Faucaria bosscheana
| Light | Bright light; a few hours of gentle sun with protection from scorching midday rays |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly in autumn and spring while in growth; keep nearly dry through the summer and winter rest periods |
| Soil | Gritty, fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed, division of clumps, and leaf-pair cuttings |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Faucaria bosscheana is a clump-forming, tiger-jaw mesemb from the Karoo of the Eastern and Western Cape, South Africa, grown for its paired, boat-shaped green leaves and cheerful yellow autumn flowers. Compared with the more familiar tiger jaws, its leaves are smoother, glossier and edged with fewer, softer teeth, giving the "jaws" a gentler, less menacing look. It is one of the easier and more forgiving members of the genus Faucaria.
Description
Faucaria bosscheana grows as a low, mat-forming clump of stemless rosettes, each made up of a few pairs of thick, keeled leaves arranged crosswise. The leaves are a fresh, slightly glossy green, sometimes flushed reddish or bronze in strong light, and taper to a chin-like point. Along each leaf margin sits a row of soft, recurved teeth — noticeably fewer and less bristly than in Faucaria tigrina — which meet across the gap between the paired leaves to suggest an open pair of jaws, the feature that gives the genus its "tiger jaws" nickname.
In autumn the plant produces stalkless, daisy-like flowers that open in the afternoon sun. They are glossy golden-yellow, several centimetres across, and nestle in the centre of the rosette, sometimes appearing in a small succession over several weeks.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa, extending into the Karoo, where it grows in open, gritty ground among low scrub and grasses. Like other Faucaria, it experiences a climate of seasonal rainfall and dry rest, and in habitat the plants often grow among stones and leaf litter that shelter the base of the rosettes.
Cultivation
Faucaria bosscheana is among the more tolerant tiger jaws and makes a good beginner's mesemb. Grow it in a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot with ample drainage, and give it bright light with a little shade from the fiercest summer sun to keep the leaves compact and well coloured.
Watering follows the plant's growth rhythm: water fairly generously in the cooler growing months of autumn and spring when the soil has dried, and keep it much drier through the heat of high summer and the cold of winter, when the plant rests. Overwatering during these rest periods, especially in cold conditions, is the commonest cause of rot. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
The species is easily propagated. Established clumps can be lifted and divided, with each division rooted in a gritty mix once any cut surfaces have dried. Individual leaf pairs, taken cleanly and allowed to callous, will also root readily. Seed is straightforward too, germinating on a warm, moist mineral surface and giving plenty of young plants. See Propagation — seed, Propagation — offsets and Propagation — cuttings for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — nearly always from watering during the summer or winter rest, or from a slow-draining mix; the leaves go soft and translucent from the base.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the rosettes lax and elongated and the leaves lose their firm, toothed shape.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff between the leaf pairs and at the roots) and, less often, root mealybugs are the usual culprits; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Faucaria — the genus overview
- Faucaria tigrina — the classic tiger jaws, with more numerous teeth
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets