graptosedum

El graptosedum it is a beautiful succulent plant. You can have it practically anywhere you want, as long as it doesn't lack light and is growing in soil that drains water well. In addition, if you keep in mind at all times that it withstands drought much better than flooding, it will be easy for it to last a few years.

But if you want to know what care should be given, and thus make it grow healthy, then we are going to talk about all of it.

What is Graptosedum?

It is a series of succulent plants that you will not find in nature, since they have been created by human beings. In fact, is a hybrid between Graptopetalum and Sedum. Depending on which species of each genus you chose, we will have some cultivars or others. For example, the Graptosedum Bronze is the result of the cross between Graptosedum paraguayense y Sedum stahlii.

But regardless of this, we are talking about a very specific type of plant, which develops more or less straight and relatively short stems, from which fleshy leaves sprout that are grouped in rosettes. These can be of different colors, green (or one of its many shades) and pink being common.

The flowers are also small and fleshy, arising from a stem about 5-7 centimeters long. They bloom during the summer.

How is Graptosedum cared for?

Graptosedum is a succulent non-cactus plant, which means that it is not related to cacti. Now, like them, yes it is a succulent, since it uses its body to store water, which helps it resist drought. In addition, if we now talk about its cultivation needs, they are very similar to those of cacti, which is why it is interesting for beginners and, also, for those who are looking for low-maintenance plants.

So if you want to know how to take care of Graptosedum, take note:

Interior or exterior?

To answer this question, we first have to ask ourselves another: Can it withstand the temperatures in our area? And it is that if the answer is affirmative, we can choose to have it abroad all year round, but if not, we will have no choice but to grow it indoors daily, or only in autumn and winter.

Well, you should know about our protagonist that he is very chilly; that is, very sensitive to cold. Ideally, the temperature should be between 10ºC and 40ºC, but it can withstand up to 0 degrees.

Knowing this, you can choose whether to have it outside or inside the house.

Sun or shade?

It is recommended that you get used to being exposed to direct sunlight. This is done little by little, leaving it for an hour in the early morning or in the afternoon in the sun, and then taking it to a protected area. As the weeks go by, you have to increase the exposure time by 30 or 60 minutes, but no more, otherwise we would risk burning it.

If this is not possible, the Graptosedum is a succulent that can be in partial shade, or even in a place where there is a lot of light, whether or not there is direct light.

When to water?

It is a crass that it withstands drought very well, but that does not mean that it should never be watered. Moreover, the lack of water can be as harmful as the excess. But, yes, it would be much easier to recover it if it was dry and not drowned, since we would only have to moisten the soil well and, from then on, water more often.

On the contrary, if we have overdone it with watering, we will have to take it out of the pot (or the ground), remove the soil from the roots, look to see if there is any -root- that is black and cut it off, and apply a treatment with fungicide. Later, only later, can it be planted in a pot with holes and with new soil.

Now When do you have to water it so that problems do not arise? Well, it is best to do it when the soil is completely dry. This is easily known if you take the pot and notice that it weighs little. Now, if you have doubts, take a wooden stick and use it to check the humidity of said soil. If when you remove it from the container you see that it is practically clean, then it is dry and you have to water it.

What land do you need?

The land for Graptosedum it must be light and sandy, with good drainage. Therefore, if the soil you have in the garden is clayey, for example, as it is compact and heavy, you will have to dig a planting hole of about 30 x 30 centimeters and then fill it with a substrate for cacti and other succulents such as this.

In the event that it is going to be in a pot, we will put that substrate as well.

Does it have to be paid?

Is not more. As long as we have a potted plant -except if it is a carnivorous one, since these never have to be fertilized- we can give it some fertilizer from time to time to make it grow well.

To fertilize the Graptosedum, and since it is a non-cactus succulent, we will add a specific fertilizer for this type of plant in spring and summer, such as this. Now, in the event that it is going to be outside, we recommend applying an organic fertilizer such as guano.

How does it multiply?

For stem cuttings only. But do not worry, because it is quite simple. In spring, you have to cut a piece and leave it in a dry and shady place so that the wound heals for about 4 to 7 days. And after that time, you have to plant it in a small pot with holes in its base filled with substrate for succulents.

Over the course of the next two weeks, it will produce its roots.

When should it be planted in the ground or in another pot?

When the roots come out of the holes in the pot it's in, or when several years (4-5) have passed since the last transplant, then you can plant it either in another pot, or in the garden.

But wait for spring to arrive and for it to finish settling down, because if there were any frost, even if it was very weak, it would cause significant damage.

What is its resistance to cold?

It is practically nil; in fact, si there are frosts we will have to put it in the house so you don't have a bad time.

Do you have any Graptosedum in the collection?