Sedum morganianum also called as Donkey tail, Burro's tail, is a species of the Sedum genus. It has long been grown as an ornamental for its distinctive, evergreen foliage.
Sedum morganianum also called as Donkey tail, Burro's tail, is a species of the Sedum genus. It has long been grown as an ornamental for its distinctive, evergreen foliage. This long-lived tender trailing sub-shrub is generally grown as a houseplant in most parts of North America as it is hardy only where it remains well above freezing. It was given the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
IDENTIFY SEDUM MORGANIANUM - DONKEY TAIL PLANT
Sedum morganianum is native to southern Mexico and Honduras. It has been found wild in two ravines at Tenampa county, in central Veracruz, in eastern Mexico and grows on vertical cliffs of igneous rock in the Tropical Deciduous Forest zone.
Donkey tail plant is a perennial, pendent plant that has trailing stems and succulent, blue-green leaves with a silvery bloom that rubs off when handled. The stems grow upright at first, eventually becoming pendulous and growing to four feet long; they can be rather heavy with all the water stored in the leaves. The smooth-textured, lance-shaped, overlapping leaves grow in a closely-whorled, almost spiraling pattern to completely surround the stem, creating an almost braided appearance.
The short, thick cylindrical leaves are pointed on the end, and swell to become very plump when plants are well watered and will shrivel when too dry. The stems are brittle and leaves break off easily, so place the plant where it will not get inadvertently knocked or be damaged by passing people or animals. Areas on the stems where leaves are missing may produce branches.
When grown indoor Burro's tail rarely blooms, but in summer, the flowers are borne terminally, in pendent corymbs of up to 6 flowers at the ends of the longest branches, with 1-6 flowers. The small, star-shaped flowers have bright yellow stamens and fleshy, lighter pink sepals. They produce abundant nectar and are very attractive to bees and flies. The plants must be mature with stems at least 25cm long before they will flower. Moving plants outdoors in summer and keeping them at cooler temperatures in the winter may encourage flowering.
SEDUM MORGANIANUM - DONKEY TAIL GROW AND CARE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Sedum morganianum grows best in bright light to full sun; in insufficient light the internodes will be longer so the leaves will not be as dense on the stems. In too intense light, the leaves bleach out and become yellowish instead of blue-green.
Temperature:
Donkey tail plant grow best when the temperature is between 65°-75°F (18.3°-23.9°C) with a minimum temperature of 5-7 °C (41-45 °F) as houseplant, but the plants can be moved outside for the growing season once temperatures are consistently above 40°F. They need to be gradually acclimated to the brighter conditions outdoors or will sunburn. Move the plants back indoors in the fall when nighttime temperatures are predicted to go below 40°F. Extreme heat can be a problem for the plant, as it may lost many leaves due to high temperatures and lack of wind.
Substrate and growing media:
Because of its trailing stems, Sedum morganianum is best grown in containers where the stems can hang down vertically. Hanging baskets, urns, or large pots on pedestals all showcase the pendant stems. Fill a container shaped like a head to look like dreadlocks. Indoors where conditions are good, individual plants may last for decades. Outdoors they can be used as seasonal hanging plants where protected from strong wind.
The plant does best in a well-drained growing medium, such as cactus mix or regular potting medium liberally augmented with perlite, pumice, baked clay granules, or even small pea gravel (but not sand, which tends to fill the soil pores and hinder rather than enhance drainage).
Repot in the spring only when the plant has completely filled its pot as it does well when potbound. Wait about a week after repotting to water, then water sparingly until the plant is re-established.
Watering:
As a succulent, it cannot tolerate over-watering, especially when dormant in the winter. The soil should be allowed to nearly dry out between waterings. Water regularly during the growing season, but reduce the frequency in the fall and provide just enough water during the winter to prevent the potting medium from drying out completely. Depending on the conditions, indoor plants may not need watering more than once a month.
When the leaves start shriveling, it is usually a sign that the plant is running low on its water storage and it is time to water. Simply give the plant a good drink and it should perk up within a few days. On the other hand, if the plant starts looking soft and mushy, looks unwell, and starts dropping leaves at the slightest touch, these are telltale signs that you are overwatering your plant. In this case, stop watering your plant, give it a chance to dry out and the plant will usually bounce back. If the soil is not drying out fast enough and stays wet for long periods of time, it is a good idea to repot the plant in a well draining potting mix.
Fertilizer:
While fertilizing is not necessary, giving your plants the nutrients they need will help ensure proper growth and encourage blooms. It takes a lot of energy for plants to produce flowers, and feeding them extra nutrients will help supplement their needs during the flowering season. Fertilize lightly only once or twice during the growing season with a balanced blend of fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Propagation:
Sedum morganianum is easily propagated from stem or leaf cuttings. Roots will develop from individual leaves removed from the stem, but it will take longer to regenerate a plant of some size than from stem cuttings. For stem cuttings, strip the leaves from the lower end of a cut stem, allow it to dry for a day or two, then push the stem ends down into the rooting medium. Long or heavy stem cuttings may need to be secured with pins or stakes to keep them in place until the roots develop enough. It may take several months before plants root well. This species can also be grown from seed or divisions.
COMMENTS