Sedum of Morgan: description, planting and care

Most of the people live in urban environments, where concrete and asphalt take up almost all of the space. In order to enjoy the wildlife, people are forced to leave the city for hundreds of kilometers. You can compensate for the lack of green spaces with the help of indoor flowers, which are grown by almost all housewives. To create green compositions indoors, you can use a huge number of crops, which differ in shape, size, appearance and way of care. In order to surprise family members and guests with unusual flowers, florists recommend paying attention to exotic species. The sedum Morgan is a vivid representative of this group of plants, which has an unusual appearance and very beautiful flowers.

Sedum of Morgan (Morgan sedum) is a succulent from the Tolstyankov family. Translated from Latin Sedum morganianum means pacifying, but the name "sedum" appeared due to the healing and cleansing properties of the plant. Stonecrop is also often called squeaky grass, fever grass, hare cabbage and hernial grass. The homeland of this flower is the territory of Central and South America. The first to become interested in the flower were Mexican biologists, who provoked the spread of the plant throughout the world. An ornamental exotic plant in most cases is used as a home flower, but in regions with a mild and warm climate, it can be successfully grown outdoors.

The length of an adult plant often reaches 100 cm. Outwardly, it resembles a drooping tail, which is why many people call the flower a monkey's tail. The branches grow almost from the root itself and do not have lateral shoots. A distinctive feature of the flower is the unusual fleshy cone-shaped leaves, the shape of which resembles the fruit of grapes. The maximum size of the leaf plate is 4 cm. Due to the fact that the flower belongs to succulents, its leaves are covered with a matte waxy film that protects the stonecrop from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. The shade of the leaves is light green or green-gray.

Due to the fact that sedum is a resident of America, where climatic conditions are characterized by an increased temperature range, and the soil also has its own characteristics, florists recommend paying special attention to the conditions of its cultivation before purchasing this plant. It is necessary to fill the flowerpots with a primer intended for cacti. In this soil composition, the main component is peat, which is supplemented by limestone and dolomite flour.

These components help to reduce the acidity of the soil and make it as suitable as possible for sedum growth. When choosing peat, you also need to be careful and refuse to purchase horse peat, which lacks the necessary nutrients, and its dense structure helps to retain moisture, which negatively affects the growth of the flower. Experts recommend using low-lying heavy peat, which will help to lighten sand and expanded clay.

The level of illumination is of no less importance when growing a succulent. Due to the fact that the hot southern regions are the homeland of the flower, the plant needs a long light period. Stonecrop feels most comfortable on windowsills facing the south. In summer, flower pots are best placed on open balconies and loggias. In case of a lack of natural light, experts recommend installing artificial light sources. With its lack, the flower loses its decorative effect, the shoots stretch out, and the leaves become inelastic.

In order to grow a beautiful and healthy plant, it is necessary to be especially attentive to the choice of planting material and to comply with all planting rules. Due to the presence of a short superficial root system in stonecrop, experienced flower growers recommend purchasing shallow pots of small diameter for it. Purchased plants should have a healthy appearance with smooth and beautiful leaf blades. If there are signs of illness, the purchase must be abandoned.

The most favorable time for planting is spring. To prevent decay of the root system, it is necessary to put drainage material on the bottom of the planting container and pour prepared nutrient soil on top. The planted plants should be watered moderately and placed in a sunny place. Sedum of Morgan is a fragile and delicate plant, careless handling of which can lead to breakage of shoots. Experts do not recommend frequent changes of the flower pot. The frequency of this manipulation is once every 2-3 years. The most favorable time for transplanting is mid-spring. Comfortable temperature range - +20 degrees.

Morgan's sedum is a difficult plant that requires increased attention and proper care. Home care consists of classic treatments that have some specific features. Particular attention must be paid to watering. In summer and autumn, when the flower is in a phase of active growth, experts recommend watering the soil only after the top layer has dried. The soil in the pot should not be very wet, but only slightly damp. You should also avoid stagnant water, which can provoke rotting of the root system. During the period of winter dormancy, the flower needs watering frequency no more than 2 times a month. It is strictly forbidden to water the flowers with running tap water. Before moistening the soil, the water must be defended within 24 hours.

To provide the flower with all the necessary nutrients, novice gardeners should not forget about regular fertilization. During the period of active growth, this procedure should be carried out every 14 days; in the spring, the soil should be fertilized no more than 1 time in 2 months., but in winter it is better to completely abandon fertilization. The flower reacts positively to calcium, phosphorus, potassium, as well as to the minimum amount of nitrogen, an excess of which can provoke decay of the root system.The introduction of humus into it will help improve the condition of the soil. If sedum has signs of fungal diseases or is damaged by parasites, it is strictly forbidden to feed until it is completely recovered.

In order for the flower to winter well, experts recommend reducing the amount of watering at the end of autumn and stopping fertilization. This succulent does not need corrective pruning, but the sanitary removal of dry, damaged and diseased leaves should be carried out regularly. To give the plant a beautiful appearance, you can sometimes shorten the length of the shoots a little. Failure to follow the rules for caring for a succulent can provoke the following problems:

• decay of the root system - excess moisture;
• decrease in growth intensity - low temperature conditions;
• the formation of a small number of leaf plates - lack of sunlight;
• wrinkling of foliage - lack of moisture;
• a large distance between leaves, an ugly appearance - an excess of mineral fertilizers, a low level of illumination;
• falling of sheet plates - high temperature conditions, lack of moisture, inaccurate handling;
• yellowing and softening of leaves, decay of the root system - excess watering, high air humidity.

To get new plants experts recommend using the following breeding methods:

• cuttings;
• dividing the bush;
• using seeds.

Cutting is a popular technique that can only be used before or after flowering. The technology for carrying out the work consists in separating the required number of cuttings from the mother bush, the optimal length of which is 10 cm. After removing the lower leaves, the prepared planting material must be planted in nutritious and moist soil. Only after the appearance of new leaves can the cuttings be transplanted into separate planting containers or open ground. Some flower growers recommend that after cutting the shoots not to plant them in the ground, but to put them in a glass of water. Once the roots have emerged, the flowers can be rooted.

Dividing a bush is the simplest way of reproduction, which involves dividing the mother bush into the required number of parts. This manipulation must be carried out with a sharp garden tool. A prerequisite is the presence of both roots and buds on each part. Before planting, all cut points must be treated with special fungicides and allowed to dry a little.

At home, the seed propagation method is almost never used. Due to the laboriousness of the process, this method is used only by breeders and workers of large nurseries. If, nevertheless, there is a desire to independently grow a flower from seeds, the following technology of work must be observed - planting seeds in a container with nutritious soil, followed by covering it with plastic wrap. To ensure the maximum level of illumination, all landing containers must be additionally illuminated with artificial light sources. Planting seeds should be done in spring or early fall.

Spoil the appearance of the plant, and sometimes the following pests can even provoke its death:

• aphid;
• false caterpillars;
• nematodes;
• root worm.

Fungal diseases can also harm stonecrop, the first signs of which are the appearance of dark spots on the leaves. All damaged areas must be removed, and the plant must be treated with fungicides. Morgan's sedum is a very beautiful succulent that has an unusual appearance. With the help of this plant, you can decorate both interiors and open loggias and balconies.Due to the fact that sedum is a southern flower, then before purchasing it, you must carefully study the features of its planting and care. Only by observing all the rules and recommendations of experienced gardeners, you can grow a beautiful and healthy flower that can surprise all family members.

For information on how to properly care for Morgan's stonecrop, see the next video.