Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Cat's Jaws (Faucaria felina)— schedule & NPK
Also called Tiger Jaws Faucaria, Cat Jaws Succulent, Faucaria.
More about cat's jaws
About Cat's Jaws
Faucaria felina · also called Tiger Jaws Faucaria, Cat Jaws Succulent · houseplant
Faucaria felina is a stemless South African succulent with pairs of triangular, tooth-edged leaves that resemble an open mouth or jaw. It produces bright yellow daisy-like flowers in autumn. Easy to grow in a sunny spot, it is highly drought-tolerant. Not individually listed by the ASPCA; treat with caution and keep away from pets as a precaution.
Growth habit: Clumping, stemless succulent forming dense mats over time
What fertiliser cat's jaws actually wants — and why
Cat's Jaws is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue.
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 cat's jaws: 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 cat's jaws, 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 cat's jaws:
Apply a dilute low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10 at half strength) once in spring and again in early summer. Do not feed in autumn and winter. Overfeeding causes lax, atypical growth. Keep that to sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when cat's jaws 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 cat's jaws
Quarter to half strength at most for cat's jaws. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water cat's jaws first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the cat's jaws watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding cat's jaws
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for cat's jaws:
- Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves.
- A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim.
- Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges.
- Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it.
Signs you are under-feeding cat's jaws
- Uncommon — succulents tolerate lean conditions well.
- Very slow growth and dull, faded colour over a long period.
- Older leaves shed faster than new ones replace them in a tired old mix.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full cat's jaws care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of cat's jaws until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for cat's jaws
Organic options
A heavily diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed once or twice in summer. UK: a drop of Westland seaweed feed; US: quarter-strength Espoma Cactus! or Dr. Earth liquid. Fresh free-draining mix matters more than any feed.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A dedicated cactus/succulent liquid at quarter to half strength — UK: Baby Bio Cacti & Succulent Drip Feeders or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food or Schultz Cactus Plus.
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 cat's jaws — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does cat's jaws need?
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue. Cat's Jaws is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
How often should I feed cat's jaws?
Apply a dilute low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10 at half strength) once in spring and again in early summer. Do not feed in autumn and winter. Overfeeding causes lax, atypical growth. Apply a dilute low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10 at half strength) once in spring and again in early summer. Do not feed in autumn and winter. Overfeeding causes lax, atypical growth. Keep that to sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
What strength of feed for cat's jaws?
Quarter to half strength at most for cat's jaws. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
What does over-feeding cat's jaws look like?
Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves. A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim. Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges. Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it. Feeding cat's jaws like a leafy houseplant is the classic error — it produces a flush of pale, stretched, floppy growth that never firms up and is prone to rot at the base.
Should I flush the soil of cat's jaws?
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of cat's jaws until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Keep reading
- Cat's Jaws care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water cat's jaws — 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 begonia 'maori haze'
- How to fertilise echeveria 'lola'
- How to fertilise jelly bean plant (pork and beans)
- All 11687 fertilising guides in the Growli library