Gasteria Lots of Spots

Gasteria Lots of Spots (Gasteria 'Lots of Spots') is a heavily speckled South African succulent that stays small: about 20cm tall and 25cm across. Thick tongue shaped leaves are marbled white over deep green, and established plants send up slender arching stems of pink and orange flowers. It is one of the few succulents genuinely happy indoors in bright indirect light, and it is not toxic to cats or dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Small enough for anywhere. At 20cm by 25cm it fits a windowsill, a shelf, a rockery pocket or the front of a pot grouping.
• Pet friendly. Unlike most spiky succulents it has soft edges and is not toxic, so it suits homes with cats, dogs or curious children.
• It survives neglect. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and content in poor soil, so a missed fortnight of watering does no harm.
• Indoors or out. Bright indirect light inside, or a sheltered spot outdoors in warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid gardens.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A shallow 150mm to 200mm pot with a drainage hole is ideal, and the spotting reads better against a plain pot than a busy one.

Indoors. Bright indirect light near an east facing window suits it. It will hold on in lower light, though the spotting fades and growth almost stops.

Rockeries and courtyards. Tuck it into gravel pockets or a balcony grouping where drainage is sharp and it gets shelter from harsh afternoon sun.

Growing Gasteria in Australia

Position and climate. Filtered light or morning sun outdoors, bright indirect light indoors. Harsh afternoon sun bleaches the leaves. It handles light frost only, so in cool temperate gardens keep it in a pot you can move under cover for winter.

Soil. A free draining cactus and succulent mix, or potting mix opened up with coarse sand. Poor soil is fine, wet soil is not, and the pot must drain freely.

Water and feed. Soak it, empty the saucer, then let the mix dry right through before the next drink: roughly every two to three weeks in the warm months and monthly or less over winter. A half strength liquid feed twice through spring and summer is plenty.

Grooming. No pruning needed. Remove spent flower stems at the base, and lift and divide the offsets that form around the parent plant every few years.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock, a young rooted rosette rather than a full grown plant. Pot it into a 150mm pot and expect it to fill out over a season or two, because this is a slow grower. Tubes travel well, since thick leaves hold their own moisture.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, so most customers buy a tray of these or add them to a larger order. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing the right size pot for a small plant
• Browse the full succulent range
• More plants that are safe around pets
• Small pots that suit a single rosette

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Gasteria is not toxic to cats or dogs, and the leaf edges are soft rather than spined. Chewing large amounts of any plant can still upset a pet stomach, so discourage the habit.

How often should I water it?

Every two to three weeks in warm weather, and monthly or less in winter. Always check the mix is dry all the way through first, since far more of these are killed by watering than by drought.

Can it live indoors permanently?

Yes, provided the light is bright and indirect. In a dim room it survives but stretches, loses its compact shape and the spotting dulls.