How to Grow Stringy Stonecrop? Handling Legginess and Fertilizing Methods

Stringy Stonecrop (Sedum sarmentosum) is a plant that loves moisture; it used to be commonly seen by riverbanks, and now many people grow it at home. It has high value, can be used as medicine and for ornament, so it is deeply loved by people. However, many people, when cultivating it, are not very clear about its specific cultivation methods.

How to Grow Stringy Stonecrop (Handling Legginess)

1. Light and water treatment. If Stringy Stonecrop has become leggy, then quickly move it out of the cool, shady place, let it get some sun and carry out photosynthesis to curb its legginess. This is not enough; at this time you need to stop watering. Although Stringy Stonecrop in the growing period needs water, since it has already become leggy, do not intensify its rampant growth. Wait until the plant's legginess is controlled, then resume normal watering; it is not too late.

2. Beheading and cuttings. Stringy Stonecrop will grow many branches, but the branches of a leggy Stringy Stonecrop are very slender, with sparsely arranged leaves, and are not attractive. At this time, beheading it and taking cuttings, then caring for it anew, is the best method. After beheading, the mother plant may even fill out the pot, achieving two goals at once.

3. Chlormequat. If water and fertilizer management and light management are all suitable, and the gardener does not want to behead and take cuttings, they can buy chlormequat to apply to the Stringy Stonecrop. After slowly curbing the legginess, although the plant is not as attractive as in its normal state, it can still recover about eighty or ninety percent.

Fertilizing Methods for Stringy Stonecrop

1. Choice of fertilizer: organic fertilizer, compound chemical fertilizer, etc. are all acceptable.

2. Fertilizing method: fertilize once when just planting, but the fertilizer concentration must not be too strong. After fertilizing, water promptly so the plant can more fully absorb the beneficial components in the fertilizer. During the growing period, fertilizing once every 15 days to 20 days is enough.

3. Precautions: stop fertilizing in winter, because in winter it enters a dormant state. At this time, not only is fertilizing unnecessary, but watering should also be stopped or reduced to a small amount. After fertilizing, water promptly; besides allowing the plant to better absorb the nutrients in the fertilizer as just mentioned, it can also reduce damage to the roots from the fertilizer. When fertilizing, it is best to slowly pour it along the edge of the flower pot, and do not fertilize close to the roots. Although the nitrogen in fertilizer can make the plant grow faster, if applied excessively, it can easily cause the Stringy Stonecrop to become leggy.

Causes of Legginess in Stringy Stonecrop

1. Insufficient light. In the spring, summer and autumn growing seasons, Stringy Stonecrop can be cared for with scattered light. Although strong direct light should be avoided, it also cannot always be placed in a shady place, otherwise it easily becomes leggy. Moreover, with weak photosynthesis, the leaves will turn whitish and yellowish, and may even become wrinkled. With insufficient light, the branches of Stringy Stonecrop grow very slender, swaying in the wind in a way that makes people's hearts ache, like Lin Daiyu, a frail willow swaying in the wind.

2. Too much water. Stringy Stonecrop is a water-loving plant, and in daily care the potting soil should be kept moist. But if the potting soil has standing water for a long time, it easily causes legginess. Especially in the plum rain season in the Pearl River Delta area, if outdoor-grown Stringy Stonecrop is not moved away in time, the plant easily grows rampantly, but is not robust.

3. Too much nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer is the most able to promote plant growth, but if fertilized excessively, it easily causes Stringy Stonecrop to become leggy.

Prevention and Control of Powdery Mildew in Stringy Stonecrop

Powdery mildew. Symptoms: the affected parts are leaves, tender stems, flower buds and flower buds, etc. The obvious feature is that a grayish-white powdery mildew layer (the pathogen's conidia and mycelium) grows on the diseased parts. The growth and development of the affected plant are hindered, the leaves become distorted, and it cannot bloom or the flowers become deformed. When the disease is severe, the leaves dry up and the plant dies.

Pathogen analysis: the pathogen of powdery mildew is Erysiphe polygoni, belonging to the Ascomycota. The mycelium grows on both sides of the leaves, the conidia are cylindrical, and the ascocarps are clustered to nearly clustered, dark brown, oblate, with appendages unbranched or irregularly branched, curved; asci are long or short ovoid, and ascospores are ovoid or elliptical.

Prevention and control methods: appropriately increase the application of phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, and pay attention to ventilation and light transmission. Promptly cut off severely diseased plants or severely diseased parts, and bury them deeply or burn them to eliminate the source of the pathogen. You can alternately spray 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 800 times dilution, 80% zineb at 500 times dilution, and 75% chlorothalonil 500 solution.

Stringy Stonecrop can also become leggy during cultivation. If there is legginess, it is best to use the beheading method for care. There are also many techniques when fertilizing Stringy Stonecrop. Winter is its dormant period, so do not fertilize during this period.