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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
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Can I plant sedums in an old sink indoors please?
Sedums can certainly be grown in old sinks or containers but we personally wouldn’t grow them indoors. They need a lot of direct sunlight and warmth and thrive outdoors. Outdoors, you can certainly plant sedum in an old sink since it has drainage. Make sure the water can drain out easily or you’ll need to put the sink on blocks. Put gravel or small rocks in the bottom of the sink, taking care not to block drain. And then just fill it with compost and dig in your plants.
Is there a way to keep he birds from eating the leaves? Last year they decimated the plants.
The succulent sedum leaves can be a tasty snack for birds; consider placing bird netting around the plants to protect them until they bloom.
I live in warsaw mo. My autumn joy has gotten so tall and when it blooms it's so top heavy it just falls over to the ground. They look horrible at that point but I'm not sure what to do or what is best. Otherwise they are very healthy huge plants. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Lori, I had a similar problem with Autumn Joy Sedum grown where they got afternoon shade. Because they were not in full sun, they tended to get leggy and flop over with heavy rain. To remedy the problem, I planted a ring of bearded iris around the plants. Not only do the iris hold up the sedum, but I get beautiful June blooms to enjoy as well!
Autumn joy sedum will grow too tall, split and lay over if not trimmed back in late June or early July. I trim mine back to 1/2 their size every year. They look tough for awhile but this prevents over growth, drooping, and maintains and controls the beautiful plant.
Try cutting the top 4 - 5 inches between June 15 and July 4. Multiple new heads should form and maintain a lower profile. You will not have the big, beautiful flowering heads, but they will not be falling over either.
The leaves on my live forever are pale yellow/green instead of a dark green, What should i do? water more, feed?
I just received a pretty little sedum called Holly Sedum. It leaves are holly-like in appearance.
The origin of the original sharing was a 96 year old native Nebraskan who claimed it to be a rare plant. It must be. I can find no reference to it anywhere. Are you familiar with it? I would like all the data you know about it.
Thank you.
