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Plant care

Britten's Tiger Jaws (Tiger Jaws) care

Faucaria britteniae

Also called Britten's Tiger Jaws, Tiger Jaws.

RHS H2USDA 9-11Pet-safeIndoor 8–12 cm tall

Watering rhythm

2-4weeks

Every 2–4 weeks during the growing season (late summer–autumn); minimal in winter and spring

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Sandy, gritty cactus mix

Humidity

20–40%

Temp

5–32°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

8–12 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Most houseplants will scorch where britten's tiger jaws thrives. Give it the windowsill you'd otherwise leave empty because everything else burned there. Needs at least 4–6 hours of direct sun daily. Outdoors it thrives in a south-facing position; indoors place on a south- or west-facing windowsill. Insufficient light produces pale, elongated leaves and prevents flowering. A grow light can supplement dim winter days. A plant moved abruptly from low light to direct sun bleaches in 48 hours — always acclimatise over a week.

Watering

Aim for every 2–4 weeks during the growing season (late summer–autumn); minimal in winter and spring for britten's tiger jaws, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Faucaria britteniae follows a summer-to-autumn active growth cycle, blooming in autumn. Water thoroughly and allow the soil to dry completely before watering again. Reduce significantly in winter and spring (near-dormancy). Never allow water to pool in the leaf axils, which encourages rot.

Soil and pot

Britten's Tiger Jaws grows best in sandy, gritty cactus mix. Use a commercial cactus or succulent mix amended with 30–50% coarse grit or perlite for rapid drainage. Clay or compact soils cause fatal root rot. A shallow, wide pot with drainage holes suits the naturally spreading growth pattern. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Britten's Tiger Jaws sits happiest at around 20–40% humidity and 5–32°C (41–90°F). Prefers low humidity reflecting its Karoo Desert origins in South Africa's Eastern Cape. Average indoor humidity is usually fine. Poor airflow in humid conditions can trigger fungal rot, especially if leaves are crowded. Avoid grouping with moisture-loving plants. If you keep the room above 5–32°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed britten's tiger jaws sparingly. Feed once in late summer with a diluted, low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (half strength). Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which promote soft, rot-prone growth. Do not fertilise in winter. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on britten's tiger jaws in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Root rot from overwatering — The most common problem. Faucaria britteniae is extremely drought-tolerant; excess water, particularly in spring and winter when the plant is near-dormant, quickly rots the shallow roots. Always confirm soil is bone-dry before watering again.
  • Failure to flower — Blooming requires strong, direct sunlight and a warm summer period. Plants kept indoors in low light rarely flower. Move to the brightest spot available from midsummer onward and reduce watering slightly to encourage bud development in late summer.
  • Mealybugs in leaf axils — White, woolly mealybugs hide in the crevices between leaves. Treat early with a cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alcohol or apply a systemic insecticide diluted to half strength. Check regularly when new growth appears in late summer.

Propagation

Divide offsets (pups) from established clumps in late spring or early summer. Allow cut surfaces to callous for 2–3 days before planting into dry, gritty compost. Can also be grown from seed sown in autumn at 15–20°C; seedlings need careful watering to avoid damping off. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Britten's Tiger Jaws is pet-safe. Faucaria species, including F. britteniae, are not listed on the ASPCA toxic plant list and are widely reported as non-toxic to cats and dogs. No harmful compounds have been documented in the genus. The soft leaf teeth are harmless. As with any plant, ingestion of large amounts may cause mild gastrointestinal upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Britten's Tiger Jaws care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Faucaria britteniae?

Faucaria britteniae is most commonly called Britten's Tiger Jaws, but it is also known as Britten's Tiger Jaws, Tiger Jaws. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Britten's Tiger Jaws apply identically to anything sold as Tiger Jaws.

How much light does britten's tiger jaws need?

Britten's Tiger Jaws grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Needs at least 4–6 hours of direct sun daily. Outdoors it thrives in a south-facing position; indoors place on a south- or west-facing windowsill. Insufficient light produces pale, elongated leaves and prevents flowering. A grow light can supplement dim winter days.

How often should I water britten's tiger jaws?

Water britten's tiger jaws every 2–4 weeks during the growing season (late summer–autumn); minimal in winter and spring. Faucaria britteniae follows a summer-to-autumn active growth cycle, blooming in autumn. Water thoroughly and allow the soil to dry completely before watering again. Reduce significantly in winter and spring (near-dormancy). Never allow water to pool in the leaf axils, which encourages rot. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is britten's tiger jaws toxic to cats and dogs?

Britten's Tiger Jaws is pet-safe. Faucaria species, including F. britteniae, are not listed on the ASPCA toxic plant list and are widely reported as non-toxic to cats and dogs. No harmful compounds have been documented in the genus. The soft leaf teeth are harmless. As with any plant, ingestion of large amounts may cause mild gastrointestinal upset.

What USDA hardiness zone does britten's tiger jaws grow in?

Britten's Tiger Jaws is rated for USDA zone 9-11 and RHS hardiness H2. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Britten's Tiger Jaws deep-dive guides

Every aspect of britten's tiger jaws care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Britten's Tiger Jaws qualifies for 12 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

  • Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
  • Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
  • Best pet-safe low-maintenance plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and forgiving of forgotten watering — the easiest safe choices for a busy pet household.
  • Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
  • Best succulents for beginners — The easiest succulents and cacti to keep alive — selected by documented growth habit, each with the light and watering it actually wants.
  • Best pet-safe succulents — Succulents the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — low-water greenery that is also safe around a curious pet.
  • Best small & tabletop houseplants — Compact houseplants that stay under about 40 cm — desk, shelf and windowsill plants that never outgrow a small space.
  • Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
  • Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
  • Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
  • Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
  • Best small pet-safe plants — Compact, tabletop houseplants that are also ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe greenery for a desk or shelf.
  • Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Britten's Tiger Jaws is also commonly called Britten's Tiger Jaws or Tiger Jaws.