How to Care for Bear Paw Succulents

Bear paw succulents can thrive indoors in clay pots.

Succulents such as bear paw (Cotyledon ladismithensis) thrive in dry or drought conditions by storing water in their leaves, stems or roots. Excessive water or pests seeking moisture are threats to growing a vibrant bear paw succulent. Poor soil and inadequate lighting hinder proper growth. Successful bear paw horticulture depends on a good balance of necessary nutrients, proper lighting and pest control.

Things You'll Need

• Clay pot
• Fluorescent lighting
• Potting soil
• Builders sand
• Peat

Instructions

1. Pot the plant in a good soil mixture. Cornell University recommends using 2 parts garden soil, 2 parts sharp builders sand and 1 part peat. If you have any broken clay pot pieces available, add these or small gravel to the pot’s bottom before filling with soil. This provides for better drainage. You may need to repot your bear paw every 4 years into a slightly larger pot.

2. Water your bear paw succulent regularly during the hot summer months or about once a week. An excellent drainage system is necessary, as roots left in standing water quickly die. Clay pots with drainage holes are adequate. During the winter months when the plant is dormant, water it sparingly once a month or just enough to keep the plant from shriveling or wilting.

3. Fertilize your bear paw during periods of active growth, such as the warm summer months or April through August. Do not fertilize the plants during the dormant winter months. Central Arizona Cactus recommends using a 20-20-20 houseplant fertilizer at one-fourth the strength used for common houseplants. Compost can also be used, as well as commercial cactus food.

4. Monitor your plant for pests, such as mealybugs or scale, and remove infestations with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol. Infested plants do not properly grow and may be weakened by viruses that sucking insects sometimes transmit.

Tips & Warnings

• Bear paw grows well in temperatures between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit in a sunny location, preferably the south side of the home. Supplement their light needs with a cool-white fluorescent bulb for up to 16 hours per day, according to the University of Minnesota.

• Place bear paw succulents planted outdoors in an area with light shade. They tolerate heat and drought, but not full sun during the summer months. Bear paw is frost tolerant and hardy in temperatures as low as 30 F.

References

• Cornell Cooperative Extension; Care of Non-Hardy Cacti & Succulents; Antoinette W. Welch; July 1993
• Hrovain Exotica: Plant List Succulents
• University of Minnesota; Cacti and Succulents; Deborah L. Brown; 2009
• Central Arizona Cactus; Fertilizing Succulents; Marina Welham; May/June 1998