Do you like succulents? So you may have heard of sedum lucidum, one of the most appreciated and also one of those that offers you a color in each of its leaves that does not pass indifferent to anyone.
But what is the sedum lucidum like? What care do you need? We are going to talk about all of this so that you have a practical guide in case you decide to have one at home.
How is the sedum lucidum
The first thing you should know about sedum lucidum is its origin. This one is in Mexico, although now it can be found in many other places in the world. Its scientific name is Sedum lucidum obesum and it is a succulent plant, that is, it accumulates water in its leaves and can reach 30 centimeters in height.
How are your leaves
The leaves of the sedum lucidum are fleshy, rounded and large. But the most characteristic of this is the color it has, between green and reddish on the edges. These leaves are also very shiny and are soft to the touch.
Each of them can measure about 5 cm long, although it acts as a shrub, in such a way that it will have many stems from which rosettes with these fleshy leaves will emerge.
What you may not know is that sedum lucidum also has a variegated form, where the leaves are usually pastel shades mixed between pink, yellow and green. This is highly appreciated, but it is also one of the most expensive that you will find within succulents.
does it bloom?
Well yes. In addition, it is easy for it to do so if you provide it with the proper care. And although these are not as spectacular as the leaves of the plant, they will still attract a lot of attention.
To begin with, They have a star shape in white. But in the center it has a small shade of yellow. This usually occurs in spring and summer.
Sedum lucidum care
Do you want to have a sedum lucidum at home? Although succulents are plants that hardly need care and that, in a way, you can forget about them for a while, the truth is that you have to be aware of them. And that is what we are going to teach you next. Pay attention.
Location and temperature
If you are wondering if it is better to place the sedum lucidum indoors or outdoors, we have already indicated that the best thing will always be outdoors, if possible in full sun. In fact, when it does not receive enough light, it loses its reddish coloration, and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to recover it.
To give you an idea, it will need direct sunlight at least 4 hours a day, and 6 more filtered.
As for the temperature, ideally it should be between 12 and 29ºC. However, it tolerates both cold and intense heat. In the case of cold, it is better to protect it from extremes or continuous frost, especially if it is the first year that you have it because it can suffer much more.
Substratum
The sedum lucidum is a succulent plant, and as such it needs a soil that has good drainage. Actually, it adapts to any type of soil, so if you make a mixture with universal substrate and perlite, you will have everything you need to make it feel happy. Another option that many professionals use is to mix topsoil with a little worm hummus.
As for the pot, always try to place one of small or medium size because it prefers being "compact" to having a lot of free space.
Change the soil every two years so that the nutrients are renewed and your plant remains healthy.
Irrigation
We come to irrigation, and like many other succulents, this one must be conspicuous by its absence. No, we do not mean that you do not have to water it, but the truth is that you do not have to water it too much to avoid root rot.
En general, in summer you can water it 1-2 times a week while in winter it may only need watering every fifteen or thirty days, nothing more.
Of course, it is not recommended to wet the leaves (yes, you can spray it on top, but if you add too much water they can rot).
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While They are not plants that need fertilization, If you have not changed the substrate for a long time, you can add a little fertilizer indicated for cacti and succulents, always in a somewhat lower proportion than the instructions that come on the package from the manufacturer.
Pruning
As for pruning, obviously when the sedum lucidum says to grow, it grows. And that can make it "out of control" a bit. That is why it is possible that from time to time you have to cut it to slow down its "invasion" of other plants a bit. But those cuts you can use to propagate the plant in other pots.
Plagues and diseases
As succulent as it is, sedum lucidum is a plant that is not attacked by pests. But this is not entirely true because it is true that there are pests and diseases that you must take into account.
On one hand, mealybugs, that they can attack it to feed on the sap and that, in that target, they will damage the leaves.
On the other hand, root rot, which can be caused by excessive watering. Along with this, we have the gray mold, that can darken the plant and end up consuming it in a short time.
Multiplication
The form of multiplication of the sedum lucidum it can be through seeds (since it flowers and the seeds could be collected) and also by cuttings. The latter is the most used and the most likely to be successful.
To do this, you only have to take a part of the plant that has a stem (if possible from the highest part so that it is a more adult specimen) and just cut it and wait about 24 hours for the cut wound to seal, you can plant it in the ground. The stem will root very quickly and so you will have a new plant in a matter of a year (actually, depending on when you do it, you will have it sooner or later).
Now that you know everything you need to have a sedum lucidum, Would you dare to have it at home?