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Plant care

Pig's Ear (Round-Leafed Navel-Wort) care

Cotyledon orbiculata

Also called Pig's Ear, Round-Leafed Navel-Wort, Silver Crown, Edder.

RHS H2USDA 9-11Toxic to petsIndoor 30-60 cm tall and wide indoors

Watering rhythm

14days

When the soil is almost completely dry, roughly every 14 days in summer

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Gritty, free-draining succulent mix

Humidity

20-50%

Temp

10-30°C

Pet safety

Toxic to pets

Mature size

30-60 cm tall and wide indoors

Care at a glance

Light

Bright but filtered. Pig's Ear burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Performs best in bright light with some direct sun. The white powdery bloom (farina) on the leaves reflects excess sunlight, but prolonged intense direct sun can still scorch. An east- or south-facing windowsill is ideal. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Less is more here. Water pig's ear when the soil is almost completely dry, roughly every 14 days in summer; the most reliable failure mode is over-doing it. A pot that feels light when you lift it is thirsty; one that still feels heavy is fine for another week. Water thoroughly then allow to dry down between waterings. Reduce watering considerably in winter. Avoid splashing water on the powdery leaf surface, which can cause cosmetic damage.

Soil and pot

Pig's Ear grows best in gritty, free-draining succulent mix. Blend standard potting mix with 40-50% coarse perlite or grit. The fleshy stems and roots rot quickly in waterlogged soil. 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

Pig's Ear sits happiest at around 20-50% humidity and 10-30°C (50-86°F). Tolerates low humidity easily. The powder-coated leaves are damaged by frequent misting, so keep dry. Normal indoor ambient humidity is adequate. If you keep the room above 10 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 pig's ear sparingly. Apply a diluted succulent fertiliser (half-strength) once a month during spring and summer. Avoid nitrogen-heavy feeds, which promote overly soft growth at the expense of the powdery leaf texture. 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 pig's ear in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Root rot — The primary risk from overwatering. Check that the pot has drainage holes and let the soil dry adequately before watering again.
  • Mealybugs — Waxy white insects colonise stem joints. Treat with isopropyl alcohol carefully to avoid stripping the decorative farina.
  • Damage to farina — Water splashes, handling, or misting permanently damages the powdery coat. Water at the base and handle by the pot, not the leaves.
  • Aphids — Can infest new soft growth and flower stems. Remove by hand or with a gentle insecticidal soap spray.
  • Leggy growth — Occurs in low-light conditions. Prune back to a node in spring and move to a brighter position.

Companion plants

Pig's Ear pairs well with Crassula ovata, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, Echeveria elegans, and Senecio mandraliscae. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Take 8-10 cm stem cuttings in spring or summer. Strip the lower leaves, allow to callous for 2-3 days, then pot in dry succulent compost. Roots form within 2-4 weeks. Leaf cuttings are less reliable. 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

Pig's Ear is toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists Cotyledon species as toxic to cats and dogs, containing bufadienolide cardiac glycosides that can cause muscle tremors, excessive salivation, vomiting, weakness, and heart arrhythmia. Keep all parts away from pets. 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.

Pig's Ear care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Cotyledon orbiculata?

Cotyledon orbiculata is most commonly called Pig's Ear, but it is also known as Pig's Ear, Round-Leafed Navel-Wort, Silver Crown, Edder. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Pig's Ear apply identically to anything sold as Round-Leafed Navel-Wort.

How much light does pig's ear need?

Pig's Ear grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Performs best in bright light with some direct sun. The white powdery bloom (farina) on the leaves reflects excess sunlight, but prolonged intense direct sun can still scorch. An east- or south-facing windowsill is ideal.

How often should I water pig's ear?

Water pig's ear when the soil is almost completely dry, roughly every 14 days in summer. Water thoroughly then allow to dry down between waterings. Reduce watering considerably in winter. Avoid splashing water on the powdery leaf surface, which can cause cosmetic damage. 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 pig's ear toxic to cats and dogs?

Pig's Ear is toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists Cotyledon species as toxic to cats and dogs, containing bufadienolide cardiac glycosides that can cause muscle tremors, excessive salivation, vomiting, weakness, and heart arrhythmia. Keep all parts away from pets.

What USDA hardiness zone does pig's ear grow in?

Pig's Ear 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.

Pig's Ear deep-dive guides

Every aspect of pig's ear care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Pig's Ear qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Pig's Ear is also known as Pig's Ear, Round-Leafed Navel-Wort, Silver Crown, and Edder.