Burro's tail care guide

Burro’s tail grows long, trailing stems packed with plump, blue-green leaves, like a braided tail. It looks best spilling from a hanging pot in a sunny window. The leaves fall off if you brush past them, so pick its spot once and let it hang.

Light

Give it bright light with several hours of sun. A south or west window is ideal. An east window works too.

In low light, the stems stretch, the leaves space out, and the color fades to pale green. A plant moved outside for summer needs a week in shade first, or it sunburns.

Water

Water when the soil is dry all the way down. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.

In spring and summer, that is often every two weeks. In winter, it can be once a month. Wrinkled, soft leaves mean it is thirsty. Mushy, see-through leaves and a soft stem base mean too much water. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use cactus and succulent mix with extra perlite. A terracotta pot with a drainage hole helps the soil dry.

Repot as seldom as you can. Every move knocks off leaves. When you must, do it in spring, and lay the stems over your arm. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Dry indoor air is fine. Keep it between 13 and 27°C (55 and 80°F).

Feeding

Feed once or twice in spring and summer with a cactus fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Trim stems that get too long or bare at the top. Use the pieces to start new plants and fill in the pot.

Propagation

Fallen leaves are free plants.

1. Collect healthy leaves that drop, or pull a few from a stem.
2. Let them dry for a few days.
3. Lay them on dry cactus mix in bright, indirect light.
4. Mist the soil every few days. Roots and tiny new plants grow in a few weeks.

Stem pieces root too. Strip the bottom 2 cm (1 in), let it dry, and push it into dry mix.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Leaves fall off at a touch	Normal. Handle it as little as you can.
Leaves fall off on their own	Too much or too little water
Wrinkled leaves	Too dry
Mushy leaves, soft stem base	Too much water
Pale, stretched stems	Not enough light
Bare top of the pot	Low light, or old stems. Replant cuttings on top.

Pests

Mealybugs and aphids can hide between the tight leaves. Dab them with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists burro’s tail as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Cats batting at the stems will knock leaves everywhere, so hang it high.

Varieties

• Burro’s tail has pointed, teardrop-shaped leaves.
• ‘Burrito’ has shorter, rounder leaves and a tidier look. It drops fewer leaves.