How To Plant, Grow, And Care For Sedum

How To Plant, Grow, And Care For Sedum

Sedum plants come in so many fun varieties! No two sedum plants look the same. Your succulent garden or collection needs the kind of unique look that the sedum plant provides. From flowers to color variants and plenty of shapes and sizes to choose from, your sedum plant will make an excellent addition to your growing garden. 


Lula’s Garden put together this guide on caring for sedum—read on to learn more!

 Get To Know Your Sedum Plant 

Let’s start with the basics with everything you need to know about your sedum plant.

A sedum plant, or stonecrop, is set apart from other succulent plants by its thick succulent leaves, flesh-like stems, and bright, star-shaped flowers. This succulent is also a perennial, which means it only flowers at certain times of the year. The sedum plant’s peak bloom time is in the summer and fall. 

Due to the hundreds of varieties of sedum plants, there are plenty to choose from that will serve as a beautiful piece of your garden. Sedum plants are known for being relatively hardy, extremely easy to care for, and gorgeous. These succulents are also pollinators, which means they play a valuable part in the environment.

They have two different growth patterns, including low-growing sedum plants and upright growing sedum plants. 

Low-growing sedum plants grow across the ground. This is an incredibly unique look for succulents. Rather than growing upright like most plants, this sedum plant variation has the ability to cover paths, up rock walls, or provide a unique waterfall growth pattern over the edge of a garden wall. 

Upright-growing sedum plants have a different growth pattern from the low-growing sedum. This sedum plant variation grows tall and produces bright flowers that are another unique characteristic of a sedum plant. If you want a new addition to your garden and your goal is to pollinate, this sedum plant variation is a must-have. 

The upright sedum plant can have a variety of colored flowers including red, pink, yellow, and white. If you are looking for a pop of color in your garden, a sedum plant could be just what you need. These color varieties provide your garden with a very impressive display of flowers.

 There Are So Many Options

When it comes to choosing your sedum plant, there are endless varieties; seriously, there are hundreds to choose from. 

A show-stopping sedum plant garden collection typically consists of:

  • Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum)
  • Autumn joy sedum (Sedum spectabile) 
  • Sedum humifusum
  • Blue Spruce (Sedum reflexum) 

These specific varieties make an excellent addition to every succulent garden for several reasons. 

The burro’s tail, or Sedum morganianum, has a unique look. The thick, succulent leaves appear to be rounded and plump. This plant will grow over the planter and hang down, giving it quite the character. The sedum morganianum colors range from a pale yellow, almost white, to a fresh green color 

An autumn joy sedum is especially beautiful due to its vibrant pink flower variations during its blooming seasons. If you want your garden to explode with colorful flowers, this sedum plant is a perfect choice.

The sedum humifusum is one of the low-growing sedum plants. This plant variation is an excellent choice if you are wanting a lot of unique ground cover or a beautiful cascade style of growth over a garden wall. This sedum plant also blooms gorgeous yellow flowers. 

The sedum reflexum has a blue and green coloring, grows low to the ground, and also produces a variety of bright, yellow flowers. If you want this beautiful color variation added to your garden, combined with the low-growing capability, this is the sedum plant variation for you!

A sedum plant has endless varieties, making it a necessity for your gardens and succulent families. You do not want to miss out on everything a sedum plant has to offer. From colors to flowers, to interesting growth patterns, a sedum plant needs to be included in your collection today!

 Learn What Every Sedum Plant Needs 

Let’s dig into what every sedum plant needs in order to grow and thrive. If you need a guide for how to plant sedum and you are confused about when to transplant sedum, look no further!

Succulent plants need very simple care, and your sedum plant is no exception. There are four basic concepts you can follow if you want to care for your sedum plant:

  • Light: Your sedum plant will require direct sunlight for at least six hours every day. Above all else, keep your sedum plant away from deep shade. While it’s best to place your sedum outdoors, indoor sedum can survive in artificial lights or a particularly sunny window.
  • Temperature: Although light is essential for sedum growth, heat is not. In fact, sedum does well in the freezing cold, the heat, or even in drought. The perfect temperature will depend on your specific sedum species, but most indoor sedum should be kept at 60 to 70 degrees. Anything lower, and your sedum will go dormant until it feels the temperature heat up again. 
  • Soil: If the soil is too moist, or if you water your sedum plant too much, you run the risk of rotting your sedum plant. A well-draining soil is ideal, but sedum can even grow in sandy, rock, or shallow soils. Fertilizer is also a must every spring, but they don’t need to be fed.
  • Watering: Of course, you should still water your sedum plant regularly throughout the spring, summer, and fall with extra attention during its first weeks of life. Only water the soil—the stems, leaves, and any flowers should always stay dry. In the winter, your plant will only need the occasional sprinkle.
  • If you want to be more particular about outdoor planting and transplanting, read on for more information.

    Extra Sedum Plant Growing Tips 

    If you are planting your sedum plant outdoors, it is best to plant your sedum plant after frost season is over and before the intense heat of summer, so spring is your best option! 

    As mentioned above, you want your sedum plant to be in full sun or in light shade for best growth results. Especially if you want your sedum plant to withstand harsh winters outdoors, it is best to put your sedum plants under full, direct sunlight. 

    The best advice for how to plant sedum plants: Proper spacing is key! Plant your sedum plants about six inches apart and prepare the soil by loosening it about 12 inches deep. 

    If you want to know when to transplant sedum, simply wait until it appears your plant has overgrown its pot. Give your sedum a hole in your garden about two times bigger than the pot it was originally in. Place the plant in the hole, fill it gently with dirt, and water the area to firm up the soil.

    If you want to control the spread of your sedum plant, it is best to divide up each plant. Simply divide your plant into different pieces. Once you cut a piece of your sedum plant, replant it and the cut end will simply grow a new root system. 

    Caring for a succulent has never been easier.

     Start Your Sedum Plant Collection Today

    A sedum plant can be the perfect addition to your garden. If you want beautiful pops of color, interesting and unique growth patterns, and endless varieties to choose from, the sedum plant is your way to go. 

    Once you get this one-of-a-kind succulent plant in your garden, you will see what a gorgeous addition it is to your collection. So what are you waiting for? Get some sedum plants now and watch them thrive!

     Sources:

    Sedum and Other Succulents | HGTV

    Sedum (Stonecrop): How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Sedum Plants | The Old Farmer's Almanac

    Sedums: Plant Care and Collection of Varieties | Garden.org

    Viewing all plants under Sedums | Garden.org

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