Sedum ANACAMPSEROS

Sedum ANACAMPSEROS - Anacampseros stonecrop, Sedum anacampseros, Stonecrop.

Sedum is a genus of low-growing succulents in the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae) with thick, fleshy leaves, succulent stems, and star-shaped inflorescences. The genus includes over 400 annual and perennial species that are easy to care for and spread quickly, living primarily in the Northern Hemisphere and varying widely in forms and sizes. In their natural habitat, most species grow on poor soils of dry rocky or sandy steppes and dunes.

Sedums form beautiful dense clumps or ground-hugging "mats" of green, bluish, or bronze-red foliage. Leaves of evergreen species take on a reddish hue in winter. On the stem, fleshy leaf blades of varied dimensions and arrangements act as water storage reservoirs and aid survival during drought periods.

Some species bloom in autumn with star-shaped, typically five-petaled, white, yellow, pink, or purple flowers that change color during the flowering period.

Sedum anacampseros has prostrate shoots about 30 cm (11.8 in) long densely covered with rounded leaves that die back for winter. In spring they are brownish, and in summer they become light green. Unlike other species, the leaves are not thick, remaining thin like those of herbaceous plants. In June, blue buds appear at the shoot tips, soon turning into purple flowers. The inflorescences are nearly spherical and very unusual in color.

Seeds require preliminary stratification: sowing is performed surface-wise into a container with well-drained and rich soil, moistened with a sprayer, covered with glass or film, and placed in a refrigerator at a temperature of 5-7 °C (41-45 °F). The sowings are kept in such conditions for 14 days, then transferred to indoor conditions with good illumination, where humidity monitoring and ventilation are required. Sprouts appear in 15-30 days at a temperature of 18-20 °C (64-68 °F). Pricking out is carried out after the appearance of the first two true leaves.

Special notes: Seeds are extremely fine!

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Most Sedums prefer direct sunlight, but can also tolerate light shade. They grow readily in well-drained poor to medium soil. They require watering only as the soil dries out and do not tolerate frequent overwatering or standing water. To control spreading, the plant can be divided in spring or autumn.

Representatives of the genus do not like overly fertile soil and do not need fertilization. However, a small amount of all-purpose garden plant fertilizer can be applied in early spring.

Most species are tolerant of low temperatures. Foliage should be sheltered for the winter period in late November to early December if natural snow cover is absent.

In early spring after frosts have ended, dead shoots and dry branches that did not survive winter but provided additional cold protection are removed. There is no need for formative pruning; in case of excessive spreading, clump division and replanting elsewhere is carried out.