The Aloe juvenna has triangular leaves with spiny teeth all along the edges, earning it the nickname “Tiger Tooth Aloe”. It is native to Africa and found growing in rocky and mountainous areas.
The Tiger Tooth Aloe is quite hardy and able to adapt to it’s environment. It grows well indoors and out, as long as it is provided with the appropriate sunlight, soil and water, as explained below.
These are tips and tricks specific to Aloe juvenna care. For a general guide to taking care of all succulents, click here.
| Name | Aloe juvenna “Tiger Tooth Aloe” |
| Sunlight | 6-7 hours of full sun to partial shade |
| Water | Once every 1 to 2 weeks in the summer Once every 3 to 4 weeks in the winter |
| Soil | Well-draining, porous soil |
| Temperature | Warm and dry Not cold hardy |
| Dormancy | Summer dormant |
| Propagation | Offsets Divisions |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to humans May cause irritation if ingested by dogs or cats |
Growth
Aloe juvenna has short, straight, triangular leaves that grow compactly on a thick stem. The leaves have spiky edges and white spots. While the spines may appear sharp, they do not prick when touched. As the plant grows taller, the stems can start to tip over.
In general, Aloe juvenna is a slow-growing houseplant. It can grow up to heights of 2 feet. The rosettes can grow up to 1 foot wide.
As the plant grows, the leaves on the bottom turn brown and dry out. Remove these gently by hand or with tweezers.
Aloe Juvenna Sunlight
The Tiger Tooth Aloe requires several hours of bright, indirect sunlight to thrive. While it can tolerate full sun, too much direct sunlight can cause the leaves to dry up or burn. Sunburn appears as brown spots on the leaves and cannot be removed once it has occurred.
West or East facing windows are best for Tiger Tooth Aloe because they provide enough sun without the light being too harsh. Rotate the plant every few days so each side receives equal sunlight and grows evenly.
When sun stressed, Aloe juvenna’s green leaves can turn reddish-brown (don’t worry, this does not harm the plant). If kept in partial shade, the leaves remain green.
If you are keeping your Tiger Tooth Aloe outside, keep it somewhere that receives bright, filtered light, such as a patio.
Aloe Juvenna Watering
The Tiger Tooth Aloe’s watering needs are similar to those of other succulents. Since this succulent is native to hot, dry climates, it prefers periods of drought with infrequent watering.
Learn more about how to water succulents here.
Check that the top inch of soil is dry before watering. The bottom leaves of your Tiger Tooth Aloe may become slightly shriveled when it needs a drink.
During the summer months, water your Tiger Tooth Aloe about once every 1 to 2 weeks. Let the soil dry completely in between watering. Only water once the top layer of soil is completely dry because Aloe juvenna hate sitting in water for too long.
During winter months, reduce watering to once every three to four weeks to prevent root rot.
When watering, water the soil at the base of the plant. If water remains on the leaves for a long time it can cause rot, so wipe it off with a tissue.
If in doubt, it is better to under water than over water. Keep in mind that drier and hotter environments will require more frequent watering than cooler and more humid ones.
Additionally, if your Aloe is not receiving a lot of light, it will require less water.
Aloe Juvenna Soil
The correct type of soil is just as important as a good watering schedule. Aloe juvenna are susceptible to root rot if over watered, which can be difficult to fix.
For proper Aloe juvenna care, plant in a well-draining soil. Since Aloe juvenna are naturally found growing in mountainous and rocky regions, they require soil that is coarse and does not retain water.
A good choice would be mixing a succulent soil with perlite in a 70:30 ratio. You can also add sand or a gravel mix to make the soil even more porous.
Potting Aloe Juvenna
Plain terracotta pots with drainage holes work well because they allow excess water to drain out and prevent root rot.
In general, Aloe juvenna is slow-growing and does not need to be repotted often. Once every 2 to 3 years is enough.
Fertilizer
Fertilize in the late winter to early spring with a diluted fertilizer, once a month.
Aloe juvenna Propagation
Aloe juvenna propagate by offsets or division.
Offsets (also called pups) appear at the base of the main plant. Aloe juvenna will readily produce offsets without any help once they are mature. Once the offset is a few inches wide, you can separate it from the main plant, following these steps:
- Dig up the soil at the base of the plant.
- Gently remove the offset from the main plant. You may have to use a clean pair of garden shears if the roots are tightly bunched together.
- Let the offset dry out for a day so that the open roots can heal and callous.
- Plant the offset into a small pot filled with well-draining potting soil.
- Keep the pot in a warm area that receives bright, indirect sunlight. Keep away from direct sun.
- Wait a week after potting before watering the offset. Water once a week after that (offsets require a bit more water than their mother plant).
Aloe juvenna can also be propagated by division if you would like to split your plant in two:
- Dig up the plant from the soil and gently split the root ball into two pieces. Use a clean pair of garden shears if it is difficult to separate by hand.
- Plant each section into new, smaller pots with well-draining soil. Keep these pots in warm areas with sunlight.
- Wait a week after potting before watering each segment. Water once a week after that.
Unfortunately, aloes cannot be propagated from leaves.
Temperature
Native to Africa, the Tiger Tooth Aloe enjoys hot and dry climates. It’s optimal temperature is from 65 to 75 °F (18 to 24 °C).
Aloe juvenna is not cold hardy and will not survive freezing temperatures. For best care, do not keep in temperatures below 30 °F (-1 °C) for too long. If you live somewhere cold, bring your Aloe juvenna indoors for the winter because it cannot survive long periods of frost.
Keep your Tiger Tooth Aloe away from air conditioning vents and heaters as these can excessively dry up the surrounding air.
Excess humidity can cause root rot, so do not place your Tiger Tooth Aloe in naturally humid rooms (such as bathrooms). A fan is a great way to improve air circulation.
Toxicity
Tiger Tooth Aloe is non-toxic to humans.
The gel-like substance may cause gastrointestinal distress if ingested by pets, so keep out of their reach.
Blooming
Unfortunately, it is uncommon for Aloe juvenna to flower indoors, due to environmental conditions that are difficult to control.
Outdoors, it’s blooms are spiky with orange stems and usually occur in the middle of the summer.
Mealy Bugs on Aloe Juvenna
Mealy bugs are small, fuzzy, white bugs that like to crawl around in the nooks and crannies of plants.
At the first sign of mealy bugs, immediately quarantine your plant away from the others. Check all of your other plants for signs of the pest. Mealy bugs spread quickly, and other plants may be infected as well. Pay special attention to the nooks and crannies of your plants because they love those areas.
For the plants with signs of infestation, take a q-tip, soak it in rubbing alcohol and dab it at any bugs you see to kill them instantly. Also water the soil with rubbing alcohol to kill any eggs they may have left behind. Watering with alcohol does not harm your plant and removes eggs in the soil. You will have to repeat this every other day for several days because mealy bugs take a while to completely go away.
Aloe juvenna vs Aloe squarrosa
While these two plants are often confused for each other, they do have slight differences. Aloe squarrosa has longer, smoother leaves that are curved backwards. On the other hand, Aloe juvenna’s leaves are straighter and more compact. They both have similar care.
Common Aloe juvenna care problems
Why is my Aloe juvenna turning brown?
Brown leaves could be due to a number of reasons:
Sunburn
If your Aloe juvenna was kept in harsh sunlight, it could be sunburned. Sunburn will appear as brown spots on the leaves. While these spots will remain on the leaves, your Aloe will be okay if you move it to a shadier location.
You can trim the brown leaves off or wait until new growth develops.
Under watering
If you notice brown, dried up and shriveled tips, this is most likely due to under watering. Fortunately, this is much easier to fix than over watering.
If it has been a while since your last watered your plant, give your Aloe a good drink of water and it should perk up in a few days.
Remember, Aloe juvenna should be watered more often if it is in a sunny, hot or dry area.
Root rot from over watering
Over watering succulents causes the leaves to swell, turn brown/yellow and drop off the plant.
Signs of over watering include:
- Bottom leaves of the plant are turning mushy or translucent yellow/brown
- The leaves fall off easily when the plant is gently bumped
- The stem is turning black and losing it’s shape
This is a common problem for succulents and can be difficult to fix.
Allow the soil to dry out and decrease how often you water your plant. Place it in a sunnier area so it can dry out faster.
If there is a lot of damage in the stem and leaves, you may have to cut away the healthy parts of the plant and focus on growing those.
For a complete guide to fixing root rot, check here.
If the root rot is particularly extensive and the whole stem is mushy, you may have to chose a few healthy-looking leaves from the whole plant to propagate.
Why is my Aloe juvenna stretching?
Typically the Aloe juvenna plant has small, compact growth. If you notice the leaves are beginning to elongate and space of on the stem, your Tiger Tooth Aloe could be etiolating.
This occurs when your Aloe does not receive enough sunlight. Slowly transition your plant into an area with more sun (do not immediately increase the light because that could cause sunburn).
Learn more about etiolation here
If you want your plant to be compact again, you will have to behead the top and propagate it.
While the etiolated growth will not shrink back, the new growth will be more compact with increased sun.
If your plant is indoors near a window, rotate it every few days so each side received an equal amount of light and the growth is equal.
In summary for Aloe juvenna care…
Aloe juvenna “Tiger Tooth Aloe” plants are hardy and easy to take care of, once you know their watering, sunlight and soil needs. The spiky teeth and white spots make this plant stand out in any arrangement.
With proper Aloe juvenna care, your Aloe will thrive and produce multiple offsets so you can multiply your collection.
Still have more questions about Aloe juvenna care? Let me know down below.
Learn more about general succulent care from these articles:
How Often Should you Water Succulents and Cacti
How to Take Care of Succulents and Keep them Alive
Succulent Root Rot: What it is and How to Treat It
Succulent Etiolation: What to do if your Succulent is Growing Tall
