The unpretentious plant Sedum, planting and care of which does not require a huge investment of effort, time and finance, has gained popularity among gardeners. What flower lover does not want to decorate a summer residence or to dilute the room atmosphere with such an interesting decoration? But first, you should study the detailed description of its species and growing conditions.
General description and history of origin
Sedum is a succulent plant from the family Crassulaceae. Appearance is represented by thickened stems, covered with fleshy leaves of a rounded shape, and the top with an inflorescence. Most relate to perennials, but there are biennial representatives.
The appearance of the sedum
For your information! In the natural environment grows in South America, North Africa and partly Russia. This unpretentious plant is also known under the names rabbit grass, fat girl, young, stone rose, violin, live grass, hernia grass.
Translated from Latin, Sedum has several meanings:
- "sit" - often spreads along the ground, forming a continuous carpet;
- "pacify" - has analgesic properties.
The people appreciated it for its cleansing properties, hence the Ukrainian name "stonecrop" came from.
In the world there are about 500 varieties of stonecrop, but they are conditionally combined into two groups:
- ground cover. The predominant species is 10 to 30 cm high. It spreads along the surface of the earth, conquering new territories and rapidly expanding, thereby forming a continuous coating;
- shrubby. A variety of tall stonecrops, can reach 80 cm in height. They are popular among gardeners, since the only condition is sufficient and timely watering. The rest are not demanding to care, they can grow on rocky areas and poorly humus soil.
Groundcover forms a continuous carpet on the ground
Common varieties
Sedum grows well not only in the garden, at home also feels great. The sedum plant does not need abundant watering, and should be left alone for the winter. An abundance of species allows you to choose a copy for every taste. This may be a low groundcover, in the form of a separate shrub or flower, the stems of which will hang from a hanging pot.
Important! In the ranks of the sedum there are poisonous representatives that have a detrimental effect on the surrounding vegetation, releasing toxic substances into the atmosphere.
About the features of Sedum, which is widespread among amateur gardeners, it is worth learning in more detail.
Sedum caustic - succulent with a thin rhizome and stems no more than 15 cm. The leaves are small, fleshy, egg-shaped and green (light or dark, depending on the location of germination and lighting). Golden yellow flowers have a sweet aroma.
Sedum prominent - the owner of fleshy shoots 30-50 cm tall and light pink flowers, collected in false umbrellas. Stonecrop leaves have an oval jagged shape, a bluish-green color. The most popular of this species was the variety Diamond and stonecrop Blue pearl. The height of the bushes reaches 20 cm. The shrub consists of bright purple-blue leaves of an oval shape. At the end of summer, when sedum blooms, stonecrop takes on a beautiful look thanks to dark pink inflorescences.
Tall sedums belong to the group of shrubs
Sedum white looks very impressive in a pot. The height of the plant does not exceed 15 cm. Elongated green leaves turn red in the autumn. White flowers are collected in large inflorescences.
Sedum Burrito is represented by a stunted plant whose stems creep on the surface or hang down. The leaves are olive in color and rounded in shape, 1 cm in size. It can easily be confused with the stain of Morgan, but an experienced gardener knows that the main difference between these two species is in the form of leaves and their color.
Sedum hybrid refers to stunted plants. Has branching stems with large green foliage.
Sedum Morgana is a native of Central and South America. It is represented by long, drooping stems with dense leaves of light green color and a conical shape. Stonecrop leaves have a diameter of 0.8 cm, and do not exceed 3 cm in length. At home, the stems reach 1 m. The flowers are small in size and pink in color.
Important! Despite its healing properties, Morgan's sedum is poisonous. Care should be taken that a person or animal does not accidentally swallow the juice or leaves of a plant, this will lead to poisoning.
Sedum Morgan got its name thanks to the stems hanging like a tail of a monkey
False Sedum is a creeping succulent plant, which is also called Caucasian sedum, which indicates its true origin. The natural growing area is the west of Armenia, Georgia, the north of Iran and Turkey. The height of this groundcover perennial plant varies from 5 to 25 cm. Has tapered leaves up to 2.5 cm long and 0.5-1 cm wide, dark green. Small flowers of stonecrop false are collected in lush inflorescences of purple, raspberry, pink flowers.
Kamchatka Sedum is a perennial that grows up to 40 cm. The leaves are elongated, oblong dentate in shape up to 3 cm long. Orange flowers are collected in inflorescences. Suitable for harsh conditions, stonecrop is ideal for planting and care in the open ground. In the cold season, its ground part dies, only rhizomes remain to winter. In spring, young shoots appear. Distributed in the eastern regions of the Eurasian continent: in the Far East, China, Japan, Korea.
Sedum yellow is a variety of the genus Zhivuchnik. Its lodging stems with green, brown leaves of a slightly bluish tint, sometimes two-tone, rise to a height of 20 cm. Sedum flower is bright yellow in color.
For your information! Unpretentious to habitat conditions, soil composition and watering.
Sedum of Eversa is a creeping perennial succulent, forming low-growing shrubs with smooth red-brown stems up to 40 cm long. The leaves are rounded in shape, about 2 cm in size. The five-leaved sedum flower is pink, raspberry or purple. It has a rather long rhizome of 10-25 cm with many branches, which lignifies with time.
For your information! The natural habitat of this species is Central and South Asia, North India, Altai Territory.
Sedum Karl is no less interesting. Its erect stems are decorated with large dark green oval leaves and bright pink lush inflorescences of small flowers. The height of the formed shrubs reaches 50 cm. Stonecrop is not picky about watering, but needs well-lit areas. Differs in the increased frost resistance.
Sedum Matrona is a representative of high shrub species. Growing, reaches 40-60 cm and forms a dense bush. Powerful stems have a purple color, leaves of a gray-green hue, dense and elongated up to 6 cm. Large inflorescences of soft pink color grow in diameter up to 12-15 cm. In the wild grows in Europe, Mongolia, the Caucasus, Japan, China, mainly in pine and mixed forests, meadows.
Sedum Purple Emperor
Sedum Purple Emperor is one of the largest stonecrops, it can grow up to 80 cm wide and 60 cm high. The succulent has earned its name "purple emperor" due to the purple-red leaves that become even brighter in the sun. The shape of the sheet plate is oval. During flowering, large inflorescences of a pink hue appear on its shoots. It tolerates harsh conditions and winter frosts.
Spanish Sedum is a ground cover succulent, which, growing, forms a dense coating with a height of not more than 10 cm. Its distinguishing feature is the high variability and variability of the shape and color of the leaves, the timing of flowering and life expectancy. So, the leaves range from reddish to bluish-green. With sufficient sunlight, they turn pink, and humus-rich soil contributes to the formation of green pigment.
Important! Stonecrop Spanish can grow due to self-sowing, which ultimately turns it into a hard-to-remove weed.
Sedum bent - an evergreen plant with short shoots up to 20 cm. It forms a coating on the surface of the earth like a fluffy carpet. The stems are covered with green leaves of a peculiar shape resembling thorns. Yellow flowers are collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences.
Sedum Rubrotinctum is the owner of white-pink leaves, which, when propagated, acquire a red-green color. A distinctive feature is slow growth.
Sedum Dasifillum is a ground cover succulent with creeping shoots with a diameter of 0.5 cm. The foliage is blue, spherical in shape, 1 mm in diameter.
Features of home care
Most varieties of stonecrop are suitable for keeping in a home environment. They are able to exist even in the most severe conditions, so they will not cause unnecessary trouble. It is necessary to observe simple rules, and then the Sedum indoor flower will delight its owner for more than one year.
Stonecrop is ideal for home content and for decor areas
Temperature
Stonecrop is heat-loving and tolerates heat well, so in summer the temperature should be at least 25-28 ° C. In winter, it is enough to adhere to 10-15 ° C. At a higher temperature in the cold season, the shoots of sedum can stretch and deform.
Lighting
Sedum is photophilous. It is recommended to place the plant on the sunniest part of the apartment so that it receives enough light. In winter, you can take out on a windowsill or a heated balcony. For a succulent resistant to frost, a cold zone is also suitable.
Note! You can use phytolamps when there is not enough sun. If you miss this moment, the stonecrop will cease to bloom and fade.
Watering
The plant does not need frequent watering. Its main feature is the ability to accumulate water in the leaves. In summer, the frequency of watering should not exceed twice a week, and in winter even less often - once every two weeks. Water is used at room temperature, settled. With a lack of moisture, leaves can fall, with excessive moisture - the plant will die.
Air humidity
Sedum feels great in dry, warm air. There is no need to spray it in order to moisturize, it is only necessary to remove dust from the surface of its leaves. In conditions of high humidity, stonecrop leaves can undergo a rotting process.
Soil and top dressing
Soil for sedum can be bought at the store, special for succulents. You can also make it yourself:
- mix sod and leaf species with river sand, add small pieces of brick and coal;
- to 2 teaspoons peat add rotted foliage and sand.
In the spring-summer period, top dressing is carried out with an interval of 1 time per month. Mineral fertilizers for cacti are suitable, the amount is calculated according to the attached instructions. Autumn and winter are a period of rest of the succulent.
When and how it blooms
The flowering period varies depending on the type and variety of sedum. Most often it is spring and summer. The flowers are small and collected in inflorescences, the color of which is very diverse: white, pink, raspberry, red. At home, flowering can be achieved only if the cultivation and care conditions are properly observed.
Breeding methods
Sedum reproduction occurs in any of the following ways:
- by seeds;
- cuttings.
You can simply tear off the leaf, put it in a pot of earth and wait. When the cut is dried, small roots and other leaves will appear. This method is longer in time.
New succulents can be grown from a separate leaf.
Seed cultivation
Growing perennials with seeds allows you to breed rare varieties. At the same time, this is the most labor-intensive process.
Seeds can be bought at the store or collected from plants. Sown in spring or autumn, laying planting material on the surface of previously prepared soil (a mixture of sand and peat), do not fall asleep on top. Soil is pre-moistened. Cover with glass or film.
In the natural environment, seeds lie under a layer of snow at sub-zero temperatures. At home, you can put a container of seeds in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. Next, you need to move the container to a warm room and provide sunlight. The first shoots should appear in two weeks - a maximum of a month.
Rooting cuttings
In order not to languish with the long wait for the stonecrop to grow from a leaf, you can separate a small shoot or part of the bush, dry it and plant it in the ground. Next, slightly moisten the soil and adhere to a temperature of 23-25 ° C for successful germination. First, the shoot will take root, then the foliage will grow. Two weeks later, you need to transplant the young plant in the open ground.
The easiest and most effective way to reproduce sedum - cuttings
Thus, sedum does not require special conditions for growing, easy to reproduce, unpretentious and resistant to harsh habitat. It can be grown as an indoor plant, or to decorate household plots with it, creating compositions from various varieties of succulents.
