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Pig's Ear

4.0 out of 5 (7 experiences)

Fast grower

Survivor

Also known as

Round-leafed navel-wort, Grey Sticks, Lady Fingers, silver crown, Pigs Ear, round-leafed naval wort, Silver Waves and Cotyledon orbiculata cultivar

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Cotyledon velutina

Genus

Cotyledon

Family

Crassulaceae

Order

Saxifragales

How to care for Pig's Ear

💦 Water

How often to water your Pig's Ear

Pig's Ear needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Pig's Ear in your home

Pig's Ear love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Pig's Ear does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Pig's Ear in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Pig's Ear

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Pig's Ear: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Pig's Ear after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Cotyledon

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Pig's Ear thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Pig's Ear Water Frequency →

Pig's Ear Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Pig's Ear requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Pig's Ear Light Requirements →

Pig's Ear Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Pig's Ear is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Pig's Ear is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

💨 Humidity

Pig's Ear prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Pig's Ear Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Pig's Ear is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Pig's Ear →

When and How to Successfully Repot Pig's Ear →

💩 Fertilizer

Pig's Ear grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Pig's Ear →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Pig's Ear to go dormant in the summertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Pig's Ear is native to Southern Africa to the Middle East.

🌸 Flowers

Pig's Ear produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

Pig's Ear Flowers →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Pig's Ear can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Pig's Ear Temperature Tolerance →

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Pig's Ear. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

Care Summary for Pig's Ear

Pig's Ear

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Fast grower 3

Survivor 3

Easy to propagate 1

Large, lush leaves 1

@@Sunflower_Sam

26 Plants

3,307 XP

Ottawa, Ontario

06/14/2021

I think I’ve killed this thing at least six times in the past three years. It hasn’t seemed Two given up yet

Fast grower

Easy to propagate

Survivor

Pig's Ear plant photo by @Sunflower_Sam named Nemo on Greg, the plant care app.

@Diane

3 Plants

57 XP

North Canton, OH

05/29/2021

This succulent thing is new to me. Plants usually don’t like me. I’m reading everything I can find as to how to care for these plants. I have six small plants that all look different. So far this “pig’s ear” is the only one that has a name. So far, it’s not pretty or attractive. Definitely looks like a pig’s ear!