<strong>How to Propagate Sedum pachyphyllum (Jelly Beans Succulent): Watering Tips</strong>
Sedum pachyphyllum is a succulent that does not like to grow in clusters, so it usually grows as a solitary single plant and rarely produces offsets. Therefore, when it comes to propagating Sedum pachyphyllum, the available options besides sowing seeds are only leaf cuttings and beheading cuttings. So how do you do it?
How to Propagate Sedum pachyphyllum
1. Preparations before propagation
Before propagating, you should confirm that the Sedum pachyphyllum is growing well, free of pests and diseases, and has relatively thick, plump leaves.
Prepare a glass container suitable for Sedum pachyphyllum, one that looks nice but is not too large. If you really cannot find one, just prepare a nice-looking ceramic flower pot.
2. Cutting method
The propagation method for Sedum pachyphyllum is relatively simple, just use cuttings, which are divided into stem cuttings and leaf cuttings, and the two can be done at the same time.
Choose a mother plant with good growth, cut off the head as cutting material, and pull off the leaves to prepare for leaf cuttings.
Just stick the pulled-off leaves directly into the soil; it is simple and direct, and easy to grow with minimal care. Put the cut-off head into a glass container to root; you do not need to do anything, just let it grow on its own. It can take root in about 10 days.
As for the remaining bare stalk, do not worry that it looks too ugly; there is no need to do anything, just place it in a bright, ventilated spot, and it will slowly grow new shoots. If you are lucky, it will grow 2 to 3 new shoots, and one plant will become multiple plants, suddenly turning into a multi-headed monster!
Watering Tips for Sedum pachyphyllum
Water during the growing season by soaking thoroughly after the soil dries out, once every 10 days, and fertilize once a month by sprinkling a thin layer of fertilizer.
Winter Care Tips for Sedum pachyphyllum
1. Water and fertilizer
Water only when both the pot and the soil have dried out completely, and water until it reaches the bottom. In summer, watering should be more restrained; just give it more ventilation and do not keep it in a closed space. You can apply liquid fertilizer to Sedum pachyphyllum, but it should not be too concentrated, otherwise the plant will grow upward too quickly, the leaves will become sparse and the spacing between them will lengthen, and it will gradually drift away from your expectations.
2. Temperature
The growing season of Sedum pachyphyllum is mainly in the cool seasons, and the suitable growing temperature is 15-25 degrees. In winter, do not let it go below 3 degrees. It can still grow at around 5°C, and during its growing period it can be placed outdoors to receive warm sunlight. When the winter temperature is below 0°C, you must protect it from freezing. Keep the growing soil in a relatively moist state, and generally Sedum pachyphyllum will not freeze. In the cool seasons, the leaf tips of Sedum pachyphyllum will turn yellow or orange, and the greater the temperature difference between day and night, the more obvious it becomes. In the cold season, due to insufficient sunlight, growth will be poor, and the leaves on the stem will gradually shrivel or fall off. If cared for properly, Sedum pachyphyllum will bloom with small star-shaped yellow flowers in spring.
3. Light
Sedum pachyphyllum likes warmth and light. In autumn and winter, it is best to place it outdoors to maintain sufficient light (at least 5 hours of sunlight per day). Under sufficient sunlight, the leaves will turn pale yellow, and the leaf tips will turn light pink or a striking agate red, very beautiful and attractive. It is worth noting that it should not be exposed to direct sunlight, or it will be killed by the sun.
Sedum pachyphyllum has good ornamental value and has been especially popular in the past two years, being small, delicate, and easy to keep alive. For friends who like to grow small plants but cannot care for them often, it is just such a convenient little thing.
Pruning Tips for Sedum pachyphyllum
1. Pruning season
Generally in the two seasons of spring and autumn. Because winter is too cold, Sedum pachyphyllum will stop growing when the temperature is below 5°C, and may even suffer slight frostbite. When the temperature is below 0°C, its leaves are even more prone to cell death from freezing, so winter is not suitable for pruning. When the temperature is above 35°C, Sedum pachyphyllum will also stop growing, so summer is also not suitable for pruning. Therefore, in spring and autumn, when the temperature is relatively suitable, pruning will not cause harm to Sedum pachyphyllum during the process.
2. Pruning technique
Once Sedum pachyphyllum shows signs of drying out, we should start pruning and promptly cut off the old leaves, otherwise bacteria will develop. Sometimes Sedum pachyphyllum grows too tall, and at that time you can also prune the branches and leaves at the top, partly for shaping and partly to make it healthier.
We recommend starting pruning two to three nodes down from the top. Remember to disinfect the scissors with alcohol before use to avoid infection. Then pull off the lower leaves to prevent excessive evaporation of nutrients and water.
For the watering and care of Sedum pachyphyllum, there are specific descriptions in the article. Sedum pachyphyllum does not show particularly obvious growth in winter and summer, while spring and autumn are the vigorous growing periods for Sedum pachyphyllum, so we should make full use of this period to let Sedum pachyphyllum grow better.