Plant Care Cattle Tongue

Cattle Tongue

Taxonomy

Gasteria pillansii
Gasteria
Asphodelaceae
Asparagales

How to care for Cattle Tongue

💦 Water

How often to water your Cattle Tongue

Water needs for Cattle Tongue
0.5 cups
every 12

Cattle Tongue 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.

Calculate water needs of Cattle Tongue

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Cattle Tongue in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Cattle Tongue: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Cattle Tongue may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Cattle Tongue in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Cattle Tongue

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Cattle Tongue: 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 Cattle Tongue after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

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💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

Cattle Tongue 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.

Cattle Tongue Water Frequency →

Cattle Tongue Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Cattle Tongue may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Cattle Tongue Light Requirements →

Cattle Tongue Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Cattle Tongue is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Cattle Tongue Toxicity to Cats →

Cattle Tongue Toxicity to Dogs →

Cattle Tongue Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Cattle Tongue 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.

Cattle Tongue Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Cattle Tongue 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 Cattle Tongue →

When and How to Successfully Repot Cattle Tongue →

What Are Healthy Cattle Tongue Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Cattle Tongue 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 Cattle Tongue →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Cattle Tongue 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

Cattle Tongue is native to South Africa.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Cattle Tongue can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Cattle Tongue Temperature Tolerance →

Cattle Tongue Hardiness Zones →


🧐 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 Cattle Tongue. 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 Cattle Tongue

Cattle Tongue

Cattle Tongue


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 3ft 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.

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