Sedum or Stonecrop

Family Crassulaceae. Succulents, perennial herbaceous plants, less often annual or biennial, and semi-shrubs, usually low-growing, forming mats or with long shoots.

Leaves alternate, opposite or whorled, often gathered in rosettes, flat to rounded, mostly entire, with serrated margins. Flowers gathered in umbels, less often solitary, axillary, bisexual, less often unisexual; yellow, white to red, blue. Cross-pollinated plants. Widely distributed in temperate zones of Europe, East Asia, North America, and also in Mexico (especially a very large species diversity); a few species occur in the Southern Hemisphere. The genus contains 600 (500) species. In cultivation many hardy species are known, and a number of non-hardy species in open ground. Some species from the latter group are most widely represented in botanical garden collections and are suitable for growing indoors.

Light: bright. The plant requires direct sunlight. In winter supplemental lighting is recommended.

Temperature: from 8 to 26°C. In the summer it tolerates hot weather well. In winter sedums are best kept at 8-10°C.

Watering: regular; in summer - moderate (the soil should dry out between waterings), in winter watering minimal, especially with cool conditions.

Humidity: not of significant importance.

Fertilization: in the spring-summer period once a month with cactus fertilizer at normal concentration. In autumn and winter - no fertilization.

Rest period: from November to February. Provide the plant with a cool place with maximum light, water rarely.

Repotting: young sedums every 2 years, mature ones every 3-4 years.

Propagation: by seeds and vegetatively - by cuttings and leaves, mainly in spring.

Cultivation:

Sedums (stonecrops) are undemanding succulent plants. These succulents are suitable for growing in sunny locations (only in light do the leaf colors become bright), and they easily withstand heat on south-facing windows under direct sunlight. They also do well on west- and east-facing windows if nothing shades them and there is no shading from nearby plants. A north-facing window may not provide enough light.

In winter the plants are kept in a place with bright light; in addition, it is recommended to illuminate them with fluorescent lamps. When kept in shade the plants become strongly etiolated and lose their decorative appeal, the leaf coloration fades. Adequate ventilation is necessary. In summer the plant responds well to fresh air. Note that a purchased sedum should be acclimated to direct sunlight gradually to avoid sunburn.

The temperature range that sedum tolerates is quite wide - from 8 to 26°C. In the summer it tolerates hot weather well. In winter sedums are best kept at 8-10°C; if kept in warm conditions they may stretch and deform. The winter rest period is easily endured by the plant near a cold windowpane. Some cultivars can withstand light frosts.

Sedums are watered regularly, in summer moderately (the substrate should dry between waterings), in winter watering is very limited (careful), especially with cool keeping. Sedum Morgan, in the opinion of some growers, is more demanding of watering in summer and is watered abundantly as the top layer of the substrate dries. Sedums suffer greatly from overwatering.

Air humidity is not of great importance. Plants tolerate the dry air of apartments well. Dust accumulated on the stonecrop can be washed off by misting.

In the spring-summer period feed once a month with cactus fertilizer at normal concentration. In autumn and winter - no feeding.

Young sedums are repotted every 2 years, adults every 3-4 years. Plants tolerate repotting relatively easily, even when flowering. Use not too large pots for repotting, as sedums do not have a strong root system. They are not demanding about soil; it can be neutral or slightly acidic (pH 5.5-7). A mix can be made of equal parts turf soil, leaf mold and sand with added brick chips. Pieces of charcoal can also be added to the substrate. Good drainage is necessary.

Repotting of some sedums, for example Sedum Morgan, should be very careful because the fragile leaves break off easily and the exposed stem loses its decorative attractiveness.

Sedum potozinsky requires annual renewal by cuttings. In April-May plant 10-15 cuttings (depending on the diameter of the container) in a deep dish or a low but wide pot with a soil mix: 2 parts turf soil, 1 part leaf mold, 0.5 parts sand. No covering is required. The small plants root quickly and begin to grow.

Sedums are propagated by seeds and vegetatively - by cuttings and leaves, mainly in spring.