaves cannot get sufficient nutrients, so yellowing, wilting, and falling off are inevitable.

What to Do After Bear's Paw Drops Leaves

1. Dormant period. If Bear's Paw is in the dormant period during care, do not make a fuss; dropping leaves is normal. Do not touch the leaves casually. Under normal circumstances, as long as you do not touch them, the leaves will only be a bit wilted. Control watering and ventilate in time. Once summer passes, the leaves will slowly recover, and no extra operation is needed.

2. Loosen the soil and ventilate. If leaf dropping is caused by too much watering, then be careful and reduce watering as much as possible. At times other than the dormant period, you can reduce the moisture in the soil by ventilating, exposing it to sunlight, and loosening the soil. If Bear's Paw is rather severely wilted, you can take the plant out of the pot, dry the roots, let part of the water in the soil evaporate, and then replant it.

Cultivating Bear's Paw requires attention to its temperature. Although it likes to grow in a warm environment, it must not be directly exposed to the sun under high summer temperatures! If Bear's Paw shows leaf dropping during cultivation, check whether it is in the dormant period. If it is not, then you should consider that the cause is probably too much watering.