Repotting guide

When & how to repot Faucaria Bosscheana (Faucaria bosscheana)

Also called white tiger jaws, Bossche's tiger jaws.

More about faucaria bosscheana

About Faucaria Bosscheana

Faucaria bosscheana · also called white tiger jaws, Bossche's tiger jaws · houseplant

Faucaria bosscheana is a small South African mesemb that forms tight clumps of triangular leaves edged with soft, tooth-like projections resembling open jaws. The white-margined teeth give it the name white tiger jaws. A compact, slow-growing succulent, it produces large yellow daisy-like flowers in autumn and needs sharp drainage and a cool, dry winter.

Mature size: Individual rosettes reach about 5-8 cm; a mature clump spreads to roughly 10-15 cm wide and only a few centimetres tall.

Watch for — Stretched, splayed leaves: Etiolation from too little light. The clump opens out and loses its jaw-like form. Move to full sun and reduce watering to encourage compact, firm growth.

How to tell faucaria bosscheana needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For faucaria bosscheana, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot faucaria bosscheana

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Faucaria Bosscheana's growth habit — low, clump-forming stemless succulent. each rosette is a stack of paired triangular leaves with white tooth-like marginal hairs; the plant offsets to form a tight cluster over time. — sets the pace. Faucaria bosscheana is a small South African mesemb that forms tight clumps of triangular leaves edged with soft, tooth-like projections resembling open jaws. The white-margined teeth give it the name white tiger jaws. A compact, slow-growing succulent, it produces large yellow daisy-like flowers in autumn and needs sharp drainage and a cool, dry winter.

What size pot to step faucaria bosscheana up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Faucaria Bosscheana stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot faucaria bosscheana

Spring or summer, while faucaria bosscheana is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting faucaria bosscheana

Repot dry. Do not water faucaria bosscheana for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty very gritty mineral cactus mix ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set faucaria bosscheana at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep faucaria bosscheana completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for faucaria bosscheana

Faucaria Bosscheana wants very gritty mineral cactus mix. Plant in a sharply draining mix with a high proportion of pumice, grit or coarse sand (at least half mineral). Mesembs have a taproot and resent water-retentive compost. A deep pot with drainage holes accommodates the taproot. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting faucaria bosscheana — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot faucaria bosscheana?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for faucaria bosscheana. Repot faucaria bosscheana every 2–3 years into a snug pot of very gritty mineral cactus mix, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does faucaria bosscheana need?

When is the best time of year to repot faucaria bosscheana?

Should you water faucaria bosscheana after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot faucaria bosscheana into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise faucaria bosscheana after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting faucaria bosscheana. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.