For the novice gardener, how to divide Sedum can be a big question. It is actually an evergreen shrub found in north and western India and Pakistan, with a size of up to five feet. The leaves are needle-like and the plant is a member of the lily family. The plant blooms during spring. The leaves are dark green in color and are closely related to the daisy.
Growing this lovely plant is very easy as it prefers a lot of sunlight and if planted in full sun, it will grow to a height of eight to ten feet. In areas with less sunlight, it likes to grow in shade and it is planted in such a way that its two main leaves overlap by half a foot. The large number of overlapping leaves makes it easy for the plant to get more light. The plant flowers from late spring to early summer and the fruits reach a size of one to two inches in diameter.
Many species of sedum exist and each has their own preferred conditions under which they grow. The two most common species are Sedum macrosperma and Sedum rubra. Macropredicums or larger macropredations have two or more prominent leaves while rubrifolia have a single long leaf. The tips of the leaves of these two species are hollow and contain a glandular called the apical meristem, which is responsible for the production of the plant’s juices. The tips of the cuttings used for separating the plants are brownish yellow in color.
Care should be taken while removing any damaged or dead stems so as not to cause scarring. The remaining stems can be pruned into bunches and tied into bundles on the stem. These bunches are then divided into a handful of stems and after drying, these are divided yet again into a handful of short stems and the resulting short stems are planted into the desired position. The entire plant should be left to dry naturally.
After the drying phase, the plant should be potted on a tray in order to avoid it from drying out. If the plant has not established root hold, then soil formation may take place and the new growth will form roots that will compete with the existing root system. A good system of draining has to be practiced so that the soil does not dry out completely and the roots are not deprived of moisture. In this way, the plant will have a better chance of establishing itself firmly. It is necessary to allow plenty of air and light into the potting mix so that new growth does not start appearing too soon.
The best of these plants is those that have upright and slightly curved growth habit. They are the most suitable for hardy, low-growing plants such as Sedum rubra and Sedum macrospira. These two species share a lot of common traits, including being fairly hardy, needing very little maintenance, and being somewhat resistant to soil erosion. Their leaves are alternate and tapering and they do not have true leaves. These are some of the general characteristics of the species which are used in growing rock gardens.
Once the plant starts to flower, the leaves change color to lavender pink flowers and the plant turns from a bright orange to dark purple. These turn colors are actually a result of the formation of true leaves. The main reason for this is the partial hydration received through the partial vacuum of the soil between its base and its blossoming stage. The partial hydration allows the roots of the plants to soak up water that would otherwise run off into the flowerpot.
Sedum vulgare is a very hardy species, which will grow in most types of acidic and rocky soil conditions. Its tolerance to low pH levels is one key factor that makes it so well-suited for low-light gardens. It is tolerant of very low temperatures and has no trouble staying green under these conditions as well. It has full sun features as well, which is a bonus when you consider that most of us want to grow plants that will shade our gardens from sunlight. When you are ready to know how to divide sum, the full sun is a definite plus.
