Repotting guide

When & how to repot Few-Toothed Tiger Jaws (Faucaria paucidens)

Also called Few-Toothed Tiger Jaws, Tiger Jaws.

More about few-toothed tiger jaws

About Few-Toothed Tiger Jaws

Faucaria paucidens · also called Few-Toothed Tiger Jaws, Tiger Jaws · houseplant

Few-Toothed Tiger Jaws is a dwarf succulent from South Africa's Eastern Cape with thick, glossy green leaves edged by fewer, more widely spaced white teeth than its relatives. Yellow, daisy-like flowers appear in late summer to autumn. It demands full sun, fast-draining gritty soil, and a near-dry winter rest.

Mature size: 6–10 cm tall, spreading to 15–25 cm wide

Watch for — Root and crown rot: Excess moisture, especially in the cooler months, causes rapid rotting at the crown and roots. Remove affected tissue, dust with sulphur powder, allow to dry for several days, then repot into fresh dry, gritty compost. Prevention through controlled watering is easier than cure.

How to tell few-toothed tiger jaws needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For few-toothed tiger jaws, 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 few-toothed tiger jaws

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Few-Toothed Tiger Jaws's growth habit — low-growing, clump-forming succulent rosette; slowly spreads via offsets — sets the pace. Few-Toothed Tiger Jaws is a dwarf succulent from South Africa's Eastern Cape with thick, glossy green leaves edged by fewer, more widely spaced white teeth than its relatives. Yellow, daisy-like flowers appear in late summer to autumn. It demands full sun, fast-draining gritty soil, and a near-dry winter rest.

What size pot to step few-toothed tiger jaws up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Few-Toothed Tiger Jaws 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 few-toothed tiger jaws

Spring or summer, while few-toothed tiger jaws 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 few-toothed tiger jaws

Repot dry. Do not water few-toothed tiger jaws 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 gritty cactus or succulent 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 few-toothed tiger jaws 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 few-toothed tiger jaws 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 few-toothed tiger jaws

Few-Toothed Tiger Jaws wants gritty cactus or succulent mix. Use a cactus compost blended with at least 40% coarse grit, pumice, or perlite. The few-toothed tiger jaws is native to rocky, arid terrain and requires almost instant drainage. Avoid standard potting compost, which holds moisture too long. Small gravel as a top dressing helps prevent crown rot. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting few-toothed tiger jaws — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot few-toothed tiger jaws?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for few-toothed tiger jaws. Repot few-toothed tiger jaws every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty cactus or succulent 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 few-toothed tiger jaws need?

When is the best time of year to repot few-toothed tiger jaws?

Should you water few-toothed tiger jaws after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot few-toothed tiger jaws 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 few-toothed tiger jaws after repotting?

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