General description and types of sedum, advice on growing and care, transplantation and propagation methods, pests, use in garden design, medicinal properties. Sedum (Sedum - from Lat. "Sedo") is a common type of plants in the jungle family. The first translation of "sedo" means "to calm down", as the leaf plates were used as a healing and analgesic medication. Another version interprets the word as "sitting" - because of the earthiness of stonecrop inflorescences. The Russian name is "feverish" or "hernial grass". Also known as hare cabbage or rejuvenated. This flower has excellent decorative and medicinal properties, and is also a honey plant.
Stonecrop homeland is the mountainous regions of the northern hemisphere of the globe. It is distributed in more than 500 species of shrubs and semi-shrubs. Much of this variety is succulent plants, which means they are adapted to live in a wide variety of climates. Among them, tropical and frost-resistant varieties can be distinguished. Tropical specimens are mainly grown to decorate the interior of the premises. For garden cultivation, representatives of winter-hardy perennial sedum are most often chosen.
The average height of the stonecrop stem is 80 centimeters, and the umbrella-shaped and wide inflorescences that form horizontally sometimes even reach 30 centimeters in diameter. The stem is covered with fleshy, whole, bluish-coated leaves. The color of the leaves, depending on the variety, can be different: green, emerald with gray or red, and even maroon. Inflorescences are often formed in the second half of summer and are not very attractive in themselves - small and light green in color. By the end of summer, they acquire a beautiful rich shade: bright red, burgundy, burgundy brown or colors in a range of pastel tones. With the onset of autumn, the flowers gradually darken and fade.
The most famous varieties:
- Sedum is prominent, the main difference is the color in pink;
- Sedum telephium, the leaves are maroon, and the flowers can be pink-red, creamy pink and creamy green;
- Sedum Caucasian, characterized by large, star-like flowers;
- Sedum Purple Emperor, inflorescences of a deep light pink shade;
- Sedum is white-pink, the color of the flowers is determined depending on the variety - white or creamy pink;
- Sedum Ruby shine, the owner of a rich shade of flowers - dark wine or burgundy.
Tips for the care and cultivation of stonecrop
It is not difficult to grow sedum at home. The most important nuance is that with age, the bushes lose their visual appeal. They need to be re-grown from cuttings with a period of 2-3 years (sometimes 4-6 years).
- Lighting and placement. The main thing in growing sedum is to remember that it loves the sun and light, so it is preferable to place it in a place well accessible to sunlight. With a lack of light, the main stem of the shrub stretches out, the foliage turns pale, and the flowers may not appear at all. Only Mexican sedum will bloom in a shaded place.
- Air humidity. Not important. Hare cabbage is not susceptible to drought. Irrigation and dust removal from sheets has a beneficial effect.
- Content temperature. Even large temperature drops are not affected. Subtropical varieties feel comfortable at temperatures of +5 degrees Celsius and above. In a very hot room, sedum drops the lower foliage from the stem. Almost all varieties should be left outdoors in summer and indoors with 8-12 degrees Celsius in winter.
- Watering stonecrop. Moderate. In summer, during periods of active sedum growth, it should be moistened as the soil dries. In winter, during the dormant period, you can rarely water. Drought does not bring much harm to the shrub, which cannot be said about excess moisture: the sedum roots rot, and it dies. Due to an excessive lack of moisture, certain varieties can shed almost all of their leaves.
- Fertilization. Many sedums do not need additional feeding and grow and develop well even on poor soil. Most often, fertilization is carried out during active growth, that is, in spring or summer, no more than once a month. Fertilizer is most suitable for succulents or cacti. After the end of flowering, the main branch of the bush is cut to the root, and the rosette is covered with garden fertilizer. In the autumn-winter period, the shrub is not fed.
- Transplant advice. Stonecrop transplant is rarely performed. Young specimens are transplanted every two years. More mature plants - depending on the loss of their decorative effect, once every 2-3 years or after 4-6 years. Some species are transplanted in cases of emergency, because they can lose a large amount of foliage. For cultivation, it is better to use shallow and wide pots - the root system grows horizontally.
- The choice of soil for planting sedum. Any soil with good water permeability is suitable for growing hare cabbage, preferably clay or sandy. The shrub thrives on loose soil, similar to cactus. Suitable sheet soil mixed with coarse sand and sod. At the bottom of the pot, drainage is required - any material that absorbs all the excess water when watering. Most often, expanded clay, crushed stone, gravel or foam are used.
- Recommendations for the reproduction of stonecrop. Sedum is easy to propagate. Several breeding methods are available: by seeds, dividing the bush, cuttings of leaves and any part of the stem. The cuttings must be dried. The most suitable temperature for rooting was 16–20 degrees Celsius. Stem cuttings in the warm season can be carried out directly in the open ground. The lower part of the stem can be divided into several parts, each of which will root in light or sandy soil. Dividing a bush is the easiest way to propagate a plant, since it already has to be done every couple of years. You can cover sheet clothespins with polyethylene, but it is important to monitor the regularity of airing.
- Harmful insects that infect the plant. Stonecrop is rarely affected by pests. The most significant harm is caused by nematodes - root worms. To combat them, you can treat the root system with fungicides. However, if the lesion has gone far enough, the plant should be destroyed, since it cannot be treated. Other frequent unwanted guests include weevils, slugs and snails. They must be collected and removed from the plant by hand.
- Sedum and garden design. Sedum is an unpretentious shrub and, due to its graceful appearance, is an indispensable element of garden design. It is applicable as living carpets, neat low hedges and as an element of rocky gardens. Low curly varieties of sedum are becoming common elements of flower containers and hanging baskets. In the garden landscape, it is better to plant rejuvenated in wide areas. The plant goes well with various ornamental grasses and cereals. The flower arrangement will perfectly fit: echinacea, autumn anemones, sage, garden chrysanthemums, bush asters, verbena. Hydrangeas will become a beautiful backdrop for stonecrop. Small trees such as mountain ash or Japanese maple will be a great addition to the garden with this wonderful inhabitant.
Meanwhile, dry hare cabbage can be very successfully used when combining aromatic potpourri or ikeban.
Some varieties and varieties of sedum
- Sedum spectabile. The stem height reaches 60 centimeters, the foliage is light green, flowers of different shades of pink. The varieties of the species - diamond and neon on the leaves have a noticeable gray tint, and the inflorescences themselves are bright pink.
- Sedum telephium. It has many subspecies. The flowers of each subspecies are different colors: pink-red, creamy green, creamy pink. The leaves of all are colored maroon.
- Caucasian sedum (Sedum spurium). It is characterized by a low, up to 20 centimeters, bearing stem and large, star-like flowers. This species is hardy. Its varieties are characterized by a variety of colors of the bush - from green to burgundy. Flowers are either white or pink.
- Sedum Purple Emperor. It is a cold-resistant variety. He has green leaves with a red tint. The inflorescences are bright, creamy pink.
- White-pink sedum (Sedum albo-roseum, Sedum erythrostictum). All its varieties have light green leaves, but the flowers are white or lavender.
- Sedum Ruby Glow. Cold-resistant grade, hybrid of two types of stonecrop. The owner of a rich dark wine or burgundy color. The foliage is purplish green.
The healing properties of stonecrop
In folk medicine, sedum is often used because it has strong healing properties, and each type has its own specific use in medicine. In the season of collecting plant bushes, the main thing is not to confuse one species with another, since among them there are poisonous ones, for example, sedum.
The entire ground part of the stonecrop has healing properties. Medicines are made mainly from young inflorescences in the form of poultices, tinctures, ointments. Sedum is used for low blood pressure, pain in the stomach, heart, liver disease, anemia, etc.
All types of rejuvenated include pain relievers, they also help stop bleeding, remove toxins, and calm the nervous system. Ointment from young grass and pork fat is used in the treatment of fractures, wounds, ulcers, corns, warts, lichen, etc.
The sedum is contraindicated for gastritis and malignant tumors.
For more information on the types of sedum and caring for it, see this video:
