Description
Aloe juvenna is a miniature succulent with a fascinating look. It carries the bright-green color that is associated with aloes but is embedded with peculiar white spots.
Aloe juvenna grows spiked leaves – often described as small teeth – that stack and form an interesting rosette. The spikes may look sharp and resemble a Tiger’s jaw but they will not prick when touched.
Collectively, the small rosettes give the plant a fuzzy appearance when viewed from a distance.
When Aloe juvenna is given enough exposure to the sun in the summer months, the bright-green leaves assume a reddish-brown color.
Tiger Tooth Aloe is the popular alias assigned to Aloe juvenna because of its spiky leaves. It can grow up to 30.5 cm tall and 61 cm wide which makes the succulent an ideal ground cover.
Tiger Tooth Aloe originates from the Aloaceae family and is native to Kenya.
How to Grow and Care for Aloe Juvenna
Aloe juvenna is a resilient succulent that can grow properly in both warm and dry climates. It is not a cold-hardy plant. If you live in a region where temperatures drop below -6.7° C, it would be best to grow the plant indoors.
1. Sunlight
Aloe juvenna can thrive indoors and outdoors as long as it receives enough sunlight. Tiger Tooth Aloe can grow with partial share to full sun exposure.
For best results, plant Tiger Tooth Aloe in the outdoors where it can receive sunlight consistently and achieve the reddish-brown color that has delighted many succulent hobbyists.
If you want to have Aloe juvenna as an outdoor plant; probably as ground cover, put it in an area that received 6 hours of morning sunlight per day. Morning sun is advisable because the afternoon sun might get too intense and cause sunburn to Aloe juvenna.
If you want to have Aloe juvenna indoors, look for a window facing the east. South and west-facing windows will do. Make sure the plant gets partial sun when grown indoors.
During the dark, winter months you may want to get a Grow Light to give Aloe juvenna its daily dose of sunlight.
2. Watering
Aloe juvenna has the same watering needs as other varieties of succulents. Generally, you should give the plant water whenever its soil is dry to the touch.
You might want to use tools to be more precise. A moisture-testing tool such as a hygrometer might come in handy when you want to be sure Tiger Tooth Aloe needs water.
In the summertime, you might find yourself watering Aloe juvenna every 7 to 10 days. Keep track of the frequency of watering. If the days are getting colder, you might have to drop back to a watering schedule of every 14 days.
In the wintertime, the soil retains moisture much longer. You might give Aloe juvenna water only once a month.
3. Pot and Soil
Choose a pot that has a good-sized drain hole. Although Aloe juvenna may require more water than the typical succulent, it is still susceptible to root rot which happens if the plant receives too much water.
The pot should also be large enough to allow Tiger Tooth Aloe’s roots to grow properly without getting entangled.
You will also need well-draining soil. Good choices of soil for Aloe juvenna are sandy soil and cactus soil. To improve its drainage properties, add perlite. Use a 2:1 ratio of sandy/cactus to perlite.
Source: https://www.aboutsucculents.com/aloe-juvenna/
