Also receive the 蜜桃恋人 Daily newsletter including gardening tips, weather, astronomical events, and more.
Planting, Growing, and Caring for Sedums
Planting
Sedum enjoy full sun, but will tolerate some shade. If growing sedum in an area that gets long, cold winters (Zone 5 and colder), plant in full sun to improve overwintering capability.
Sedum grows well in poor or sandy soil, but it鈥檚 important to have well-drained soil to avoid fungal diseases. It is very susceptible to root rot if grown in soil that holds too much moisture. Overly rich soil can also encourage leggy growth, which can result in upright sedum varieties becoming top-heavy when they bloom.
When to Plant Sedum
- Sedum is usually bought in plugs or pots and transplanted into the garden. The best time to plant sedum is in the spring鈥攁fter the threat of frost but before the heat of summer kicks in.
- Plant sedum seeds in early spring in well-drained, average to rich soil. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)
How to Plant Sedum
- Space plants between 6 inches and 2 feet apart, depending on the variety. Low-growing sedums will readily spread to fill any gaps, while upright sedums tend to stay more compact.
- Planting full plants or divisions: Dig a hole deep enough so that the top of the root ball is level with the surface of the soil, then place the plant in the hole and fill in around it. Be careful not to bury the stems of upright sedum, as this can lead to rot.
- Planting cuttings: Like other succulents, sedum can be readily propagated via cuttings. Simply place the cut end into soil, and the cutting should have no trouble rooting under proper lighting and watering conditions.
Growing
- Once established, sedum plants require little care. During the summer, check your plants regularly to make sure they are not too dry and water (sparingly) if needed. As long as your area gets rain every couple of weeks at the least, sedum shouldn鈥檛 need any extra watering.
- After flowering, cut back the plants to maintain their shape or contain them in one area.
- Tip: For added winter interest, leave the flowers of upright sedum alone after they bloom. They will form attractive seed heads.
- Remember to divide your plants in the spring or fall to control their spread. Throughout the summer, divisions and cuttings root readily.
Catherine Boeckmann
ADVERTISEMENT
I purchased four beautiful sedum at a local farmers market. They might be Autumn Fire or Autumn Joy .The flowers were a vibrant
purple magenta color which I loved and complemented the other colors in the garden. It's only the end of September and they are already turning brown. Is there anything I could be doing to help maintain the color longer or is this normal?
a friend just gave me half a dozen cuttings of sedum (like cut flowers) and said to bury the cut stems to see if they will grow. We are in the Washington DC area but it is nearly October, and the weather is starting to get a bit colder. What are the chances it will root?
Sedums are easy to root and it should only take 2-3 weeks before they develop enough roots to survive on their own. As long as the ground hasn’t frozen they should be fine. If the temperatures make you nervous you can try rooting them indoors in a container of soilless potting mix or vermiculite, or you can even root them in a glass of water on a sunny windowsill.
I am in the mid Atlantic.... my multi-year old Autumn Joy was growing great this year until some [expletive deleted] garden crew came through with electric shears and lopped off all the about-to-bud stalks. Will it grow more flower stalks this year? :( {sad)
I have some very low sedum ground cover. I would like to plant a daisy like plant in the same area. Do I need to dig all the sedum out first or would the two grow together OK?
Hi, EJ: From a botanical standpoint, sedum and daisies (not sure what you have in mind with "daisy like") grow just fine together. That being said, the established sedum might present some physical challenges to newly growing daisies, so you might consider digging "holes" in your sedum bedsl (transplant elsewhere) to give the daisies a little space. Good luck!
Hi I live in WI and I'v put sedum in pots to make gnome and fairy gardens. Should I leave them out in the winter or bring them in? They're so cute I don't want to chance ruining them.
Most sedums are very cold hardy. To be on the safe side you can bury the pots in your garden and add a layer of mulch over them or you can turn an empty cardboard box over them in late fall.
the sedum has spread out into two plants, i would like to dig one out and replant it in a different area. what is the way to do this?
Spring is the perfect time to divide sedum. Cut the plant down to about 6 inches. Water well for a few days before you move it. Prepare the planting site by digging a hole 6 to 8 inches deep. When ready to divide sedum, dig straight down and lightly loosen the soil around the sedum's roots. Immediately plant in the new spot and water well for the first few weeks.
