Ogre Ears Succulent: Care and Growth Tips

One of the best parts of collecting succulents is enjoying their diverse and unique appearances—especially when they look like something else! The Ogre Ears succulent is a millennial dream, reminiscent of everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek.

If you manage to get your hands on this prized succulent, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll talk about how to care for this unique cultivar of Crassula ovata.

Let’s dig in!

Ogre Ears Succulent: Origins

This adorable succulent, Crassula ovata ‘Ogre Ears’ is a type of jade plant. This jade plant cultivar is considered a “monstrose” succulent, meaning that its growth is erratic and strange compared to the typical rosette or foliage formation of the parent plant. Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’ is another cultivar with similarly strange features.

Many monstrose succulents develop from natural genetic mutations or damage sustained over time. So while Crassula ovata originates from South Africa, Crassula ovata ‘Ogre Ears’ is rare and difficult to come by.

Ogre Ears Succulent: Appearance

As the name implies, this unique succulent is similar in appearance to ogre ears. If you haven’t watched Shrek lately, this means the green foliage grows upwards with a small pit or divot at the top to create a tubular appearance.

How to Care for an Ogre Ears Succulent

Ogre Ears are drought tolerant but not cold hardy. Grow them indoors outside of USDA zones 9-11.

1. Soil Selection

Choose a well-draining succulent soil or cactus soil for this drought-tolerant plant; do not plant this succulent in regular potting soil, as it prefers soil similar to its natural, rocky terrain.

Choose a pot with plenty of drainage, as this succulent, like most others, is prone to root rot.

2. Watering

Like its parent plant, Ogre Ears prefer to be dry and thrives on neglect. It’s better to under-water this jade cultivar than to overwater it.

Water your Ogre Ears every two weeks during the active summer growing period. Test the soil regularly. If it dries before the two weeks is up, water it more often. Conversely, reduce the frequency during the fall and winter dormancy period. 

3. Sun Exposure

Ogre Ears succulents thrive in bright, indirect sunlight. These jade cultivars prefer 6-8 hours of sunlight each day, unlike their parent plant, which is more tolerant of dim lighting. Avoid direct light as Ogre Ears will get scorched during peak hours.

Jade plants feature heavily in Feng Shui. If you’re following this practice and place your Ogre Ears in a dim location, consider supplementing with a grow light.

4. Maintenance and Care

Watch out for common succulent pests, like scale insects, mealybugs, and spider mites. Remove these pests manually with a warm, damp cloth and dish soap. You can also use a succulent-friendly pesticide treatment or neem oil.

Pruning your Ogre Ears succulent isn’t necessary. However, you can pinch it back to encourage bushier growth.

5. Fertilization and Repotting

Jade plants don’t enjoy being crowded. Plan to repot your Ogre Ears every one to two years. If the roots are starting to peek out the bottom of the pot, you’re overdue.

Choose a pot that’s slightly larger than the root ball, allowing approximately 2-3 inches of room for future growth. 

Ogre Ears succulents don’t need fertilization to grow. However, you can promote growth with a feeding of succulent-friendly fertilizer during the spring. Do not fertilize when the plant is entering dormancy, as the unabsorbed nutrients could damage the roots.

6. Overwintering

If you live outside USDA zones 9-11, your Ogre Ears succulent must be indoors for the winter. Place your succulent in a warm, dry location away from vents and drafts.

How to Propagate an Ogre Ears Succulent

Like normal jade plants, Ogre Ears are easy to propagate and share with friends. Propagate in the spring during the start of the growing season, timing your trimming for a few days after watering.

1. Cut an established stem near the base of your Ogre Ears plant using clean scissors.
2. Gently twist and pull to remove leaves from the bottom of the stem. Set these aside.
3. Place your stem and leaf cuttings in a dry space out of direct light to let them callous over. After a few days, the callous will form.
4. Dip the calloused cuttings in rooting hormone and transfer them to a dish of succulent soil. Push the stem into the soil and the leaves on top of the soil, gently covering the calloused ends.
5. Succulent cuttings aren’t as drought-tolerant as established plants. Mist them regularly until roots grow.
6. Once roots are established and new growth takes place, separate and transplant the cuttings to new pots.

This process uses both stem and leaf cuttings to get the most out of your Ogre Ears propagation.

Are Ogre Ears Succulents Toxic to Pets?

Like ogres, this jade plant is toxic to pets and children. The ASPCA recommends keeping this plant out of reach.