Sedum (Stonecrop) are an easy to grow plant in the succulent family. Thriving in zones 4-9, sedums bloom from July through late fall. In fact, some gardeners leave the blooms intack during the winter, making the plant attractive for longer. Sedums grow best in less than desirable conditions. Full sun and dry soil are perfect components for a healthy blooming sedum. Too much water or shade can cause the stonecrop to not bloom as well. If you find that your sedum is not producing blooms, sun and soil conditions are the first place to troubleshoot.
Common Reasons Why Sedum Aren’t Blooming
Sedums need full sun for most of the day. If you plant it in an area that is too shady, a sedum will produce fewer or possibly no blooms at all. Sedums also like well drained dryer soil. If your plant is not flowering, it could be that the soil is too rich. You may need to move the plant to an area with poor soil. Think about how much fertilizer is used with stonecrop. Over fertilizing can result in fewer flowers.
- Too much shade will produce fewer blooms.
- Too much water. Sedums like dry soil.
- Too much fertilizer.
Does Pruning Sedum Help It Bloom
Pruning a sedum cannot hurt the plant; it is when you prune the plant that is important to think about when promoting blooming. In colder regions, after the winter, you will see new growth at the base of the plant. You will want to cut the sedum back to its new growth allowing the new growth to emerge. In warmer climates, you can remove the spent flower heads at any time.
Pinching back taller growing varieties of stonecrop in early summer promotes smaller, more numerous flowers. Pruning creeping sedum after blooming can stimulate another round of blooms on some varieties.
Does Fertilizing Sedum Help It Bloom
Sedums thrive in dry poor quality soil. Less fertilizer is better than too much fertilizer. Too much nitrogen in the soil will make the sedum flop and cause delayed blooming. Adding an inch of compost in the spring is all you need to help the soil.
How To Get Sedum To Produce More Blooms
In the early spring, cutting back the dead stalks of the plant can encourage new growth. For taller varieties of sedum, pinch back the plant to produce smaller, plentiful flowers. Creeping sedums can be pruned after it blooms. This will stimulate another round of flowering. Quite often, a non blooming plant will just need time to mature and grow before it flowers.
