Burro's Tail Plant (Sedum morganianum) Care Indoors; Watering, Soil, Propagation, Problems
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Sedum morganianum also called Burro's Tail Plant or Donkey's Tail Plant is one of the popular trailing succulent plants, and features 2-3 feet long stems, completely clothed with blue-green cylindrical succulent leaves.
With its spectacular cascading stems and terminal, pink to red flowers, Donkey's Tail Plant is among favorite hanging succulents for indoor hanging baskets.
Botanical name: Sedum morganianum
Family: Crassulaceae
Common names: Burro's Tail Plant, Donkey's Tail Plant
Origin
Sedum morganianum is native to southern Mexico and Honduras.
Related Plants
Sedum morganianum is related to Sedum pachyphyllum (Blue Jelly Beans Plant) and Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Beans Plant) which are ideal for the home, office and other spaces.
Is Donkey's Tail Plant poisonous?
No. Donkey's Tail Plant is non-toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. Sedum morganianum is safe to grow in a home with children, cats, dogs and other pets. However, it should not be eaten.
Where to Buy
If you are looking to add Donkey's Tail Plants to your collection, you may obtain these plants online from Amazon (Link to Amazon) or from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to Care for Sedum morganianum Indoors
To properly care for Sedum morganianum indoors, provide bright light with 6-8 hours of sunshine, warmth of 18-260C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, succulents soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Burro's Tail Plant requires pruning to keep the plant neat as well as minimize pest and disease infestations. Repotting is needed only when it becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for the best growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Watering
Water Sedum morganianum liberally in spring and summer until water drains through the drainage hole. Allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist. Take care not to overwater to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf drop.
Significantly lessen watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time to maintain the soil barely moist. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to avoid wilting, yellowing and leaf loss.
To prevent cold shock which can result in stunted growth and leaf drop, refrain from consistently watering with cold water; use tepid water (water that is at room temperature).
Ascertain that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent sogginess as it can can lead to rotting and death of the plant.
Avoid wetting the leaves to minimize fungal diseases; you may water from the bottom instead. Always discard excess water from the bottom saucer to prevent waterlogging of the soil.
Light Requirements
Burro's Tail Plant thrives in bright light with 6-8 hours of direct sunshine to enhance leaf coloration and flowering. Keep it away from hot midday sunshine to avoid scorching of the leaves.
If the light is too low, it may lead to yellowing, leggy growth and fewer blooms. Where the natural lighting is not sufficient, use full spectrum grow lights to complement it.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant gets adequate light on all sides for uniform growth and prevent leggy growth.
Should you choose to grow your Donkey's Tail Plant outdoors, gradually acclimate it and place in a shaded place first before exposing it to direct sunlight.
Temperature & Humidity
Burro's Tail Plant prefers a warmth of 18-260C. The sudden change in temperature between day and night is excellent for this plant.
Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, hot air vents, open doors, drafty windows and others to avoid temperature flacuations as they can lead to reduced growth and leaf drop.
Sedum morganianum has no need for extra humidity; a humidity of 50-55% is adequate for the plant. Ensure good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed Burro's Tail Plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer monthly in spring and summer to boost growth. Stop feeding in fall and winter to avoid fertilizer burn as growth is minimal at this time.
Potting Soil
The best soil for Sedum morganianum should be sandy or rocky soil to avoid waterlogging. The soil should be loose enough to allow water to drain out fast enough. A Cactus and succulents potting mix is ideal for this plant.
Repotting
Repot Burro's Tail Plant only when the plant is pot-bound; take care not to damage the fragile leaves as they drop very easily but they can be used for propagation.
Use a shallow rather than a deep pot as it has shallow roots. A clay pot is preferable because it is porous, therefore allows the soil to dry out faster.
The pot should be only 1 size larger than the current one. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy to avoid rotting. Check out these succulents pots on Amazon.
Pruning & Maintenance
Pruning Sedum morganianum involves removal of dead or diseased leaves to keep the plant tidy as well as reduce pest and disease infestations.
Regularly clean the leaves by gently brushing off the dust with a soft brush to maintain surface area for light absorption.
Sedum morganianum Propagation
Burro's Tail Plant is propagated from leaf cuttings or stem cuttings at the beginning of the growing season.
1. Propagating Sedum morganianum from leaf cuttings
- Take leaf cuttings complete with the petiole from a healthy plant.
- Allow the leaf cutting to dry out (callus) for a few days to prevent rotting.
- Fill a rooting container with a fast-draining soil and wet it slightly. Ensure the container has a drainage hole to avoid rotting.
- When calloussed, lay the leaf cutting on moist soil while ensuring that the cut end does not come into contact with the soil to prevent rotting.
- Postion the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.
- Maintain the soil slightly moist through out and ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
- With time, the leaf cutting will form roots and eventually a small rosette will form at the base of the leaf cutting. This may take from 4-6 weeks.
- Allow substancial growth of the rosette before transplanting the new plant into its own pot after which you can begin routine care.
2. Propagating Sedum morganianum from stem cuttings
- Take 3-5 inches stem cuttings from a healthy plant and allow the cutting to dry out (callus) for a few days to prevent rotting.
- Fill a small pot with a fast-draining soil and moisten it slightly. Use a pot with a drainage hole to avoid rotting.
- Once callused, insert 2-3 inches of the lower cut end of the stem cuttings in the moist soil.
- Place the set up in a well-lit, warm place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.
- Ensure good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.
- Maintain the soil slightly moist until the stem cuttings have rooted. Rooting may take 3-4 weeks.
- Allow substancial growth before transplanting the new plant into a pot one size larger after which you can begin routine care.
Sedum morganianum Problems & Remedies
Burro's Tail Plant problems are shrivelled leaves, leggy growth, pests and diseases. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Shrivelled leaves
Shrivelled leaves on Sedum morganianum are caused by underwatering or temperature stress.
How to fix it
Underwatering: Water the plant when the top half of soil dries out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like hot air vents, heat sources, AC units, open doors among others.
Leggy growth
Leggy growth on Burro's Tail Plant is due to underwatering, soggy soil, too little light or nutrients deficiency.
How to fix it
Underwatering: Water when the top half of soil feels dry to the touch. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil.
Too little light: Place the plant in bright light with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient.
Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer.
Pests
Common pests of Sedum morganianum are mealybugs and scale insects which are prevalent in dry conditions.
How to fix it
- Isolate the affected plant to reduce spread to other plants.
- Treat the plant with a horticultural oil as per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Regularly inspect the plant between the leaves for these pests and take timely control measures.
- Keep the plant well pruned to discourage the pests.
- To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together, to minimize pest infestations.
Diseases
Burro's Tail Plant is prone to the following diseases:
1. Basal stem-rot disease which is brought about by overwet conditions. It is characterized by a rotting plant base followed by yellowing and shrivelled leaves.
The disease spreads rapidly and is difficult to treat. If it has spread, the plant cannot be saved and it should be discarded together with its soil and pot. However, if caught early, it can be treated.
How to treat early infestation
- Cut and discard or burn the diseased plant tissue.
- Keep the soil on the drier side; withhold watering for 10-14 days.
- Use free-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.
- Maintain good ventilation to discourage the disease infestation.
- Position the plant away from sources of cold drafts to maintain an average warmth.
2. Leaf spot disease which is enhanced by poor air circulation. It presents as brown, soft leaf spots.
How to fix it
- Isolate the affected plant to minimize spread to the other plants.
- Treat the affected plant with neem oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Ensure free air circulation to discourage the diseases.
- Water from the bottom to avoid wetting the leaves.
- Always allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
- Use a pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining soil to prevent sogginess.
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