Gasteria Little Warty Succulent (Lawyer’s Tongue)

Gasteria Little Warty Succulent (Lawyer’s Tongue)

Gasteria little warty succulent plants are easy to care for and great houseplants, especially if you have an office or other indoor space that you want to brighten up with greenery. However, these low-maintenance plants can be susceptible to some common issues, like rot and over-watering, so if you want them to look their best long-term, make sure you’re doing everything right!

Despite their tiny size, these succulents are easy to care for and even produce small flowers during the summer months.

Gasteria little warty are amazing succulents, but they aren’t the easiest to care for and require some attention to detail to keep them happy and healthy. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about Gasteria little warty care!

Origin and descriptions

Gasteria little warty is native to South Africa and tends to prefer damp habitats with well-drained soil. They grow in clusters but do not require as much light as most succulents. Watering is one of the most important factors when caring for Gasterias, overwatering can lead to rot and underwatering can cause them to lose their leaves.

The little warty gasteria needs consistent water that does not allow their soil to dry out completely and should only be watered when about 1⁄2 inch of soil has been dried out. You can tell if your plant needs water by feeling how heavy it is; if it feels heavy then you should wait until it becomes lighter before watering again.

Fertilizing your gasteria little warty once a month will help keep it healthy; choose a fertilizer that contains high levels of phosphorus, potassium, and iron. It’s best to fertilize after watering so you don’t burn any new growth on your plant.

Gasteria little warty propagation

Gasteria Little Warty Succulent (Lawyer’s Tongue)

This interesting and beautiful little succulent can be propagated in several ways. It is easy to root gasteria little warty on a leaf or even off a branch, which makes them ideal for propagation.

You can also propagate by leaf cuttings, but they are harder to root. Gasteria little warty is also spread by pups which are small plantlets that grow at the base of an adult plant.

These pups can be removed from their parent and planted to create new plants that look similar to their parents. The easiest way to propagate your gasteria little warty is by rooting it on a leaf.

Here’s how: First, choose a healthy mature leaf with no damage. Remove any veins you see on your leaf because these will eventually rot when you place them in soil.

Next, wash your leaf thoroughly with water until all dust and dirt are gone from it. Then remove all leaves below where you want to place your cutting so that there is only one layer left on top of where you want to make your cut.

Finally, take a sharp knife and cut off a piece of your leaf about two inches long. Make sure that you don’t leave any part of your original leaf behind when making your cut.

After you have made your cut, put some potting mix into a container such as a cup or saucer (something with drainage holes). Place your newly created cutting into the potting mix about half an inch deep. Water lightly using room temperature water (not cold) until moistened throughout.

Gasteria little warty care

Gasteria Little Warty Succulent (Lawyer’s Tongue)

Gasteria little warty succulent plants are fairly easy to grow, with a minimum amount of care. Gasteria succulent plants need bright light and even watering.

Watering gasterias too little will result in brown tips on leaves, while over-watering may lead to root rot. In addition, these plants like slightly acidic soil (with pH 6.1 – 6.5) with an airy mix containing lots of organic material for drainage and aeration.

Light requirements

Gasteria succulent can be grown in low-light conditions, but require some light to maintain their leaves. If your gasteria doesn’t get enough light, its leaves will turn brown and fall off. They grow best in medium sunlight, but should not be placed in direct sunlight.

They are sun lovers; however, they can tolerate shade as well. A south or west-facing window is ideal for a gasteria succulent plant. It’s important to note that while they do need some amount of light, they also need less water than many other succulents.

So even if you have them in a sunny window without much humidity (or rain), you shouldn’t overwater them because they’ll rot faster than other succulents!

Soil/potting mix

Gasterias do well in soil that drains well, although they tolerate being a little dry between watering. There are several good cactus soils available, or you can mix your own using equal parts peat moss and sand.

You’ll also want to use a non-organic potting mix since the little warty plant doesn’t have extensive root systems and therefore require highly porous soil. Also, be sure to use a small container with drainage holes; most succulents will rot if left sitting in water for too long.

Watering

Since gasterias are succulents, they need a lot of water and should be watered 2-3 times per week. Too much watering can cause root rot; don’t worry, though. This plant is incredibly easy to propagate so if you kill it, just give it a little snip and you’ll have yourself a new one in no time!

The best way to tell if your plant needs water is by checking its soil. If it feels dry about an inch below the surface, then your plant needs some water. If there isn’t any moisture present at all, then you may want to let it sit for another day or two before giving it some more H2O.

As a general rule, you should also be sure to water your plant thoroughly once per week—or more often if necessary.

Fertilizer

If you are using chemical fertilizer, dilute it to one-half or less of its suggested strength, and don’t use it more than once a month. Organic fertilizers, such as fish emulsion, are also suitable for use on gasterias.

Use these three times a year or so in place of waterings (during the winter and hot summer months when plants grow slowly). Apply at full strength (one tablespoon per gallon) in early spring, midsummer, and mid-autumn; follow label directions.

You can also fertilize it once every two weeks during the spring and summer months with an all-purpose fertilizer like 10-10-10.

Temperature

Gasterias thrive in warm environments. Keep your plant in an area with low light and warm temperatures (ideally, between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit).

If you live in a colder climate, keep your plant on top of a piece of furniture near a window or outside (but make sure it gets plenty of sunlight). If you live in an extremely hot climate, keep your plant out of direct sunlight during midday hours. The afternoon shade is fine, though.

Humidity

Gasteria little warty thrive in extremely high humidity, but they also need to be well-drained. Keep your gasteria outside during the summer and put it on a tray of wet pebbles that you re-moisten regularly.

In winter, bring it inside and don’t water it for a few weeks. Eventually (if you follow these instructions), your plant will tell you when it needs to be watered—it will start shriveling slightly at its base.

The ideal humidity range is 80-100% with soil that drains well. If you can’t maintain high humidity, then at least make sure your plant has good drainage. The best way to do that is to put it in a pot with holes in it.

Pruning

In order to keep your gasteria alive, you’ll need to prune it regularly. They are very low-maintenance plants and will survive in a variety of environments.

Pruning helps keep your plant healthy by keeping it from getting too large or taking over its environment. If you don’t prune your plant on a regular basis, it can become leggy and look unattractive.

When you first bring your plant home, it’s a good idea to pinch off some of its leaves. Why? Because these leaves are producing sugars for flowers (which gasterias don’t have). This will help keep your plant healthy and save you money on fertilizer. After all, pinching off plants actually allows them to be more productive in general.

When to repot

Gasteria little warty plants are slow-growing, so you can get away with repotting them every two to three years. But if you’re planning on keeping it for years and taking care of it properly, do so every year or two. This will keep your plant healthy and happy.

However, if your gasteria little warty isn’t growing or blooming, consider repotting it earlier in order to help it re-establish itself before it loses its motivation to grow. You should also repot when you notice that roots have filled up most of their container. Make sure that they aren’t coiled around each other; gently untangle them if necessary.

Dormancy

Many succulents (even ones with fuzzy leaves) require a dormancy period each year. There are two types of dormancy, one is photoperiodic, meaning that it’s triggered by changes in light levels; and one is temperature-related, which triggers changes in soil temperature.

Gasterias typically need to have both types of dormancy, but some varieties can be grown indoors year-round without dormancy or even regular watering. For most people, however, gasteria will go dormant in winter if they don’t receive enough natural sunlight during their growing season.

To keep your gasteria little warty plant alive through its dormancy period, you must ensure that it receives bright light for at least eight hours per day during its growing season (which usually begins in spring). At night, you should reduce its exposure to bright lights so that it doesn’t get confused about when to flower.

Gasteria little warty flowers & Fragrance

Gasteria Little Warty Succulent (Lawyer’s Tongue)

Most gasterias have stems that can grow up to 6 inches tall and will often produce pink, red, or white flowers. In addition to flowers, many varieties have a sweet fragrance. This smell may emanate from its flowers or its leaves; you’ll also get a scent if you gently rub a leaf against your skin.

Because gasteria little warty are drought-tolerant plants, they’re ideal for terrariums and planters indoors. However, in warm weather, some varieties of gasteria need plenty of sunlight to maintain their beautiful coloration. If you notice your plant starting to turn brown, move it into an area with more light.

Growth rate

Gasteria little warty are relatively slow-growing succulents and typically do not require repotting for two to three years. After two to three years, you may notice that your plant has outgrown its pot and is beginning to lean over.

This means it’s time for a larger pot. They prefer fast-draining soil that is 50 percent sand or fine-grade bark and 50 percent pumice or coarse-grade bark.

Toxicity

Gasterias are toxic to dogs, cats, and other pets. Do not keep in or around homes with these animals or children. While they have no documented cases of human toxicity, it is better to be safe than sorry!

USDA Hardiness Zones

Gasteria little warty succulent will thrive in USDA hardiness zones 11 to 12. They are generally considered low-maintenance plants for an indoor environment.

Pests and diseases

Gasteria little warty plants are not as resistant to pests and diseases as most other succulents. The primary cause of dying plants is overwatering, but you should also be careful about letting them dry out completely.

If a plant starts turning yellow or brown and losing its leaves, it may have been infected with mealybugs or scale insects. If a plant has dark spots on its leaves, it may have spider mites. Remove pests by cleaning plants carefully with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Conclusion

All succulents love a sunny and well-lit window, and gasteria little warty plants are no exception. When sunlight is not available, you can supplement with grow lights or fluorescent light tubes to help your little warty friends thrive.

Water generously in spring and summer—you may need to water more than once a week. In fall, cut back watering so that it occurs only when your plants look wilted—winter is when they rest up for their busy growing season in spring!

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