Growing Sedum Clavatum and the Benefit of Having it in Your Home.
The Sedum clavatum’s architecturally stunning appearance—which has made it as popular as other succulents in the garden—makes it a favorite of gardeners and plant enthusiasts. Easy to grow and tolerant of neglect, this plant is ideal for beginner gardeners or people who don’t have much time to care for their plants. It does not require much water or fertilizer to thrive, making it a good choice for those who don’t want to spend too much time tending their gardens. While drought-tolerant, it does best if watered regularly during dry periods. Like other succulents, it will rot if left in standing water or overly wet soil.
Sedum Clavatum Cultivation and History.
Sedum clavatum’s scientific name, “club,” is derived from the Latin word Clava because its sepals resemble baseballs. Robert Clausen discovered the plant in 1959. However, it wasn’t given its name until 1975, when Clausen coined the term “clavatum” after discovering that its leaves look like club-shaped fingers.
Sedum clavatum is a star of succulent, producing white flowers in mid to late spring to early summer. The plant thrives in semi-arid and arid climates from California to Texas. Still, it can be grown elsewhere, given proper precautions. At maturity, S. clavatum grows 4 to 6 inches tall and 8 inches wide. It needs average watering and is relatively easy to maintain.
Sedum clavatum leaves are soft, rubbery, and bluish-green. They grow about an inch long, reach a diameter of two inches in a solid mat of attractive succulent gray-colored rosettes, and blush pink if the plants get too much sun or it’s too cold.
Propagation Sedum clavatum.
Propagating Sedum clavatum is easy. When you lay leaves or cuttings from the plant on the soil, the sedum plant will develop a root system and become established—adding a small layer of soil on top of the leaves or cutting helps.
If you are propagating Sedum clavatum from seedings, all you have to do is, in the autumn, sow the seeds in well-draining soil or cactus soil.
Sowing seeds outdoors is easy if you live in a warm climate. However, if you live in a cooler area, you must sow the seed indoors and use a grow light.
When propagating from a cutting or leaves, you must leave the cutting or leaf to sit in the open air for 1-2 days; this is so that it forms a callous and would protect against growing molds in the future.
In cases where you are propagating a tall variety of sedum clavatum, cautiously detaching the stem, breaking it off, and stuffing it into the ground might be the best way to go. This causes the plant to quickly root.
How to Grow Sedum clavatum.
To grow Sedum clavatum successfully, you must know how the plant behaves. It enjoys growing in compost or organic matter-free-draining soil as a succulent. However, it does not have a good shoulder to bear the chill and requires all the sunlight it can get for optimal growth.
It’s easy to grow Sedum clavatum: Hang it in a basket, plant it in a container, or place it near a rock. If you plan to grow the succulent indoors, place it near a south-facing window.
Growing Tips.
Sedum clavatum loves to be repotted but with great care. When you want to remove a plant from its pot, the best way is simply to tug it out while removing as much dirt as possible. Then, place the sedum in a new pot and add some fast-draining cactus or succulent mix to the top of what’s already there. After repotting, water your sedum well and place it in a sunny area with light breezes; this will help dry out the soil.
If you reside in a place with cold in the winter, you’ll want to transplant your sedums inside after the last frost date. A window sill is ideal for these plants, as they prefer plenty of sunshine and can get weak from too much water if sitting in a puddle. However, if you put them on a windowsill, make sure it’s not too humid—sedums need dry air to grow best, so if it’s too moist, that could slow down their growth.
While they love heat, too much of it will make them wilt faster than usual. Make sure they don’t get burnt by providing them with some protection from intense sunlight during the hottest hours (like when there is no shade).
If you live in an area where temperatures are high throughout the year, consider covering your plants with something that blocks out the sunlight without blocking out light completely (like a thin piece of cloth).
Pruning and Maintenance.
Sedum clavatum is a fleshy plant that often creeps beyond its boundaries. Pruning it back will help it keep a neat shape and prevent it from taking over your garden bed.
You can trim the sedum to keep it looking its best by using your pruning stick and cutting off dead leaves near the base of the plant. Sedums are susceptible to root rot, so you should use your pruning stick and cut off any dead leaves at their base near the ground. You can pinch back new growth with fingers when they’re smaller than three inches tall or create interesting shapes in your garden by using your fingers to pinch off new growth.
Cultivars to Select.
Growing Sedum clavatum is a great way to make a bold statement in your garden or terrace. With so many available cultivars, you can choose one with the perfect shape and color for your home. While most of these plants come in green, many cultivars add a splash of vibrant color to your outdoor/indoor spaces.
When choosing a Sedum clavatum cultivar, your first consideration should be its size. You can get a dwarf variety that only grows half as tall as traditional varieties or try larger ones that reach up to 2 feet in width and height.
You can also find an array of different leaf shapes and sizes. Some have thin, wispy leaves, while others have broad, flat leaves. Once you’ve chosen the size, look at the color of the leaves.
Light.
Sedum clavatum prefers to be outside in the summer. It will take full sun exposure as long as temperatures are low enough that it isn’t scorching hot, and east-facing windows keep sedums happy when they begin flowering. When sedums begin flowering, 12 hours of light per day or more will encourage blooming success.
Suppose you’re considering bringing home the Sedum clavatum. In that case, you’ll have to allocate six hours of sunlight daily and a lot more. Partial shade won’t do, and If this sedum isn’t getting full sun exposure, it may never turn green or be as lush.
Even partial shade can’t hold back this plant, but it may keep its leaves from turning green and lush. If you live where there are only four to five hours of sun per day—and it’s wintertime—you may need to provide supplemental lighting for your plant until it can get more sun naturally.
Soil.
The Sedum clavatum prefers potting soil that drains well and remains evenly moist. Many succulents rot in garden soil because they cannot drain quickly enough; water can suffocate the plant roots. Succulents need soil that won’t become waterlogged.
You might think garden soil is a good choice for these plants because it’s easy to get, and dirt is what succulents need, right? Wrong! Sedum clavatum prefers to live in containers because the soil drains quickly enough to prevent water from suffocating the plant roots. Potting or cacti/succulent friendly mixes are ideal when planting your sedums in containers.
Water.
The sedum clavatum is a succulent plant with no extensive root system. This means that overwatering can be detrimental to the health of the plant. Sedum clavatum should be watered with care. It is a plant that cannot tolerate overwatering and should be allowed to dry out between waterings.
Water it often, but don’t drown it. During the winter, only water if there are signs of life—and only then if you can avoid getting the pot wet. In the summer, keep watering it daily—except on windy days when you should wrap it in burlap or newspaper to protect it from strong gusts.
Temperature and Humidity.
Sedum clavatum is a succulent plant best suited for low humidity, dry and hot environments. A temperature range of around 18 – 75 degrees Celsius and a humidity of about 50% is ideal for this succulent to grow well. The plant can survive in a largely dormant state and still survive harsh winters.
Fertilizer.
Sedums are fussy plants that prefer slow-release fertilizer. They don’t appreciate having their root systems disturbed, and frequent feeding can result in succulent rot and death by starvation. Therefore, the best times to fertilize sedums are during the spring and fall.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases.
Sedum clavatum plants are susceptible to pests and diseases—but with a little effort, you can keep your plant healthy. A sure-fire way to ward off pests is to give it plenty of light, space, and water. The aphid usually appears on new growths, the most common Sedum clavatum pest.
Aphids are suckers for new plants. They like the Sedum clavatum’s succulent stem, leaves, flowers, and buds—but not enough to spare them from the insects’ ravenous jaws. The aphids drain the sedum of their juices, causing wilting and stunted growth. They also secrete honeydew that falls onto foliage below, causing darkening spots called sooty mold.
Spider mites are sedum clavatum’s worst nightmare—and they can be yours, too. These tiny, eight-legged creatures look like moving specks of dust, but they’re laying their eggs in your plants.
Leaf spot on Sedum clavatum is caused by two equally destructive groups of organisms—bacteria and fungi—which attack the plant through water droplets (rain) or contact with other infected plants in the garden.
Common Problems with Sedum clavatum
Sedum clavatum has a reputation for being one of the most trouble-free sedums. However, there are still some conditions that can lead to challenges.
A common mistake among gardeners is to overwater their plants. When overwatering sedum clavatum, you are essentially creating a swamp, making it impossible for oxygen to reach its roots. It would be best to wait until the top inch of soil is dry before watering again. This can be difficult in winter when the plants die back and appear dead, but they are merely dormant. If you suspect your stonecrop has root-rot, cut away at least 1/3 of the roots and repot with fresh soil.
The plants will stretch and get thin and pale if light levels are too low. This is because Sedum clavatum plants need some light for photosynthesis to occur. Without it, the plant will stretch out and lose its compact shape. The stretching occurs because the plant is reaching out for more sunlight and thus more energy. Most gardeners recommend full sun for these plants, but they will do fine in shady areas with dappled light (such as under trees). They can also do well in artificial light without any damage caused, making them great houseplants for those with limited space or resources.
Finally, this plant can be sensitive to over-fertilizing, which can cause pale green leaves and slow growth.
Pachyphytum – stonecrop-family
Managing Pests and Diseases.
If you’re buying from a nursery, look for sedum with no brown spots, withering, or sagging. If you’re starting from seed, use commercial cactus potting soil instead of garden dirt.
Sedum requires good drainage because too much moisture around the root causes crown rot. Water your garden only during extended periods of hot, dry weather. Water whenever the top inch of soil is dry indoors in the spring and fall. In the cooler months, water once a month.
If you have to uproot diseased plants due to blight, rot, or rust, don’t put them in the compost pile or anywhere else where they could spread the disease to healthy plants. Instead, after working with diseased plants, sterilize your tools with a 1-part bleach to a 9-part water solution.
Best Uses.
Sedum clavatum is a creeper. It grows like a weed and takes shade, drought, or leaves with a smile. It’s so easy to grow that you can even neglect it. Sedum clavatum is a beautiful ground cover plant that thrives with little care. It is a hardy succulent that loves to spill over the sides of hanging baskets, making it perfect for rock gardens or as a ground cover by the front door.
In contemporary architecture, Sedum clavatum is used mainly in its growing form as an ornamental succulent. Garden sedum is often used to provide color and other craft or floral effects in roof gardens, raised-bed gardens, and green walls. Sedum clavatum is suited for these applications because of its hardiness and long-lasting nature.
You can use this plant as a houseplant in your office or home, but only if you find a suitable place. It must have good drainage because it tends to stay damp and rot if it sits in water for too long. And you should be careful about the temperature in your house or office, because if it drops below 10 degrees Celsius, the plant may die.
Conclusion.
Sedum is the buzzword in succulents right now. But there’s more to sedum than meets the eye! Some sedums are more uncomplicated to propagate than others, for example. Sedum clavatum is one of those varieties that are pretty easy to start from cuttings; it’s an excellent choice for novices looking to get their feet wet with succulents.
This succulent is a true beauty with a lovely rosette-like form that will look gorgeous in any garden or home setting. These plants may not bloom immediately after planting, but the wait will be worth it once they do. Soon enough, your garden will be graced with beautiful sedum!
Frequently Asked Questions.
What causes sedum to wilt?
Sedum plants wilt when they are overwatered. Fungal infections also thrive when sedums are overwatered, and well-drained soil prevents this. When planting them in containers, choose pots with drainage holes in the bottom and potting soil designed to drain well.
Is Sedum Clavatum cold hardy?
Sedum clavatum cannot handle harsh winters, but it can be grown outside all year in USDA hardiness zone 10a. It may go dormant during cold weather in cooler climates before reviving in mid-spring.
How often do you water sedum Clavatum?
Water sedum clavatum 1-3 times a week, depending on how dry the soil appears or feels. It’s important not to overwater, though, because that causes root rot. Instead, just give it a soak, then let it dry out.
How long does it take for sedum cutting to root?
To propagate your sedum, snip off healthy leaves and stick the stalk into potting soil. You’ll know they’re rooted in two to three weeks when baby Sedums start forming at the base.
Is sedum an indoor plant?
As an indoor plant, sedum is finding a home on many windowsills. Even in the most adverse conditions, stonecrop will tolerate an indoor environment. Indoors, a little extra care can help the sedum thrive. Sedum thrives in full sun and warm temperatures.