Cotyledon Tomentosa Bear's Paw

Cotyledon tomentosa Bear’s Paw is a perennial succulent plant in the family of Crassulaceae. The plant is much branched, with green stems, fertile fleshy leaves, decussate, ovoid, green, and densely white short hairs. The leaves have red claw-like teeth at the tips, dichotomous cymes, yellow florets, and flowers from July to September.

This species is native to the Cape Province of South Africa. It prefers a warm, dry, sunny and well-ventilated environment. Too high temperatures in summer will make it dormant. Avoid cold and excessive humidity. Propagation methods include cuttings. This species has beautiful leaf shape and color, delicate and small flowers, and leaves resembling the paws of a bear, which is a peculiar form and very cute, with high ornamental value.

The leaf blade of the bear child is fleshy, spatulate, densely white tomentose, the lower part of the entire margin, the leaf tip with brown teeth, like a small Bear’s Paw, very cute. It’s elegant, unique and beautiful, and can be used as a small indoor potted plant.

Care Tips

Light: Likes light, and it can grow vigorously and in a more beautiful condition in a well-lit environment. Except for the strong light in summer, it can be placed in a place with good light and more sunshine in all three seasons. If it is in the shade for a long time, the Bear’s Paw will easily grow and the overall ornamental value will be greatly reduced.

Water: All succulents are drought tolerant and fear water logging, and bear’s paws are no exception. Watering it can be done according to the method of dry and wet, and the soil does not need to be watered if it is not dry. During the growing season, it is usually watered once a week, but in other stages, watering should be strictly controlled because the roots could be damaged by overwatering.

Soil: The soil must be loose, permeable and water-permeable, and the soil should be changed once every year or two to avoid soil caking. You can prepare your own nutritious soil when you maintain it, or you can buy special soil for succulent plants directly.

Potting: It is recommended to use ceramic pots, ceramic pots have a certain degree of permeability, clay pots lose water too fast, plastic pots retain water too strong, and poor permeability.

Temperature: Like a warm environment (high temperature requirements). High temperature in summer and low temperature in winter need to take timely temperature control measures. Summer needs to strengthen ventilation, timely blocking of strong light, the best temperature control at 86°F (30 ℃) or less, winter needs to move to a warm room, temperature control at about 50°F (10 ℃) only, the minimum should not be less than 41°F (5 ℃).

Humidity: Bear’s paw grows well in average household humidity levels when grown indoors. Does not like too much humidity. Normal household humidity is good for this plant.