What to Do When the Leaves of the Sedum 'Little Beauty' Wrinkle? Causes and Solutions
Sedum 'Little Beauty' is a succulent plant in the Crassulaceae family, produced by hybridising the succulents Sedum morganianum and Sedum 'Little Beauty'. Because the plant is short and small, after being grown for a period of time it can form a trailing shape, making it very suitable for growing in the home. The ornamental value of Sedum 'Little Beauty' lies mainly in its leaves, which are upright and plump and look very lively. But if its leaves suddenly wilt, it not only affects the ornamental value but may also lead to the death of the plant. Below, Qinnong Web will introduce the causes of wrinkled leaves in Sedum 'Little Beauty' and how to deal with them.
Cause 1: Wrinkling during the potting-recovery period
A Sedum 'Little Beauty' that has just entered the potting-recovery stage, or one that has just been bought home, always needs a certain amount of time to adapt to a new environment. At this time the plant itself will consume the nutrients of the lower leaves to get through this period, so if you find that the leaves of a newly acquired Sedum 'Little Beauty' are wrinkled, it is a very normal phenomenon and there is no need to be too nervous.
Solution
Wrinkled leaves during the potting-recovery period can appear under any circumstances. There is no need to worry; place it in a semi-shaded spot and wait for it to slowly recover. This may take as little as a week or as long as half a month. During the repotting period, try not to water, as the roots have not grown well and their water-absorbing ability is very poor.
Cause 2: Lack of water
If it is a Sedum 'Little Beauty' that has been grown for some time and its leaves suddenly become wrinkled, then you should consider whether it is caused by a lack of water. Especially in summer, when the weather is hot and dry and the temperature is high, the evaporation of water from the leaves is very great, and a lack of water may cause the leaves to wrinkle.
Solution
If the roots have not yet made the ultimate sacrifice, then there is still room to save it. When watering normally, pay attention and observe; in summer, once the soil has dried out, replenish water in time. At the same time, while ensuring good ventilation, you can also mist the leaves. But if you have not watered the Sedum 'Little Beauty' for a long time, you must not suddenly water it thoroughly all at once; proceed gradually so that the plant has a process of adaptation.
Cause 3: Frost damage
Frost damage of course only occurs in winter. If in winter you find signs of the plant's leaves shrivelling, feel whether the ambient temperature is too low, or whether cold wind is blowing towards the plant. The temperature for Sedum 'Little Beauty' to overwinter safely in winter must not be lower than 5°C. If the outdoor temperature is too low or there is even rain or snow, the Sedum 'Little Beauty' will suffer frost damage, and in severe cases the leaves will turn black and the whole plant will die.
Solution
If the frost damage is not very serious, simply move it promptly to a relatively warm place; keeping the temperature at around 10°C is enough. If the temperature is too high that is also no good, because the frost-damaged parts may rot. After moving it to a relatively warm place, the plant will slowly recover to health.
Cause 4: Root rot
The vast majority of root rot is caused by overwatering that produces waterlogging. When there is too much water in the soil, oxygen is reduced, the plant's roots cannot breathe healthily, and the leaves will also slowly shrivel and wilt.
Solution
After root rot, dig the whole Sedum 'Little Beauty' out of the soil, check the extent of the rot, cut off all the rotten parts, then apply carbendazim powder to disinfect, place it in a cool place to dry, then change to fresh soil, and after repotting in a cool place for a week, resume normal care. Unless the roots are completely rotten, it can survive in all other cases.
The above is what Qinnong Web has compiled for you regarding the causes of root rot in Sedum 'Little Beauty' and the corresponding solutions. The causes of shrivelled leaves in Sedum 'Little Beauty' are mainly the four above. If the Sedum 'Little Beauty' you grow at home happens to also encounter shrivelled and wrinkled leaves, first analyse the specific cause, and then treat it accordingly.