Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Cotyledon Tomentosa 'Bear Paw' (Cotyledon tomentosa subsp. ladismithensis 'Bear Paw')— schedule & NPK
Also called bear paw cotyledon, fuzzy bear paw.
More about cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw'
About Cotyledon Tomentosa 'Bear Paw'
Cotyledon tomentosa subsp. ladismithensis 'Bear Paw' · also called bear paw cotyledon, fuzzy bear paw · houseplant
Cotyledon tomentosa 'Bear Paw' is a charming South African succulent named for its plump, fuzzy green leaves tipped with reddish 'claws' resembling a bear's paw. It forms a small branching shrub and produces orange bell flowers. It needs bright light and very sharp drainage. Important: like all Cotyledon, it is toxic to pets, containing cardiac glycosides.
Growth habit: Small, upright branching shrub of chunky, fuzzy paw-shaped leaves. Stems become woody with age and the plant can flop or sprawl if not given enough light. Produces nodding orange bell-shaped flowers on tall stalks.
What fertiliser cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' actually wants — and why
Cotyledon Tomentosa 'Bear Paw' is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw': match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw', and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw':
Feed once a month in spring and summer with a half-strength low-nitrogen succulent fertiliser. Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Over-feeding produces weak, leggy growth and dulls the characteristic compact paw shape. Treat that as once a month between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw'
Half strength is the safe default for cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw'
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw':
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw'
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw'
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Cotyledon Tomentosa 'Bear Paw' is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw'?
Feed once a month in spring and summer with a half-strength low-nitrogen succulent fertiliser. Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Over-feeding produces weak, leggy growth and dulls the characteristic compact paw shape. Feed once a month in spring and summer with a half-strength low-nitrogen succulent fertiliser. Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Over-feeding produces weak, leggy growth and dulls the characteristic compact paw shape. Treat that as once a month between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw'?
Half strength is the safe default for cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw'?
Flush the pot of cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Cotyledon Tomentosa 'Bear Paw' care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water cotyledon tomentosa 'bear paw' — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 3899 fertilising guides in the Growli library