Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) is one of those unusual succulents you can add to your collection. Their body formation is fascinating to look at and might be fearsome for other people. They indeed look odd because of their toothy protuberances forming like a rosette but this is what gives its unique character.
Aloe Juvenna (Tiger Tooth Aloe) plants can tolerate partial shade to full sun. They are happiest in sunny areas that receive partial protection from the full sun – when exposed to full sun, the plant turns brownish-red in color. It’s not cold hardy, so either plant it in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sun or plants it in a moveable container!
How to Grow A Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna)
Surprisingly, more than its undemanding quality, Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) is relatively easy to grow as well. There are four elements to focus on when growing this plant: light, water, soil, and temperature.
All these elements contribute to the healthy growth of the plant but once they are exposed to abnormal amounts to any of these elements, they will respond by producing unique colors.
So, you must know the exact amount of every element that the Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) receives. Thankfully, we will discuss them all together so you should have your notes prepared.
1. Soil Requirements
It is a staple among succulents to use well-draining soil when growing them. That is because root rot is common among them, and well-draining soil helps relieve the moisture in the soil without soaking them.
For starters, you must go to your nearest gardening shop and buy a cactus potting mix because they are designed to fit the needs of succulents.
However, if you grow other succulents, you can use the same soil mixture for the Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna).
Aside from a cactus potting mix, you can also add perlite or coarse sand to the mixture to improve the draining system.
Adding perlite or coarse sand is extremely helpful to those people who live in high humid places to ensure that the water does not stay in the soil for too long causing root rot.
Remember, it is crucial for Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) and succulents, in general, to use well-draining soil to keep them alive.
Additionally, using a cactus potting mix goes both in outdoor and indoor growing.
You should not rely on the ground soil when growing outdoors as it might be too dense for the water to flow and hard for the plant to take. It is best to grow them in a flowerbed and use the cactus potting mix as you go.
2. Lighting Requirements
The second crucial element when growing Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) is the lighting. The amount of lighting they receive will dictate the growth of the plant.
Again, they will exhibit unique colors such as reddish-brown when they are not receiving enough nutrients they need.
For indoor growing, place the plant near an east-facing window for better access to sunlight. Although west or south-facing window does the same job as well.
What’s important is to put them in a bright location and so you have to find the perfect place inside your house.
As you move the plant inside your house, you will notice if the plant thrives and that is a sign that they are enjoying its location. Rotate the plant occasionally to expose all sides of the plant to the light.
Under unusual circumstances, you can use a grow light to mimic the light spectrum from the sun to light your Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) if you live in an area with poor lighting.
They are proven helpful and can supplement the plant’s lighting needs, especially during dark winters.
For outdoor growing, you must place them in an area that receives full sun during the day and partial shade throughout the afternoon.
Aside from root rot, sunburn is common among succulents as well. This is a result of failure to place the succulent with partial protection from full sun.
Thus, it is recommended to plant them in a container so you can easily transfer them when heat conditions are getting extreme, or the temperature starts to drop.
Most importantly, when moving the plant from indoor to outdoor, it is best to acclimatize the Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) to prevent sunburn.
You can do this by slowly increasing the amount of sunlight they receive per day until you noticed that they have completely adjusted.
3. Watering Requirements
Even though Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) thrives in a heat and drought environment, they still need all the nutrients from the water.
There are external factors to consider when watering the plant: where they are grown and the location.
Indoor plants have different watering needs than outdoor plants and that is because of the amount of light they receive per day. Indoor Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) might have a longer watering schedule especially if they are receiving poor lighting.
The moisture in the soil will take longer to evaporate when the plant is not receiving enough light.
Contrary to outdoor Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna), they are exposed to direct sunlight and the water in the soil evaporates quicker. However, the best time to know when to water them is by checking the soil if is dry or not.
Also, the winter season affects the condition of the soil so you must adjust their watering schedule and the same goes for the summer season.
4. Temperature Requirements
For the temperature, Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) is perfect for USDA Zones 9a because they are not cold-hardy plants. Although Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) can tolerate freezing temperatures, but only for a limited time.
Hence, it is best to plant them in containers to transfer them inside when temperatures are dropping.
However, you can install a greenhouse or frost cloth to cover them if you plant them in a flower bed. That way, they will survive the winter season.
How to Maintain Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna)
• Grooming
Some of the leaves of Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) will age and die. Gently remove the dead leaves using a sharp cutting to encourage new growth.
• Pest Control
The common pests that attack Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) are aphids and mealybugs. You can get rid of them by blasting cold water or a rag soaked in water with dish soap. If things get severe, you might consider using insecticidal soap.
Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna)) Names and Origin
Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) was given the name Juvenile because the people that discovered the plant thought it was a juvenile aloe and called it Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna).
After a while, it became lovingly known as Tiger Tooth Aloe because of the plant’s pointed leaves acting like tiger’s fangs. But the name suggests contrary to the real personality of this plant.
Moreover, Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) is a native of Kenya but rarely found in its natural habitat in Kenya. They are restricted to a small rocky part of Kenya near the border of Tanzania.
Nevertheless, Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) is popular through cultivation and succulent collectors can have this plant with ease.
Furthermore, this plant can grow up to 12 inches tall and can spread for 24 inches in diameter. Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) is not a fast grower at first. However, when they are well taken care of, they will grow increasingly better and produce offsets quickly.
Also, this plant is highly adaptive to a new environment, hence growing them causes no major problems at all.
Final Thoughts
Contrary to its looks, the spines, and scary-looking thorns of Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna) are soft and flexible symbolizing more of its charming side than being a fearsome-looking plant.
That is because they belong to the Aloe genus which is known for their pointed and thorny bodies and has over 500 species from selected places all over the world.
Tiger Tooth Aloe (Aloe Juvenna)’s spines do not contain any poison and won’t sting when you touched them.
Thus, this plant is not harmful and toxic for humans or animals, and they are rather perfect for an ornamental house plant.
Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer
Edited By
Patricia Godwin