Fenestraria Rhopalophylla also known as ‘Baby Toes’ is a succulent herb that forms tightly packed columns of toe-like leaves.

The stems are very short and barely visible because they grow underground. The plant reaches a height of 5cm (2”) and a width of 30cm (11.81”).

Baby Toes have gray-green tubular leaves that are 2cm-3cm (.79” -1.18”) long. The thick leaves have transparent convex tips called ‘windows’ that catch and filter sunlight.

This adorable succulent blooms white daisy-like flowers that grow up to 3cm (1.2”) wide, atop long pedicels. Flowers may appear solo or in groups of up to 3, during fall to spring.

Fenestraria Rhopalophylla originates from Namibia and Northern Cape, South Africa. It is part of the Fenestraria genus from the Aizoaceae family.

General Information

Also known as: Baby Toes
Plant Family: Aizoaceae
Origin: Namibia and Northern Cape, South Africa
Height: 5cm (2”)
Exposure: Full to Partial Sun
Water needs: Drought-tolerant; prefers the ‘soak and dry’ watering method
Soil Type: Fast draining cactus or succulent potting soil mixed with perlite, pumice, and sand
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5

How to Grow and Care for Fenestraria Rhopalphylla

Fenestraria Rhopalophylla may look fragile but they are very easy to grow and care for. They are perfect for indoor container gardens and outdoor rock gardens.

Baby Toes are not frost-tolerant and will not survive at temperatures below -​1.1°C (30°F). They thrive best at temperatures of 18°C -24°C (64.4°F – 75.2°F ).

Sunlight

Fenestraria Rhopalophylla succulents need plenty of bright light. If you will grow them outdoors, plant them in an area where it can get at least 6 hours of full to partial sun every day. Make sure that they will not be directly exposed to the scorching midday sun.

If you will grow them indoors, place the container in an area that gets plenty of indirect bright light such as south-facing or east-facing windows. Insufficient light will cause etiolation where the leaves elongate and fall on their side.

And if Baby Toes does undergo etiolation, you can remedy the situation simply by giving your succulent sun exposure. Do it gradually.

Start out by exposing the plant to partial sunlight or some shade. If you put Fenestraria Rhopalophylla in front of the full ray of the sun, the leaves will get sunburned.

Watering

Use the transparent ‘windows’ on the tips of the leaves as thirst indicators. If they start to get wrinkly, it means it is time to water your plant. You could also test the soil’s dryness by inserting your finger 2in deep into the soil.

When watering, give the soil a good soak until water flows out of the drainage hole. Allow it to dry out completely before you water again. The ‘soak and dry’ watering method will keep your Baby Toes healthy.

Watch out for splitting or cracking leaves. This indicates that you are overwatering your plant.

Remember to water your Baby Toes once a week when it is actively growing. Suspend watering during winter because the soil retains moisture longer during this season.

Pot and Soil

Baby Toes have shallow roots and are highly prone to root rot so make sure that you use the right kind of pot and soil. Use a terracotta or ceramic pot with a drainage hole to allow proper soil aeration and prevent water retention.

The ideal soil for growing your Baby Toes is fast draining cactus or succulent potting soil mixed with perlite, pumice, and sand. Never use regular potting soil or any potting mix that contains loam, humus, and peat moss because they retain water.

Baby Toes are very sensitive to fertilizer burn. They can grow well in the absence of fertilizer.

However, if you wish to add a growth booster, feed your Fenestraria Rhopalophylla with low-strength organic fertilizer at the onset of its growing season. Do not add fertilizer during winter, their dormant phase.

How to Propagate Fenestraria Rhopalophylla

Fenestraria Rhopalophylla can be propagated using offsets and seeds. Growing succulents from seeds is a very slow process.

If you wish to multiply your Baby Toes faster, opt to use the offsets method. The best time to propagate Baby Toes is in spring when they are actively growing.

Method 1 – Offsets

Step 1: Check the base of the mother plant for offsets. The best ones to use for propagation are those with roots already.

Step 2: Mist the soil and gently remove the offsets using a sterile sharp knife.

Step 3: Leave the offsets in a dry, shaded area for one day to allow wounds to callus.

Step 4: Get terracotta pots with drainage holes. Fill them with cactus or succulent potting soil mixed with coarse sand, perlite, and pumice.

Step 5: Replant your offsets. Mist the soil and allow it to dry completely before watering again.

Method 2 – Seeds

Step 1: Fill a shallow well-draining container with equal parts of cactus potting soil, perlite, and coarse sand.

Step 2: Mist the potting mix and sprinkle the seeds on the surface.

Step 3: Cover the container with plastic and place it in a shaded area until the seeds germinate. Mist the soil daily.

Step 4: Remove the cover when seedlings appear. Mist the soil only when it is dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Lithops, more popularly known as Living Stones are near stemless plants with a pair of thick padded leaves and a central fissure. The leaves are translucent and are in various shades of green, gray, reddish-brown, and grass green.

These small succulents are adored for their unique appearance that resembles cloven hooves or clustered stones. They are very slow-growing plants that are mostly propagated from seeds and take almost a year to germinate.

Lithops hardly grow more than 2.5 cm (1.2”) tall and 2.5 cm – 7.6 cm (1”-3”) wide.

Living Stones bloom daisy-like diurnal flowers during late summer or fall. The flowers are golden yellow with a white center and can grow up to 3.3 cm (1.3”) in diameter.

Living Stones originate from the deserts of Southern Africa – Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. They belong to the ice plant family, Aizoaceae.

General Information:

Also known as: Living Stones, Flowering Stones
Plant Family: Aizoaceae
Origin: Southern Africa
Height: 2.5 cm (1.2”)
Exposure: Full exposure to direct or indirect sun
Water Needs: Only when the soil is completely dry.
Soil Type: Quick-drying potting soil mixed with a lot of gritty materials such as perlite, pumice, sand, and fine lava.
Soil ph: 5 to 8

How to Grow and Care for Lithops

Lithops are low-maintenance succulents that can be grown indoors or outdoors as part of a rock garden. You just need to familiarize yourself with its watering routine to ensure that it will grow well in your home.

The ideal temperature for growing Lithops is between 20°C – 24°C (68°F – 75°F). Living Stones are somewhat cold-hardy but these succulent plants cannot thrive in temperatures that go below 12°C – 15°C (54°F-59°F)

Sunlight

Lithops’ natural habitat is classified as desert. These stone-like succulents can survive well with very little water. They can grow with exposure to direct or indirect sunlight.

It is best to set up your rock garden in an area where your Lithops can get direct or indirect morning sunlight for up to 6 hours a day. If it is exposed to full sunlight, check the soil for watering as it will lose moisture faster.

Indoors, it is best to place your pot on a window facing East, West, or South. Lithops need at least 4 to 5 hours of direct morning sunlight.

Take note that when Lithops do not get enough sunlight they will experience etiolation where the leaves will elongate and patterns will distort.

If your plant starts to lose its stone-like shape, it means it is getting too little light. Simply move it to a better location.

Watering

Remember to take it easy on the water especially during winter and summer. Overwatering will turn the leaves puffy and worse, the Lithops’ early demise as the roots will rot.

To keep your little succulents healthy, only water when the soil in the pot is entirely dry.

Check the dryness by inserting a wooden stick into the soil. If it comes out dry when removed, you can water the plant.

Lithops start growing new leaves during fall/autumn. It is best to water your Living Stones after the old leaves dry up and to stop watering when the flowers start to die.

After flowering, the old leaves provide water and nutrition to the new plant growing from within.

Pot and Soil

Ceramic and terracotta are the best pots to grow Lithops in because they allow moisture to escape freely. Living Stones have long roots. Make sure the pot is large enough to give the roots enough room to grow and to aerate the soil.

Living stones grow best in quick-drying potting soil or cactus mix. You can add sand, pebbles, pumice, or other materials that can help drain the soil faster.

Refrain from adding organic matter such as peat moss to prevent moisture retention. Lithops can thrive with little or no fertilizer. You can use a low nitrogen, high phosphorus fertilizer to induce flowering.

How to Propagate Lithops

Lithops are propagated from seeds or via the division of existing plants.

Method 1 – Seeds method

Step 1: Fill a pot with equal parts of fast-draining soil and gritty materials.

Step 2: Sprinkle the seeds evenly on the surface.

Step 3: Add a thin layer of sand, pumice, or fine lava.

Step 4: Moisten the top layer with a spray bottle for 7-14 days. The ideal temperature for lithops germination is between 18°C and 24°C.

You can cover the pot with transparent plastic to increase humidity levels for germination. If you live in an area with a humid climate, there is no need to cover the pot.

Remove the cover and reduce watering when germination starts. Keep your soil moist but not wet. Place your pot in an area where it can get enough sunlight, away from direct sunlight and any rain.

Method 2 – Division method

Step 1: Gently remove the lithops from the soil. You can use a spoon to scoop it out or empty the pot with the plant and soil to prevent root damage.

Step 2: Carefully brush off old dried skin and soil covering the roots.

Step 3: Trim the roots and leave your lithops on a dry towel for a few days before you repot it. This will allow the roots to callus over.

Step 4: Repot your lithops in fresh fast-draining soil mixed with gritty materials. The plant head should be sitting at a surface level.

Make sure that the roots are pointing straight down because living stones do not like their roots coiled upwards.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Faucaria Tigrina is a frightful looking succulent that produces yellow flowers. It has jagged, triangular shaped leaves that dribble a white liquid. The succulent’s name is inspired by the leaves that give it an appearance of gaping-wide ravenous jaws. The colors of the leaves will vary depending on its interaction with sunlight. On a given day, the leaves may change from light to dark green to pinkish-red or to deep purple when given enough sunlight. This plant which belongs to the Aizoaceae family is also known as “Tiger’s Jaw”, “Shark’s Jaws”, and “Tierbekvygie”.

Faucaria Tigrina can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm). The plant’s origin is in the Albany Thicket of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa.

General Information:

Also known as: Tiger’s Jaw, Shark Jaws
Plant Family: Aizoaceae
Origin: South Africa
Height: 6” (15 cm) tall
Exposure: Direct sun exposure for 3 to 6 hours; partial shade in the winter.
Water Needs: Twice-a-day misting; little watering during the winter months.
Soil Type: Cactus potting mix or non-peat based compost with 1 part coarse sand and 2 parts soil.
Soil pH: Low pH (4.7 to 5.7 pH)
Maintenance Requirements: Low
Tolerance: Winter

How to Grow and Care for Faucaria Tigrina / Tiger’s Jaw

Tiger’s Jaw makes an excellent potted plant that grows in the Spring and Fall seasons. Its ideal temperature for growing is 20° C (68° F). If you live in an area with colder temperatures, you will have to plant the succulent in a pot that can be placed indoors.

It’s recommended to grow the succulent in the garden, so that it gets enough sunlight every day. If you plan to keep the plant indoors, note that due to the lack of sunlight, it might not bloom.

Sunlight

Faucaria Tigrina is a sun-loving succulent that needs 3 to 6 hours of sunlight to induce its beautiful, bright-yellow flowers into full bloom. In the wintertime, give Tiger’s Jaw some shade, less time under the sun, and a bit of watering to ensure proper care. 

Watering

Before watering the Faucaria Tigrina succulent, allow the soil to completely dry out. When the soil is dry to the touch, give the succulent a thorough watering. This process called the “soak and dry” method should be followed between waterings. 

If the succulent does not receive enough water, the stems will die. However, in the wintertime, reduce the frequency of watering as too much water will kill the succulent. 

Pot and Soil 

Faucaria Tigrina will not survive being immersed in water for a long time. For this reason, buy a pot that has good drainage. The roots of this succulent are quite small which means you can plant them in a shallow pot. 
Keep in mind that the roots will grow with time and this means you might have to repot the succulent in a bigger container.
A standard cactus potting mix has all the important nutrients in the soil to support the needs of Faucaria Tigrina. 

A combination of 2 parts loam, 1 part coarse sand, and 1 part pumice is highly recommended to keep the succulent free of pests such as red spiders and burrowing insects. 

How to Propagate Faucaria Tigrina

Faucaria Tigrina is an excellent succulent plant for novice growers. Propagating the Tiger’s Jaw can be a delightful and enriching experience for those interested in taking up succulents as a hobby.

Faucaria Tigrina is considered a self-sufficient succulent and does not need additional care. 

Soil Method

Step 1: Before preparing the soil mixture, set aside a few small pots that measure 60mm x 60mm and have good drainage.

Step 2: The recommended soil mixture for Faucaria Tigrina is composed of 2 parts sterilized potting soil, 1 part pumice which is sieved to 3mm, and 1 part sand. 

Step 3: Once you have the components, heat them at a temperature of 70°C (158°F) then leave them for 1 week. 

Step 4: When the soil mixture is ready, place it in the 60mm x 60mm pots. 

Step 5: After you’ve sowed the seeds of Tiger’s Jaw, top it with river sand. It should be no deeper than the length of the succulent seeds.

Step 6: Use distilled water when soaking the pots then cover the top with a sheet of transparent plastic. This will create a moist environment that is needed to produce germination.

Step 7: After 4 days, loosen the plastic cover and on the 7^th day, discard the cover completely. You will see the seedlings emerge during this period.

Step 8: To water the seedlings properly, dilute a small amount of fertilizer with water and use a sprayer to create a fine mist. The seedlings must be watered with fine mist twice a day. 

Leaves Cutting

Step 1:  When using the leaves cutting method for propagation, it is advisable to remove the cuttings in Spring.

Step 2: Before placing the cuttings into the soil, allow them to dry for a few days.

Step 3: With the leaves cutting method, use a soil mixture composed of potting soil and sand. Make sure there is ample heat source at the bottom of the pot.

Step 4: Place the cuttings under shade to spur proper rooting and growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

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