What is a Bear Paw Succulent?
A bear paw succulent, scientifically known as Cotyledon tomentosa, is an evergreen perennial succulent native to South Africa and Namibia. This gorgeous plant has thick arching stems that are covered in fuzzy grey-green leaves with reddish tips resembling the shape of a bear’s paw. The leaves have little spines on the edges, so it’s important to wear gloves when handling this plant! In the late winter or early spring, the bear paw succulent blooms bright yellow-orange flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Propagating Your Bear Paw Succulent
The best way to propagate your bear paw succulents is through stem cuttings. To do this you will need: sharp scissors or shears; rooting hormone (optional); potting soil; and containers for propagation. Here are the steps:
1) Cut off healthy stem tip cuttings from the main plant using sharp scissors or shears – be sure each cutting contains at least two sets of leaves;
2) Dip each cutting into rooting hormone powder if you choose (this will help promote root growth);
3) Place each cutting into its own container filled with moistened potting soil; then water lightly until evenly moist but not soggy;
4) Cover each container with plastic wrap or a clear plastic bag loosely secured around them to create humidity for faster root growth;
5) Put in a warm spot away from direct sunlight – temperatures should be between 65-75 degrees Farenheit (18-24 C).
Keep an eye out for new roots after about 3 weeks – once established these can be transplanted into bigger pots filled with regular potting soil mixed with some sand/perlite for aeration and adequate drainage. Water modestly during summer months allowing soil surface to dry before watering again – too much water can cause rot in these drought tolerant plants!
In Conclusion
Propagating your own bear paw succulents through stem cuttings is easy and rewarding! With just basic gardening supplies like scissors, rooting hormones, potting soils, and containers you can enjoy watching your propagated plants grow over time into their adult size!
