Tiger Jaws / Shark Jaws

Faucaria tigrina

description

Tiger Jaws is a small clumping succulent with triangular toothed leaves and yellow flowers.

benefits

Low—water tolerant
Сan handle lower humidity level
Drought-tolerant — forgives missed waterings
Low maintenance
Suitable for containers

How to care for Tiger Jaws

sunlight

In its South African habitat, Tiger Jaws grows in open, sunny ground. Give it the brightest spot you have indoors to keep its toothed leaves compact and encourage flowers.

Bright light with direct sun

A south- or west-facing window is ideal. A few hours of gentle direct sun is welcome, but acclimate it gradually to strong summer sun, especially behind hot glass.

Bright indirect light - tolerated

It can grow near a bright window without direct rays, but may stretch, lose color, and flower less. Move it closer to the light if the rosette opens or elongates.

Turn the pot every week or two so the clump grows evenly instead of leaning toward the window.

watering

Let the potting mix dry out completely before watering again. Tiger Jaws stores water in its thick leaves, so it is safer slightly dry than kept damp.

Active growth in bright, mild conditions

Water thoroughly about every 2-3 weeks, letting excess drain away. Check that the mix is dry throughout the root ball and the pot feels light first. Water sooner only if the leaves begin to look slightly less firm.

Cool, low-light, or very hot resting periods

Water roughly every 4-6 weeks, and only after the mix has stayed fully dry for several days. In a cool room or during a heat-induced summer slowdown, it may need even less.

Lift the pot before watering. A gritty mix in a small terracotta pot dries much faster than a larger plastic pot, especially in bright light.

Never leave Tiger Jaws sitting in water or keep its soil wet, as its roots can rot quickly.

humidity

Preferred humidity

30-50%

Native to dry parts of South Africa, Tiger Jaws is happy in average household air. It tolerates roughly 25-50% humidity when the potting mix and light are right. Keep it out of persistently humid, poorly ventilated rooms, especially in cool weather.

Skip the humidifier and give it good airflow instead.

Keep it away from radiators and hot-air vents.
Very dry air may cause papery brown leaf edges. Persistent wrinkling is more often a watering or root issue than a humidity problem.
Do not mist the leaves or crown, as trapped moisture can encourage rot.

temperature

Preferred range

18-27°C (65-80°F)

Winter minimum

10°C (50°F)

Native to South Africa, Tiger Jaws enjoys warm days but copes with cooler winter conditions when kept dry. Keep it above 10°C (50°F), especially if the soil has been watered.

Keep it away from cold window glass and check that its spot stays above 10°C (50°F) overnight.

Cold, wet soil can quickly damage the roots. Water very sparingly in cool conditions.

nutrition

September - April

Feed about once every 4-6 weeks while Tiger Jaws is actively making new leaves, using a cactus or succulent fertilizer diluted to half strength. Stop feeding during its summer slowdown and resume only when growth restarts.

Nitrogen

A modest amount supports compact leaf growth, but too much can make the leaves soft and overly lush. A diluted succulent fertilizer provides enough.

Apply fertilizer to already moist soil, never to a bone-dry root ball.

soil

Gritty, fast-draining soil

Tiger Jaws has shallow succulent roots that rot in dense, wet compost. Use cactus mix loosened with plenty of pumice, perlite, or coarse grit so water drains quickly and air reaches the roots.

pH 6,0 - 7,5

This is mildly acidic to slightly alkaline, a range most cactus and succulent mixes suit well. Choose a mineral-rich mix and avoid heavily peat-based soil that stays damp and can become too acidic over time.

Use a pot with a drainage hole, and never let it sit in a saucer of water.