SUCCULENTS > SEDUM
IN THIS GUIDE
SEDUM GUIDES
variety
Sedum – or stonecrop – is a democratic succulent .
They ’re tolerant to heat , drought , and other harsh conditions , make them keen plant for father .
One of the reasons this plant is so democratic is its enormous versatility in show .
Some varieties sport jelly - bean - like buds , while others have hugely aureate yellow blossom which seem to paint sunlight in good order across your garden .
“ Sedum is a magnanimous genus with a huge variety of species that admit type for succulent collector through to hugely democratic garden favourites , ” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly .
“ As a garden perennial , they are tough , drought tolerant when established and leave beautiful belated summer flowers . ”
For this guide , we ’ve worked with some of the most experienced sedum growers in the UK :
“ The palette of gloss , especially on the evergreen plant variety show , makes me specially passionate about growing sedum , ” says Niamh .
“ Once established , upkeep is minimum , and they have a slap-up capacity to expand in droughts and hold up coarse wintertime conditions . ”
Overview
PreferredFull Sun
ExposureExposed or shelter
Height0.5 – 1 M
Spread0.1 – 0.5 M
Bloom TimeVaries
PreferredChalk , Loam , guts
MoistureWell drained
pHNeutral / Alkaline
Although the sedum genus also includes annual and biennial plants , the legal age of popular varieties are repeated .
Before choosing your Sedum mixture , carry in mind the wide kitchen range of potential esthetic .
Researching the varieties uncommitted , and infer what each will seem like throughout its lifetime , is a key part of select the correct Stonecrop for your garden .
This is peculiarly reliable if you ’re planning to create a succulent display or rock garden , something along the lines of the figure of speech above .
Whatever mixture you choose , you could expect carpets of gloss from yellows and oranges , to reds and pinks – and even turquoise , blues and greys .
How To Grow Sedum
Sedum does n’t grow as expectant as some other plants .
The maximal tiptop for the varieties above is about 0.5 m , although many will be modest .
People revel Stonecrops for their lusterlessness - forming tendency – give you low , full spread of color and visual interest .
“ Grow Sedums in your garden for a drought - test copy , microbe - cogent evidence , windproof , hardy , previous - summer spectacular in full sun on average grease , ” enjoin Katherine Crouch , an honor - winning garden decorator .
“ Neither fussy nor invasive , you’re able to split up your sedum every three age and it wo n’t splay . ”
If after reading this far you ’ve decide to stick in a Sedum to your garden , here ’s what you involve to know .
Each of the assortment above has a hardiness rating of H5 or mellow , meaning they can survive down to -10 ° C – or passably much everything a British winter can throw at them .
Several kind are rat H6 or H7 , think of they ’ll still wield down to below -20 ° speed of light .
“ I recommend John Innes no 3 , ” aver Niamh .
“ When combined with perlite , it ’s sufficiently free - draining whilst being a lasting planting medium . ”
All the potpourri above will do just hunky-dory in sand or loam , with others being happy in chalk or clay as well .
They ’re generally not fussy about pH , with most varieties take alkaline or electroneutral land .
A couple can manage acidic , too – good to check the specific needs of the variety you choose .
The most important thing when planting a Sedum is the wet level .
“ rivet on your soil mixing . Never use multi - purpose compost and ensure it ’s liberal debilitate before you implant , ” warn Niamh .
Your soil should be well - drained , but this is n’t a plant that will grow well in waterlogged or even too moist soils .
Planting
Most Stonecrop varieties require full sunlight to thrive , although a few can make do in partial shade .
All of those above will grow well while facing south , but beyond that , there ’s no hard - and - fast prescript for which instruction your Stonecrop should face .
Some in our list are quite versatile , being able to cope with three or even four guidance .
Others are picky , and will only grow their good in a south - facing aspect .
Our advice is to look at specific information for the sort of Stonecrop you ’re plan to implant .
The good time to plant a Stonecrop is spring , after the hazard of frost has passed and before summertime start to heat up .
check that to plant out in the right soil conditions , as fresh - planted Stonecrops will be most liable to damage .
When planting from semen , leave at least 15 cm of space between each plant .
Also make certain to read up on your variety , because certain ones call for more distance – sometimes up to 60 atomic number 96 .
If you ’re grow from a division taken from another Sedum works , guarantee the whole root globe is cover by soil .
The jam should be deep enough that the full origin testicle is buried just below the surface .
Cuttings are even more aboveboard : just place the cutting in the muddle and cover it over .
If soil conditions are right , then your plant life should take root easily .
Sedum Care
Newly planted Stonecrop plants need a morsel of TLC to become right launch .
Keep a careful heart on the soil wet levels , making equally certain that they do n’t stay too sozzled or get too dry .
Once your plant is established , you do n’t need to be quite so vigilant about wet storey .
Sedums are succulents , after all : a type of plant noted for its ability to weather drouth and retain water for juiceless spells .
Sedums will apprize a layer of compost being added to the soil once a year .
Avoid anything too eminent in N , as this can cause wilting .
If you ’re raise your sedums in a container , Niamh has the next advice :
“ In Suffolk , I apply 40 % soil to 60 % perlite for my growing sensitive . This ratio can be increase to 20/80 if you ’re in a wetter area .
“ Keep a pocketbook of horticultural moxie in your shed or greenhouse . The grit story may drop after a harsh wintertime and a top - up in springtime will revive your containers . ”
stonecrop can be safely pruned back to keep them from getting unruly .
If you ’re planning to prune , deadhead after flowering .
There ’s no need to do this , however , and the selection is purely aesthetic .
Some nurseryman prefer to leave behind the fading flowers to add a bit of spare colour .
Common Problems
Stonecrops are comparatively well - comport when it comes to pests .
However , Ray excuse that the job that might face sedums vary massively look on the variety .
“ Some potpourri need specialised gardening , whilst others are difficult to kill . You need to know the requirements of the one you are maturate . ”
Take the usual garden precautions , and you should be capable to avoid spending your whole lifetime battling pests and infestation .
As we ’ve articulate throughout this template : your best stakes is to expect at specifics for the type(s ) you ’ll be planting in your garden .
Some are renowned for being pest - detached , while others have slightly higher tendency of attracting certain critters .
Knowing which precaution you should take can help you to avoid problems before they arise .
Here ’s what to look out for :
This is a sap - feeding insect that likes to suck the life - giving nectar out of all sorts of plants . Sadly , certain varieties of Stonecrop are on their preferred card .
Sometimes you ’ll see the insects themselves – little , with white extension . Other times you may notice their calling card – pasty balance on your plants .
Once whiteflies establish themselves , they can be hard to transfer . Deliberately introducing lowly wasps is one way to control this pest ( you may arrange them online ) . Alternatively , certain organic spray can bring them under control .
The best fashion to avoid whiteflies is to keep on top of weed , and match bought plant for any signs of plague before planting them out .
These fellas also wish to suck sap , and are also attracted to sure varieties of Stonecrop .
As with whitefly , you ’ll commonly be able to see aphids with the naked middle – they ’re little and fleeceable , and hang around on the leaf of plants they ’re feasting on .
If your Stonecrop looks weak or generally unhealthy and you ca n’t see any aphid , take a closer feeling – sometimes they lurk out of sight .
Small amounts of aphids can be support , but if they start to get out of control , sure pesticides can be used to remove them .
The health of your plant life is the bench mark of whether an plague is acquire out of control .
Yet another germ that will aid itself to the sap from your Stonecrop ’s parting , the greenhouse red wanderer mite is worth retain an eye out for .
The symptoms will be similar to previous pests in this list : an unhealthful plant with stunted growth , with a possibly mottled appearing .
This mite thrives in warm conditions , so an outdoor plant will probably be safe in winter .
If your Sedum is growing in a glasshouse , keep a spotter all year around .
Removing infected plants immediately is a good way to prevent further cattle farm ; otherwise , predatory mites and sure types of pesticide offer efficient control .
