Aloe Juvenna has become quite popular in cultivation because of its unique, thorny edges, but this plant is still rare in its natural habitat in the jungles of Kenya.
It belongs to the same genus as Aloe Vera and is a low-maintenance plant perfect for all new gardeners. Read our care tips and tricks to learn how to grow and care for your Aloe Juvenna plant.
Contents
What Is Aloe Juvenna?
Aloe Juvenna, or the Tiger-tooth Aloe, is a rare plant that is part of the Asphodelaceae family and the genus Aloe.
It goes dormant during the summer and starts growing again in the winter months. This plant is also called Zanzibar Aloe and originates from Kenya.
– Size and Growth
Aloe Juvenna grows in small rocky areas in the mountainous jungles of Kenya. It can grow up to 12 inches tall and up to 24 inches wide. It has thin, erect stems packed with compact, triangular leaves. The stems can grow up to 2 feet long and are not visible because they are covered with leaves from top to bottom.
During the initial few years of growth, the stems remain erect before arching over. The growth is initially unidirectional, but it grows new shoots over time. Aloe Juvenna is often confused for Aloe Squarrosa, but Aloe Squarrosa has longer and more curved leaves.
This plant also has an inflorescence that is about 10 inches long with bright pink to orange-red flowers. One great thing about this succulent is that it is non-toxic to both humans and animals, so you do not have to worry about it being near your children or pets.
Aloe Juvenna is a summer-dormant succulent, which means it stops growing during the summer months. This does not mean that you have to stop watering the plant during the summer. Water the plant whenever the soil feels dry.
– Leaves
The Aloe Juvenna plant has sharp-looking thorny edges along its leaves, which is where it gets the name Tiger Tooth Aloe. These short, triangular and compact leaves are quite soft to touch. The sharp leaves stack in the form of a rosette and turn into a reddish-brown shade with cream-white spots when kept in full sunlight.
The spiked leaves form rosettes that multiply quickly and make a thick ground cover. If your succulent is planted in a hanging basket, it will trail down and give a beautiful appearance.
– Roots
Aloe Juvenna has a very compact root system, with the roots looking fleshy and white when healthy. They do not run deep into the soil mix and very rarely need repotting. Keep the roots healthy and plump by planting your succulent in a well-draining soil mix.
Quick Overview
Here is a handy table of this plant’s requirements.
| Requirements | Aloe Juvenna |
| Light | Thrives well under full sun |
| Water | Water only when the soil mix has dried up |
| Soil | Fast-draining |
| Humidity | Very low humidity levels |
| Temperature | Needs warm temperatures; not cold-hardy |
| Fertilizer | Apply diluted fertilizer two to three times a year to help it grow healthier |
Aloe Juvenna Care
Aloe Juvenna thrives on neglect. It is a low-maintenance succulent that requires minimum care and effort from your side. Read all about tiger aloe care requirements in this section; from optimal temperatures and fertilizer requirements to light and water requirements, we’ve got you covered!
– Light Requirements
Aloe Juvenna plants love to be in full sun. It can handle a little bit of shade in the afternoons when the sun is intense, but we would not recommend growing it indoors unless you bring it out occasionally. The leaves develop a beautiful reddish-brown color when kept in direct sunlight.
– Outdoors
This plant grows better and faster outdoors, so any south-west or south-facing window is a great spot to keep your Aloe Juvenna. However, protect it from direct sunlight in the afternoon to avoid leaf damage. Six to seven hours of direct sunlight works well for this plant.
– Indoors
You can grow it indoors under grow lights if it is not possible to cultivate it under direct sunlight. It is native to regions with arid climates where it receives lots of sunlight and very little water. Try to replicate these conditions and you will notice your plant thriving.
If your plant was kept indoors until now and you want to move it outdoors, do so gradually. The plant should acclimatize to more light to prevent sun damage and sunburn. Slowly increase the amount of sunlight until the plant gets fully acclimatized to direct sunlight.
– Water Requirements
Like most other Aloe succulents, your Aloe Juvenna plant does not have very high water requirements. It is partially drought tolerant, so water it only when the soil mix has dried up. Water the soil directly and not the leaves because it can cause them to rot.
Succulent does not mean watering is not needed at all. Water the plant sparingly every one to two weeks to avoid the problem of root rot. Make sure to allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
Use the finger knuckle test to know whether your succulent needs to be watered or not. Check the soil regularly by inserting your finger, and if the top few inches are dry, water the plant.
Watering every one to two weeks is not a fixed rule. It depends a lot on other factors in your areas such as temperature, soil mix used, and location of the plant. Choose a watering schedule depending on these factors.
– Soil Mix Requirements
Use a fast-draining soil mix to plant your Aloe Juvenna as this succulent cannot tolerate moist soil conditions for too long. You can use any commercially available cacti soil mix or prepare your own by mixing standard potting soil with sand, peat moss and perlite. Drainage is essential in the succulent soil mix.
To prepare your soil mix, mix two parts of regular potting soil with one part sand and one part perlite. Perlite makes the soil airy. The soil should feel light and loose while touching it, unlike clayey soil.
We would recommend using clay or terracotta pots for succulents instead of plastic or ceramic pots. Terracotta planters are better at absorbing the excess moisture from the soil, helping prevent the problem of overwatering.
– Temperature Requirements
Aloe Juvenna plants can tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it cannot tolerate freezing temperatures for too long. In very cool temperatures, you can either grow it as an annual or bring it inside to a warmer spot. Protect your succulent from frost by either covering it with horticultural fleece or by moving it indoors.
Aloe Juvenna is not a cold-hardy plant. During the winter months, move your plant indoors before the temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Grow your succulents in pots or containers so that you can easily bring them indoors in extremely cold weather.
– Humidity Requirements
Aloe Juvenna is not a tropical plant. It is a succulent belonging to the family of Aloe Vera and does not need high humidity to grow well. Instead, it thrives in dry climates, so if you live in a dry area with low-humidity conditions, this succulent would not face any problems.
– Fertilizer Requirements
An Aloe Juvenna plant can thrive well without fertilizer, but occasional application during its active growth period will help the plant to grow healthier. Fertilize it with a diluted liquid fertilizer two to three times a year. Adding fertilizer to young and newly transplanted plants helps to encourage healthier growth.
Remember to not over-fertilize this succulent as it has low fertilizer requirements. Overfertilizing can cause root burn and make the plant suffer in the long run. Instead of showing new growth, the plant will eventually die.
Repotting
Aloe Juvenna is a slow-growing succulent and does not need frequent repotting. It rarely needs to be shifted to a larger pot. The roots rarely outgrow its pot, and when they do, it is because the soil mix has decomposed and needs to be changed.
Spring is the ideal time to repot your Aloe Juvenna plant as it gives the plant sufficient time to adjust to its new soil mix. As the plant matures, some of the older leaves will start to brown or die. Remove these leaves by hand or let them fall off naturally.
– How to Repot Aloe Juvenna
To repot the plant, first remove it from the pot and then loosen the soil around the roots. Remove or cut off the dead roots to avoid the problem of rot. Prepare an airy and well-draining soil mixed with sand, coco coir and perlite. You can also prepare the soil mixture using regular potting soil, sand and perlite.
If the plant is too big, propagate it by division and plant the parts in separate containers. Water the plant thoroughly after repotting and keep it in a shady and dry spot for a few days before shifting it to a sunny location.
Before repotting your plant, check the plant for pests and insects. If there are any pests in the soil or on the plant, remove them by using alcohol or insecticidal soap solution. This will protect your succulent from further infestations.
Propagation
Aloe Juvenna can be easily propagated through division, cuttings and offsets. Seed propagation is difficult as the plant rarely produces flowers. Be careful if you are propagating aloe in water, as there are higher chances of the leaves rotting.
– Offsets
If you notice pups coming out of the soil mix, you can detach them from the mother plant and make new plants. To propagate the plant through offsets, dig the soil around the offsets produced by the mother plant. Cut the root connecting to the main plant and transplant these offsets in a new container with drainage holes.
While removing the pups, try to get some roots. Pups that already have roots have a higher chance of successfully growing than ones without roots. They will eventually root, but the ones with roots already will have a greater chance of survival.
– Cuttings
It is easy to grow Aloe Juvenna from cuttings. Carefully cut a healthy-looking stem from the main plant and allow the cutting to dry for two to three days before planting it in a suitable cactus mix.
After planting, keep the soil moist, and once the roots form, transplant the cutting to a pot.
– Division
Aloe plant reproduction through division can easily be done by separating the root ball of a mature plant. The best time to divide the plant is in spring.
To do this, carefully dig up the plant and cut its root ball into two pieces. Plant these divided pieces into two separate containers and give appropriate care.
Problems
Aloe Juvenna plants can face problems such as pest infestations and diseases if you ignore the early symptoms. Don’t worry though, as they can be treated easily if you spot them early.
– Overwatering
Overwatering is the most common problem faced by almost all gardeners growing Aloe Juvenna plants. Root rot is the result of overwatering and it can kill your plant if you do not control your watering frequency.
To prevent this problem, water the soil only when it has dried. This succulent does not enjoy being in moist soil for long periods of time. Use a well-draining soil mix to avoid the issue of overwatering.
– Plant Getting Too Tall
Aloe Juvenna plants can grow as tall as 12 inches with proper care. Sometimes they can grow even taller, but we would recommend you prune and trim your plant because it causes overcrowding and will affect the flow of minerals in the pot.
Pruning and trimming the succulent regularly keeps it in shape and gives it a bushier and denser look. Keep your cutting tools clean while pruning the plant. Sterilize your equipment and always use sharp shears to cut the stems.
– Mealybugs
Mealybugs can pose a major problem for your succulents. They can infest and kill the plant from the inside, and they are commonly found on indoor succulents. The wide leaves of Aloe Juvenna plants are great hiding spots for them.
To get rid of these unwanted pests, spray your succulents with alcohol weekly. You can mix half of it with water and spray it on the affected parts. Neem oil is another great option to keep these bugs away.
– Aphids
Like mealybugs, aphids can also be a problem for succulents. Aphids get attracted to succulents very easily. They are commonly found hidden in the undersides of the leaves.
To get rid of aphids, spray alcohol on the affected leaves. You can also use a cotton swab to wipe off the bugs hidden in cracks and crevices. In more severe infestations, use insecticidal soap solutions on the affected areas.
Other Important Information
Let us go through some frequently asked questions about the Aloe Juvenna plant.
– Is Aloe Juvenna Poisonous?
Aloe Juvenna is not toxic or poisonous if consumed. You can keep it around your children and pets without any fear.
– How Tall Does Tiger Tooth Aloe Grow?
With proper care, Aloe Juvenna plants can grow up to 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide. It is initially a slow-growing succulent, but once it grows tall, it produces many offsets quickly. Prune and trim the plant occasionally to keep it in shape and prevent it from getting leggy.
– How Do You Care for Aloe Juvenna?
Keep your Aloe Juvenna plant in a bright space that receives direct sunlight during the day and maintain a regular watering schedule to prevent the problems of overwatering and underwatering. It is better to underwater this plant than overwater it.
Prepare a well-draining soil mix to plant the succulent and fertilize it one to three times a year to provide some extra nutrients. Repotting is rarely required for Aloe Juvenna, making it a low-maintenance plant with little to no care needed.
– Where Should I Plant Aloe Juvenna?
The Tiger-toothed Aloe thrives in bright, direct sunlight under warm and dry conditions. It is a native of Kenya where it grows in the dry, mountainous jungles. Try to replicate the same conditions in your home while growing this succulent.
If you are growing it indoors, choose a spot that receives at least three to four hours of direct sunlight. If you are growing it outdoors, keep it in a spot that receives six to seven hours of direct sunlight, especially in the morning and evening.
Conclusion
With its clump-forming look, Aloe Juvenna plants will add diversity to your plant collection. We have summarized all the important points you need to keep in mind before growing this pretty succulent.
- Aloe Juvenna or Tiger-tooth Aloe is a succulent belonging to the Aloe genus and is native to Kenya.
- It has beautiful bright green, toothy-margined, triangular leaves with creamy white spots.
- Like most other succulents, it needs full sunlight to grow well. This plant will not grow much in low-light conditions.
- Aloe Juvenna is drought tolerant for short periods of time, but water them thoroughly once their soil is dry.
- Plant the succulent in a well-draining cacti mix to avoid root rot and fungal infections.
- Keep the individual plants outdoors in the summer months and bring them indoors during winter.
- It is a hardy succulent that grows well in both cold and warm temperatures. This plant can tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
- It does not like humid conditions and will thrive in dry environments with little humidity around.
- This plant does not have high fertilizer requirements, but fertilizing the succulent one to three times a year helps give it extra nutrition.
- Aloe Juvenna plants do need frequent repotting. Repot it in spring only when the old soil has decomposed.
- You can propagate this plant easily through cuttings, offsets and division.
Aloe Juvenna is a low-maintenance plant and grows happily without any specific requirements. We hope you found our care tips helpful and use these to grow your beautiful plant!
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