The Best Tips And Tricks To Care For Your Sedum Clavatum -Stone Crop

The Sedum Clavatum, or also known as the Tiscalatengo Gorge Sedum, is a rosette shaped succulent from Mexico. This succulent is loved by many gardeners for its ease of care and its ability to add life to almost any room.

Even though this succulent doesn’t require much care it’s still very important to know the level of care you need to provide. Because with succulents, in many cases, providing too much care is what ends up killing them.

So, we have created a list of the best tips and tricks for caring for your Sedum Clavatum, so that you can take care of your succulent knowing that you’re providing the environment it needs to thrive and be healthy.

What Is A Sedum Clavatum?

The Sedum Clavatum, also known as the Tiscalatengo Gorge Sedum, is a succulent species of the Sedum genus from the Crassulaceae family.

Originating from southern Mexico, the Sedum Clavatum grows plump greenish-blue leaves with pinkish tips that form into a rosette and blooms white star-shaped flowers in mid and late spring to early summer.

Because of their habit of growing spread out, they are perfect for hanging pots for the indoors and are a nice filler plant for decorating rock gardens. This succulent flourishes in semi-dry to arid climates but can be grown in different climates with the right care and precautions.

What Is The Common Name Of The Sedum Clavatum?

The common name of the Sedum Clavatum is stone crop even though it is not very widely used.

The Sedum genus, is known as the “stone crop” because they need little more care than stones.

This makes this plant perfect for beginners and those that don’t really want caring for plants to turn into a part time job, but still would appreciate them looking good.

The species name, Clavatum, comes from the Latin word “clava”, meaning club, referring the succulent’s sepals having a shape resembling a baseball.

The more common but still technical name Tiscalatengo Gorge Sedum refers to where the succulent originated from, Tiscalatengo Gorge, an area in the Volcanic Belt near Villa Guerrero in Mexico.

History Of The Sedum Clavatum

Originating from Tiscalatengo Gorge in Mexico, the Sedum Clavatum was discovered by a Cornel Professor of Botany named Robert Clausen in 1959 and named the Sedum’s species “Clavatum” in 1975. The specie’s name “Clavatum” comes from the Latin word “clava”, meaning club, to describe the plant’s leaves having a baseball shape.

How To Take Care Of A Stone Crop Succulent?

Although the Sedum Clavatum is considered to be an easy succulent to take care of, it is important to know the right soil, fertilizer, amount of water, and how much sunlight to expose you succulent to so that you can successfully grow your succulent into the beautiful flowering plant that it can be.

For soil and potting, it is best to use something that provides good drainage. It is best to plant your succulent in cactus soil because it drains water pretty quickly. Same thing with potting, you want a drainage system for your pot so that it can drain any excess water from your soil.

Generally a pot with elevated drain holes in the bottom sitting on a tray that the overflow can be caught on is a pretty good, super low maintenance system that works well.

The reason why it is important to implement a good drainage system for the soil and potting is because too much water will cause root rot and severely damage your succulent even to the point of it dying.

For the Sedum genus, they need little to no fertilizer and if you do plan to give it some fertilizer, it is best to give it only a little during the spring and fall. The most preferred option is to use an all-purpose granular fertilizer with equal amounts of phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen.

You should give your Sedum Clavatum water only when the soil feels dry and when you do, water it thoroughly. Keep the Golden rule of watering in mind when watering your succulent; keep your succulent dry between watering and only water it when the soil is bone dry.

It is important that you don’t over water your succulent because it will cause rot and can kill your plant.

You should expose your Sedum Clavatum to 4 to 6 hours of partial sunlight each day. This succulent can be grown indoors and outdoors, whether you put it on a windowsill or in your garden.

However, it is important to check your succulent for any signs of flattening or crinkling of the leaves. This means that you succulent is getting too much sunlight and should be put into some partial shade so that it can cool down.

The ideal temperatures to grow your Sedum Clavatum is anywhere between 59° F to 78° F (15° C to 26° C). The minimum temperature to grow your succulent is 30° F (-1.1 ° C), anything below that is too cold and your succulent can die.

If temperatures where you live tend to get below 30° F (-1.1 ° C), it is best to put your succulent in a transportable container so that it can be easily transported indoors until temperatures outside warm up.

This succulent is not considered cold hardy and will likely die when exposed to freezing temperatures and will definitely perish when exposed for long periods of time.

What Soil Is Best For The Sedum Clavatum?

The best soil to plant your Sedum Clavatum in is one that provides good drainage, like cactus soil. You can use 90% sand and 10% organic material and do just fine.

Rotting at the base of the plant is caused from over watering or standing in water when the soil can’t drain water very well. From that, the rot will eat away and deteriorate your succulent’s roots and stem, killing it slowly in the process.

To decrease the instances of root rot be sure to check your plants soil for standing water. This is the death knell for many succulents, especially this one.

What Fertilizer Should I Use For The Stone Crop Succulent?

The best fertilizer to use for the Sedum Clavatum is an all-purpose granular fertilizer with equal amounts of phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen. Sedums can go with little to no fertilizer, so it’s best to give it a small amount of fertilizer during the spring and or early summer and then no other fertilization’s for the remainder of the year.

How Often Should I Water My Sedum Clavatum?

You should water your succulent deeply and thoroughly when the soil feels bone dry. By following the Golden rule of Watering, it will help you keep in schedule so that you don’t over water your succulent.

That rule is: Only water this succulent when the soil is completely dry. When you water it, soak the soil, but do not pour the water on top of the plant itself.

This plant goes dormant in the winter so even more infrequent watering is the norm of the season.

How Much Sunlight Should I Expose My Sedum Clavatum To?

You should expose your Sedum Clavatum to 4-6 hours of partial sunlight, whether its outside or inside.

If you notice your succulent looks deflated or crinkling, it means that your plant is getting too much sunlight and can get sunburned. Put your succulent in partial shade until its symptoms clear up.

If you have a corner that gets only half a day’s sun or so, but is blocked from the sun the rest of the day, then that is a great spot for this plant.

What Temperatures Are Ideal For The Stone Crop Succulent?

The ideal temperatures for the Sedum Clavatum are between 59° F to 78° F (15° C to 26° C), anything below 30° F (-1.1 ° C) is considered too cold for the succulent and it can die.

If temperatures where you live tend to get below the minimum temperature, plant your succulent in a portable container so that it can be transported indoors until temperatures outside warm up again.

This is not considered a cold hardy succulent and if left in freezing temperatures it will freeze and may never recover. So, be sure to keep it within it’s prescribed temperature ranges for best results.

How To Propagate The Stone Crop Succulent?

The best way to propagate the Sedum Clavatum is by cuttings. By using a sterilized cutting tool like a knife or scissors, cut off a stem from the succulent cluster and let it callouses over the next day or two before planting it in a pot of soil that has just been soaked and allowed to drain.

Then only water the cutting when the soil is dry just as you would the mother plant.

Is The Sedum Clavatum Toxic To Pets?

Although the Sedum genus has a large number of species including this one that are considered non-toxic to pets and humans, it should still be noted that a few of the other species can be toxic. Refer to a doctor or veterinarian if you or your pet have consumed large quantities of the succulent.

Even though it’s considered nontoxic, you’re better off safe than sorry.

Is The Sedum Clavatum Edible?

It is stated that all leaves of the Sedum genus are edible, with the Yellow Stone Crop being the most common for consumption. Still, with the flavor being incredibly bitter it would not be high on our recommendations list.

Why Is My Sedum Clavatum Dying?

Your Sedum Clavatum is most likely dying from over watering or not enough watering. Your plant can dry up from not getting enough water and die, and it can develop root rot and stem rot from over watering and standing water.

If the leaves become shriveled and crinkly, then it being under watered. Soak it and check it more often only watering when the soil becomes bone dry again.

If the leaves are yellow and mushy, then this is a sign of over watering. Let the soil become bone dry before your next watering and be sure not to pour the water over the plant but just into the soil around it.

Why Are My Stone Crop Succulent Leaves Falling Off?

Your Sedum Clavatum leaves can fall off from both over watering and not getting enough water. They can turn yellow and mushy before the fall off from the stem if over watered and they can deflate and crinkle up if under watered.

If the plant is over watered, allow the plant to use up the water that is has and let the soil become bone dry to the touch.

If it’s being under watered, then give it a good soaking and start checking it more often to see if the soil is bone dry to the touch. If it is, then water it again, if not, then don’t.

Is The Sedum Clavatum An Indoor Or Outdoor Plant?

The Sedum Clavatum is both and indoor and outdoor plant, perfect for adding life to your home and decorating your garden. Nothing changes other than temperatures. If temperatures where you live tend to get below 30° F (-1.1 ° C), it is best to plant your succulent in a portable container so that you can bring it indoors until temperatures outside warm up again.

What Are The Most Common Sedum Clavatum Pests And Diseases?

The most common Sedum Clavatum pests and diseases are aphids and rot.

Aphids can be identified on a succulent by looking for small moving specks varying from white, black, yellow and even pink. You can get rid of them by spraying your succulent with a home-made mix of water and dish soap, continue spraying your succulent for a few weeks until they’re gone. A good mixture will be just one tablespoon of dish soap per quart of water.

Rot is one of the most common diseases that all succulents are susceptible to. Rot can be caused from over watering or standing water. You can avoid this by following the Golden rule of watering to help you keep in check on how often you should water your plant, only when the soil feels bone dry. Then give it a full soaking and let it dry out again.

Sources:

https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3732/ajb.91.7.1099