I have a Sedum Autumn Joy question and I am wondering if someone can help me.
A bit of background info.
I am presently on vacation (It’s Thursday night) and I will not be returning home until Saturday afternoon.
I got 3 Sedum Autumn Joy stems w/ buds on them, I’ve filled a glass w/ water and put them in it.
I've got them leaning up against the wall for support.
A leaf feel off so I put that in a separate glass w/ saran wrap on top of the glass, I cut a hole in the wrap and placed the bottom part of the leaf into the water.
Do you folks think that they will survive until I get home so I can plant them or should I do something else w/ them to insure that they will be ok by the time I get home?
I really don’t care too much about the leaf as am more concerned about the 3 stems w/ buds.
Thanks in advance!
Shaw

I would not keep them in water. I would wrap the entire plant in moist paper towel or if you are in a hotel you can wrap them with moist toilet paper. In water I would be afraid of rot. I have never been able to root a leaf from this plant so it is probably not of any use.

When you get home you will have to remove the bottom leaves to plant anyway.

I will give you some of my background. I had a job that took me through every state in the US and Puerto Rico. In some of the warm or tropical cities I would be there for a week and coming out of the hotel the landscapers would pull out plants, break off plants and throw them into their barrels for disposal. I was constantly snatching them out running back to my room wrapping a succulent, cactus in toilet paper or the USA Today moist paper. I would not return home for a week and nothing died being wrapped in moist paper.

Hi Shaw Glad to have you here at ATP. I see you're from Wisconsin too. I live in Ripon.

I totally agree with Cinta. I think wrapping them in something moist would be much better than putting them in water. Good luck and let us know if they make it home OK.

Nice to have you with us ... and

Hello and g’evening folks it’s a pleasure to meet the 3 of you, thanks so much for your responses and the warm welcomes.
*WOW, another Wisconsinite*
Last night b/4 I went to bed I felt a bit guilty about submerging the Sedums in water because I’d read that they die if over watered.
In fact I had one for 2 yrs b/4 I killed it off by over watering it.
Of course I had not researched the info until after I killed it.
Anyhoo, back to the subject at hand.
I wrapped each one of the stems in a dampened paper towel then wet another one and put them all together.
I remember my Mom doing this when I was a lil’ kid, she’s also the one who was able to successfully root plants from leaves, that’s how I learned to do it.
She’d do it w/ many different kinds of leaves especially Christmas cactuses, every time a leaf would fall off she’d put it in water doing it exactly the way I did it last night.
She’d use waxed paper on top of the glass but being on vacay I only had Saran wrap w/ me.
We had LOTS of Christmas cactuses in our house because she just would NOT throw those fallen leaves out, she stated she was going to give them to friends and she did.
Today I put the 3 wrapped stems in a glass (no water added ) and set them out on the screened in patio so they could get some sun.
I am going to leave them there over night as it’s supposed to be in the high 70s low 80s during the night.
I’ll let you folks know if they make it home ok.
Again, thanks for the responses and welcomes.
Shaw

Hi Shaw. Just found this thread.
I agree with both Cinta. All you have to do is plant them when you get home. The more little leave nodes you have on the stems, the more roots they will put out. If they have flower buds on them I would cut them off. They will make it difficult for the stems to produce roots. Sedum are very easy to start in this way. Can't wait to see them up and growing for you.

Hello ValleyLynn, so very nice to meet you!

I planted them today but I didn’t cut the buds off, maybe I should?
Should I leave the leaves on that are located below the buds that are not underground?
If so do I try to “snap” them off or can I cut them off?
I planted the 3 stems in separate pots using (I found this info on the net.) equal parts of Miracle-Gro Moisture Ctrl Potting Mix and sand.
Both the potting mix and the sand were VERY dry so I watered the mixture I don’t believe it’s too soggy, hopefully.
*Keyword…. hopefully*
I let the pots drain on the deck in full sun for about an hour if not greater before I inserted the stems.
As I side note….
After measuring the equal parts of the potting mix and the sand I put it in a plastic bag, shook it to mix it up and put it into the containers.
The internet site instructions were not real clear so I didn’t know if I should have the sand at the bottom and the potting mix on top or vice versa, thus my reason for “shaking” it together.
I hope doing it this way won’t goof up the rooting process.

I set the containers in front of my house on top of a nice sized area that contains river rock.
I have all of my Hens-n-Chicks in that area, I’ve had them there for MANY yrs (probably 20 of not greater) and they are growing by leaps and bounds so it’s for sure a well-drained area, plus as I mentioned the containers are sitting on top of the rocks.
This particular area gets morning sun only.
I set them in front of the house because I figured they’d get burned up in the afternoon sun if I put them on the deck in the back of the house.
The instructions stated that I should put them in the shade, should I do that instead?
It’s pretty hot and sunny here in Wisconsin right now.
It also says that I should water frequently.
"Watering frequently" makes this gal VERY nervous as I’d hate to kill these like I did my last one as I admit, I am a habitual over waterer.

Using the same mixture and technique just for sport and as an experiment of sorts, I planed the leaves just to see what will happen.
Who knows, they might root.
They too are sitting in the front of the house VS the back of the house.
I also (using the same mixture and technique) planted/sprinkled/sowed 3 different types of (tall) Sedum seeds (red, white and pink) in a sectioned off pot.
*I got the seeds off of Ebay*
I mist sprayed them.
I am wondering if I should have covered them w/ Saran wrap to hold the moisture in?
I also hope they don’t burn up.
If they don’t survive I won’t be too upset as I have more of the 3 types of seeds to do this all over again come next spring.
Though I will probably use trays w/ domes and start them in the house.

I know, too many questions and I apologize but I do appreciate the input not to mention your response to my original post (and the other folks’ as well).
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge w/ me.
Off to dreamland very soon as it’s my first day back to work in the morning after being off for 10 days.
I need to retire because I am tried, hee, hee.
Have a great evening.
Shaw

You are doing good. Was great that you mixed the two planting medium together before planting. Morning sun should be okay, and you should keep the leaves that are on the stalks. The ones above soil line, it will help with photosynthesis. But do remove the bloom buds. I know, it hard to do that, but you won't regret it come next years growing season. Once they have started to actively grow new leaves, check to see if roots have started. Once you have nice root system you can plant them into the ground. But don't let them dry out while they are getting established. Let the soil almost dry out, then water thoughly.

The seedling should be kept in filtered light or partial shade until they are growing well. It will help to keep them covered with clear lid or plastic wrap until they germinate. Once they germinate you can remove the cover and keep them misted so they don't dry out. But don't keep them soggy.

Looking forward to see new growth on your sedum cutting and those soon to be seedlings.

ValleyLynn,
I'd read your response shorty before I left for the clinic this morning so I added the plastic wrap to my seedlings and moved them to a more filtered sun area.
I didn’t have time to clip the buds off of the stems but did that when I got home this evening.
Doing that almost broke my heart but I do understand why it was needed to be done.
The leaves that I placed into another container of my "special" planting medium still look good.
I truly thought that they’d be slumped over or burned up when I got home but they weren’t, this made me .
I’ll keep you posted as to their progress.
Thanks so much for your time and suggestions ValleyLynn!
Shaw

Yeah, isn't Lynn a sweetheart?!! She's like that with all of us ...Gee, Lynn your typing fingers must get tired some times...

Shaw, everyone here is like that. We all want to learn from each other and have fun at the same time.

Bev, Chris and Cinta are always looking for ways to help others, and have fun at the same time.

valleylynn said:Shaw, everyone here is like that. We all want to learn from each other and have fun at the same time.

Bev, Chris and Cinta are always looking for ways to help others, and have fun at the same time.

No doubt in what’s left of MY mind ValleyLynn and it has not gone unnoticed.
I am truly enjoying combing this site and reading ALL of the info shared by everyone.
I am finding out that one can indeed teach an old arf, arf (dog) new tricks.
You ALL are Rock Stars in MY book.
Now I just need to take time to upload the pics that I took of these lil' gems after I planted them.
In the future I want to share pics of their progress as well.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR SHARING ALL OF YOUR KNOWLEDGEABLE INFORMATION W/ ME!!!!
I will no doubt be asking more questions in the future.
Shaw

And it won't be long before you will be helping other new comers to ATP. Sharing your knowledge on how to care for their plants.

valleylynn said:And it won't be long before you will be helping other new comers to ATP. Sharing your knowledge on how to care for their plants.

Thanks for the vote to confidence ValleyLynn, but I'm pretty sure that won't happen in this lifetime. LOL

Just saying, you never know.

Late to this thread! Shaw! People on here are very friendly indeed! Do take photos and let us see how the cuttings are doing! You all do make me smile!

I agree w/ you Greg, friendly indeed.
I will take some photos.
Thanks for the response.
Shaw

Greeting all!
I’m back w/ yet another Sedum question or two, or three or four. Hee, hee.

I purchased 2 Sedum Autumn Fire potted plants (On sale, ½ price, less than 5$ a piece, Woo Hoo! I just wish I would have snagged the other 3 that were there as well.) at Shopko.
Can or should I keep them in the pots during the winter or should I plant them now?
Also, the 3 cuttings that I planted in separate pots on July 7th are doing well and looking great.
Should I plant them now or leave them potted and do it in the spring of next year?

By the way, my Sedum seedlings did not sprout.
I’m thinking that the July heat was too much for them to survive.
I am going to start new batches in the house early next spring.
Shaw

Sounds like you are turning into the sedum collector champ.

I would plant everything now. They will overwinter better in the ground than in pots.

with Cinta, about planting them now.
Spring would be a great time to try the sedum seeds again. They have to be kept moist to germinated.