Ox Tongue Plant Care
Gasteria disticha (L.) Haw.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Gasteria disticha is succulent plant native to the Western Cape, South Africa.
Bright indirect to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Ox Tongue?
Ox Tongue grows best in bright indirect to partial shade.
Where Is the Ox Tongue Native To?
What Is the Ox Tongue?
Ox Tongue (Gasteria disticha) belongs to the Asphodelaceae family within the Gasteria genus. Ox Tongue is native to the Western Cape, South Africa. Ox Tongue is also known as Gasteria disticha.
Ox Tongue displays a low rosette, clumping growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Ox Tongue produces tubular flowers on tall stalks in shades of red, orange, or pink.
What Light Does the Ox Tongue Need?
Ox Tongue thrives in bright indirect to partial shade. Avoid placing Ox Tongue in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Bright indirect to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Ox Tongue?
Well-draining succulent mix with added perlite for aeration. Good drainage is essential for Ox Tongue to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Ox Tongue?
Repot every 2-3 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Ox Tongue?
Ox Tongue can be propagated through offsets, leaf cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to ox tongue plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Ox Tongue Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Ox Tongue, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Ox Tongue?
Ox Tongue is susceptible to mealybugs, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Ox Tongue is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Gasteria genus — compare its care with other Gasteria species on PlantoScan.
Gasteria is part of the Asphodelaceae plant family — browse all Asphodelaceae genera and species.
Ox Tongue thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Gasteria Species
Other Gasteria species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Gasteria disticha (L.) Haw., family Asphodelaceae (first published in Philos. Mag. Ann. Chem. 2: 351 (1827)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Ox Tongue, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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