Are you wondering why your Bear Paw Succulent stays small even after taking lots of care? Check out this guide to learn how to fix it.
Bear Paw succulent, aka Cotyledon tomentosa, is a cozy plant that is known for its fuzzy, paw-like leaves. With its low-maintenance nature and minimal demands, it can still be difficult at times to grow successfully. Let’s find out what those reasons are and how to fix them.
Basic Growing Requirements
Bear Paw is a succulent shrublet native to Africa that can reach a height of 30-70 cm and a diameter of 30-50 cm with a more or less densely branched structure. It has a moderately fast-growing nature and does well in containers or pots making great houseplants.
Like most of its desert cousins, this one too grows best in sandy-gritty soil and good drainage is very important as it is prone to root rot. Besides, it requires feeding once or twice during the growing season with a fertilizer specifically formulated for cacti and succulents (low in nitrogen).
Additionally, as a drought-tolerant plant, it requires water mostly in the growing season only and very little during the dormant season. Along with this a dry-out period is essential between waterings. Lastly, it does well in full sun but can handle some shade, too.
Caution: The plant is highly poisonous to humans and domestic animals.
Why Your Bear Paws Stay Small and How to Fix It
1. Insufficient Light Conditions
Bear Paw succulents do not thrive in shade! They require bright yet indirect sunlight. If not under the proper light conditions, they may experience slower growth with thin, leggy stems, fewer leaves, and faded color.
So, keep this unique beauty under bright, indirect sunlight for at least 6 hours every day if you want it to grow abundantly. For this, a window that is either south- or east-facing is ideal for it. During colder seasons, when daylight is shorter, you can even use a grow light.
Pro Tip: Keep the plant rotated from time to time to ensure even light distribution and prevent one-sided growth.
2. Improper Watering
For any plant, the right amount of water is necessary. Similarly, for Bear Paw succulents, overwatering, and underwatering can both hinder their growth. The leaves of this succulent store water, hence they are prone to root rot if watered too frequently.
Likewise, if left without water for too long, it can dehydrate and shrivel, leading to slow growth. To prevent such issues, only water when the soil is fully dry. Use the soak-and-dry method. This means watering the plant thoroughly and waiting until the excess water drains out from the bottom. After that, let the soil dry out fully before watering again.
3. Improper Soil and Drainage
A well-draining soil is the key element to avoiding root rot issues. If you use moisture-retaining soil, it can suffocate the roots and create a difficult situation for the plant to absorb proper nutrients.
Use a soil mix that will give your Bear Paw succulent proper aeration and doesn’t let the water pool around the roots. For this, you can use a succulent or cactus potting mix and add perlite, pumice, or coarse sand in it to increase drainage.
Tip: Don’t forget to add drainage holes to let excess water flow out to prevent soggy soil conditions.
4. Lack of Nutrients
Although succulents are plants that don’t require frequent feeding, however, a lack of proper nutrients can be a reason for slower growth, and pale weak leaves in them.
During the growing season, you can feed it with a balanced and diluted succulent fertilizer. This will help promote new growth of both stems and leaves. However, try not to feed this plant during the dormant season when it is not actively growing and cannot absorb the nutrients properly.
5. Fluctuating Temperature and Humidity
Bear Paw succulents are meant to be in warm and dry conditions. If the temperature around it drops too low, its growth may slow down, and extended exposure to a cold atmosphere can lead to leaf drop as well. In such situations bring the plant indoors to protect them from the extreme weather.
Besides, the ideal temperature for Bear Paw ranges between 65-80°F (18-27°C). Also, make sure to keep the humidity levels low. Extra exposure to humidity is the reason for fungal issues and root rot. If you have a humid climate, ensure the good circulation of air around the plant.
6. Container Size
The right container size is important. If you plant your Bear Paw in a small pot, it prevents root expansion which leads to strangled, limited growth, whereas, if you take a larger pot, it retains too much moisture and increases the risk of over-watering.
For this, you need to re-pot it into a container about 1-2 inches wider than the earlier pot and ensure drainage. Additionally, make a routine to repot every 1-2 years or when you notice outgrown roots in the current pot. You can even switch to terracotta or unglazed ceramic pots to give a healthy root environment.
Here is one article you can check out if you want to keep them healthy and plump throughout the year.
By addressing the above issues, your Bear Paw succulent can flourish and resume its natural growth in no time. So, try to maintain the right conditions that will give lush, healthy leaves and strong roots. Also, do let us know how your session goes!
