Blue Jelly Beans Plant (Sedum pachyphyllum) Care Indoors, Propagation, Problems & Solutions
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Blue Jelly Beans Plant (Sedum pachyphyllum) prefers bright light to full sunlight, average warmth and hmidity, and moderately moist, rich, free-draining soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Sedum pachyphyllum also called Many Fingers Plant bears short red-tipped succulent leaves that resemble fingers. The leaves are pale-green and do not change color even in bright light.
Though the stems are upright in young plants, they eventually grow long enough to trail over the sides of the pot, creating a hanging plant display. Blue Jelly Beans Plant is among popular hanging succulents for indoor hanging baskets.
Botanical name: Sedum pachyphyllum
Family: Crassulaceae
Common names: Blue Jelly Beans Plant, Many Fingers Plant
Origin
Sedum pachyphyllum is native to Mexico.
Flower
Blue Jelly Beans Plant flowers are bright yellow and they sprout from between the leaves.
Is Sedum pachyphyllum poisonous?
No. Sedum pachyphyllum is non-toxic to humans and pets as indicated by plantaddicts.com. However, it may cause skin irritation when touched and stomach pains and irritation if ingested.
Related Plants
Sedum pachyphyllum is related to Sedum morganianum (Donkey's Tail Plant) and Sedum rubrotinctum (Jelly Beans Plant).
Where to Buy
Blue Jelly Beans Plants are a great addition to any plant collection. You may acquire these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to Care for Sedum pachyphyllum Indoors
To care for Sedum pachyphyllum indoors, give it bright light to full sunlight, warmth of 18-260C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, loose, free-draining, succulents potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Blue Jelly Beans Plant requires repotting only when it becomes pot-bound. Pruning is necessary to keep the plant neat as well as minimize pest and disease infestations. Keep reading for the best growing conditions and how to provide them.
Watering
How often should I water Sedum pachyphyllum?
Do not water your Sedum pachyphyllum on a schedule to avoid either overwatering or underwatering as both can affect plant growth negatively.
Water Sedum pachyphyllum thoroughly in spring and summer while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil moderately moist and avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf loss.
Significantly, cut down on watering in fall and winter because growth is reduced at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to avoid wilting, yellowing and leaf drop.
Use water that is at room temperature to prevent cold shock as it can result in reduced growth and leaf loss.
Make sure the soil is fast-draining and the pot has a drainage hole to prevent waterlogging which can lead to rotting and plant death.
Take care not to wet the leaves to minimize fungal diseases; you may water from the bottom instead. Discard excess water from the bottom saucer to avoid sogginess of the soil.
Light Requirements
Does Blue Jelly Beans Plant need direct sunlight?
Yes. Blue Jelly Beans Plant grows best in bright light to full sunlight. Keep it away from hot midday sunshine to prevent scorching of the leaves.
Too little light will result in yellowing and leggy growth. Therefore, if the natural lighting is not adequate, instal full spectrum grow lights to increase 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 the Many Fingers Plant outdoors, gradually acclimate it and place it in a shaded place to avoid scorching the leaves.
Temperature & Humidity
Blue Jelly Beans Plant thrives in a warmth of 18-260C. The sudden temperature change between day and night is excellent for this succulent.
Keep it away from sources of drafts to avoid sudden temperature changes as they can result in stunted growth, wilting, yellowing and leaf drop.
Sedum pachyphyllum performs best in a humidity of 50-55%; it has no need for extra humidity. Ascertain that there is good air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.
Potting Mix
The best soil for Blue Jelly Beans Plant should be sandy or rocky soil to avoid getting soggy soil. 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 as it allows free water drainage.
Fertilizer
Feed Blue Jelly Beans Plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer monthly in the growing season for lush growth. Stop feeding in the cold season to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is minimal at this time.
Repotting
Repot Blue Jelly Beans Plant only when the plant has become pot-bound. Use a shallow rather than a deep pot as the has shallow roots.
A clay pot is preferable because it is porous and therefore allows the soil to dry out faster. The pot should be only 1 size larger than the current one. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting. Take a look at these succulents pots on Amazon.
Pruning & Grooming
Pruning Blue Jelly Beans Plant involves the removal of dead and diseased leaves to maintain the plant neat and tidy.
Regularly clean the leaves by gently brushing off the dust with a soft brush to expose maximum surface area for light absorption.
Sedum pachyphyllum Propagation
Sedum pachyphyllum (Blue Jelly Beans Plant) is propagated at the beginning of the growing season from leaf cuttings as they root easily.
Propagating Blue Jelly Beans Plant 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.
- Place the set up in a warm, brightly-lit place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.
- Keep 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 3-4 weeks.
- Allow substancial growth of the rosette before transplanting the new plant into its own pot after which you can begin routine care.
Sedum pachyphyllum Problems & Remedies
Blue Jelly Beans Plant (Sedum pachyphyllum) common problems are leaf drop, yellowing leaves, plant dying, pests and diseases. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to solve them.
Leaf drop
Why are the leaves falling off my Blue Jelly Beans Plant?
Leaf drop on Blue Jelly Beans Plant is caused by inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, temperature stress, excessive touching or aging.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule; water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soilball to dry out completely. Avoid watering consistently with cold water.
Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and a free-draining soil.
Too little light: Place the plant in bright light to full sunlight or use a grow light if the natural lighting is not enough.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, open doors, hot air vents, heat sources among others.
Excessive touching: Keep the plant away from the line of traffic and avoid unnecessarily moving it around and take care when moving it.
Aging: This is a natural process. As the lower leaves mature, they turn yellow, brown and eventually drop off.
Yellow leaves
Yellow leaves on Sedum pachyphyllum are caused by inadequate light, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, drafts or nutrients deficiency.
How to fix it
Inadequate light: Position the plant in bright light to full sunshine or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient.
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil-ball to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use well-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.
Drafts: Keep the plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, hot air vents, windy doors, drafty windows among others.
Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer.
Plant dying
Why is my Blue Jelly Beans Plant dying?
Your Blue Jelly Beans Plant is dying due to root-rot which is enhanced by soggy soil. The disease is characterized by yellowing and wilting of the leaves which is rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse.
How to fix it
- Carefully slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots; brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot.
- Trim the rotten roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Repot the plant in fresh soil and a fresh pot. Use a pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining soil to prevent it from getting soggy.
- Place the plant in very bright light and stop watering for a few days to give the plant enough time to recover. After the dry period, resume routine care.
Pests
Common pests on Blue Jelly Beans Plant 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 affected plant with neem oil as per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Regularly inspect the plant for these pests and take timely control measures.
- Keep the plant well pruned to discourage the pests.
Diseases
Sedum pachyphyllum is also prone to the following diseases:
1. Leaf spot disease which is enhanced by poor air circulation. The disease 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.
- Maintain 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.
- Select a pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining soil to prevent waterlogging.
2. Basal stem-rot disease which is brought about by overwet conditions. It is characterized by a rotting plant base, yellowing and shrivelled leaves.
The disease spreads very fast 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, it can be treated if caught early.
How to treat early infestation
- Cut and discard or burn the diseased tissue.
- Keep the soil on the drier side; withhold watering for 10-14 days.
- Use free-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.
- Ensure good airflow to discourage the disease infestation.
- Position the plant away from cold drafts to maintain an average warmth.
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