What are the reasons for drooping leaves on the Sedum family plant Sempervivum

Sempervivum of the Crassulaceae family, also known as Buddha's seat lotus, is a succulent plant of the Crassulaceae family that likes a sunny and cool environment. Many flower lovers always encounter drooping leaves during cultivation, and the problem is mostly one or several of the following. Let's take a look below at what the reasons are for drooping leaves on Sempervivum of the Crassulaceae family!

Growth habits of Sempervivum of the Crassulaceae family

Sempervivum of the Crassulaceae family is an alpine-type succulent plant that likes a sunny, cool and dry environment and is suitable for acidic, neutral and alkaline soils. Except for appropriate shading during high summer temperatures to avoid scorching sun exposure, it needs full sunlight in other seasons. Water should be restricted in winter, and it can tolerate a low temperature of -20°C. The plant is in a dormant state during high summer temperatures and cold winter, and the main growing seasons are spring and autumn when the climate is relatively cool. It requires sufficient sunlight. If light is insufficient, the plant shape will become loose and not compact, affecting its appearance and ornamental value, while plants grown in sufficient light have thick, plump leaves, a compact plant shape and bright leaf color, looking very beautiful.

Reasons for drooping leaves on Sempervivum of the Crassulaceae family

1. High humidity and low temperature make the tubers extremely prone to rot, or they have already rotted.

2. If the indoor temperature is below 15°C, the growth of Sempervivum stagnates and it enters a dormant state, and the aboveground leaves gradually begin to wither. At this time, the amount of watering must be reduced as much as possible.

3. Too much watering causes water accumulation, the root system cannot breathe, and this leads to drooping leaves or even death; it is best to mist, which ensures humidity while not causing water accumulation in the pot.

4. Insufficient light will cause the plant shape to become loose and drooping, not compact; while plants grown in sufficient light have thick, plump leaves, a compact plant shape and bright leaf color.

5. Or it may be caused by poor root growth due to transplanting, making it unable to absorb water, and so on.

How to grow Sempervivum of the Crassulaceae family

1. Soil: The potting soil should be loose and fertile with good drainage and air permeability. You can use half leaf mold or peat soil and half coarse sand or vermiculite, and mix in a small amount of calcium materials such as bone meal, then use after mixing evenly. Since the soil is moist, newly planted plants do not need too much water; keep it semi-dry to help the root system recover.

2. Temperature: It likes a warm, humid and semi-shady growing environment. The suitable growing temperature is 20-30°C, and the overwintering temperature is 15°C. If the nighttime temperature in winter is not lower than 5°C and the daytime temperature is above 15°C, the plant can continue to grow, can be watered normally, and can be fertilized appropriately; if watering is controlled to make the plant dormant, it can also tolerate a low temperature of 0°C. Sempervivum is not heat-tolerant. After May, plant growth gradually stops and it enters the summer dormant period. At home, it can be placed under a corridor or on the inner side of a balcony and other places without direct sunlight, with good ventilation and no rain, and watering should be controlled and fertilization stopped to avoid plant rot caused by muggy heat, humidity and water accumulation in the soil.

3. Light: The plant is in a dormant state during high summer temperatures and cold winter. The main growing seasons are the relatively cool spring and autumn. During the growing season it requires sufficient sunlight. If light is insufficient, the plant shape will become loose and not compact, affecting its ornamental value, while plants grown in sufficient light have thick, plump leaves, a compact plant shape and bright leaf color.

4. Watering: Water according to “do not water if not dry, water thoroughly when watering”, avoid long-term water accumulation to prevent root rot, but do not let it become too dry either, otherwise although the plant will not die, it will grow slowly, with dull leaf color and lack of vitality. During high summer temperatures, leaf water evaporation is high and water demand is greater. If water is lacking, the leaves are very likely to wilt, so the leaves must be misted frequently while keeping the environment moist, but water accumulation in the pot must be avoided, otherwise it will cause root rot.

5. Fertilization: Apply a decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer or a compound fertilizer low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus and potassium about once every 20 days. When fertilizing, do not splash fertilizer water onto the leaves. Fertilization is generally carried out on sunny mornings or evenings, and a thorough watering should be given that evening or the next morning to dilute the residual fertilizer liquid in the soil. In winter, place it indoors in a sunny place. If the nighttime minimum temperature is around 10°C and there is a certain temperature difference between day and night, it can be watered appropriately and fertilized as needed so that the plant continues to grow. If such a high temperature cannot be maintained, watering should be controlled, the potting soil kept dry, and fertilization stopped to make the plant dormant; it can also tolerate a low temperature of 5°C, and some varieties can even tolerate a low temperature of 0°C.

6. Propagation: Sempervivum can be propagated in the growing season by cutting off small offsets sprouting from the base (small rosette-shaped leaf discs) and rooting them in sandy soil. After cutting, keep them slightly moist; they root in 2-3 weeks. Some small leaf discs already have roots underneath and can be potted directly. Leaf cuttings, although they can occasionally survive, have a very low success rate, so they are rarely used. If seeds can be collected, sowing can also be used for propagation. They germinate in 10-15 days at around 20°C. Although the seedlings grow relatively slowly, a large number of seedlings can be obtained at one time.

7. Repotting: Repot once every 1 to 2 years in spring or autumn. During repotting, prune the root system, cutting off dead roots or overly long old roots. The potting soil should be loose and fertile with good drainage and air permeability. You can use half leaf mold or peat soil and half coarse sand or vermiculite, and mix in a small amount of calcium materials such as bone meal, then use after mixing evenly. Since the soil is moist, newly planted plants do not need too much water; keep it semi-dry to help the root system recover.