Can't keep semps and sedum alive in containers

16 years ago

I'm in Michigan. Every year I plant up interesting containers with semps and sedums and the next year they are either dead or just gone. I think deer might be eating some, but why can't I keep them alive? I make sure there is good drainage. Do I need to be putting them away every winter?

Other people in my area just ignore them, leave them where they are and they thrive. What could I be doing wrong?

Before last year I discovered my outside water was routed thru the the softener. After having a fit, Culligan changed it, so last summer no salt water. yet they still die.

any help or advice?

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Comments (6)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
16 years ago
Well - they insist on good drainage & prefer lots of sun. Where in MI are you, neighbor? (just curious). If you're growing them in shallow containers, that presents its own particular set of problems. I grow many different varieties in all kinds of containers (I'll share if you like) and they all do very well. Even have some that self-dwarf down to about pea-size when grown on rocks or pieces of wood & splashed with water occasionally. The voles seem to like houseleeks, so I always have a little damage there, but they bounce right back. There are some that need to over-winter in the garage, but most are in the garden or left outdoors in containers all winter. Dessication, rather than cold is most apt to be the problem during winter.

Al
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justaguy2
16 years ago
My own experience with semps has been that they rot in the late winter/early spring. Drainage is the problem, but it isn't the growing mix that prevents the drainage. What happens is that the mix freezes solid in the winter and when a warm, sunny day comes along the top inch or two of the container thaws, but the bottom does not so the drain holes are covered and the water can't drain.

Cold and wet = death to semps. Oddly the rollers (Jovibarbas) seem largely immune to the water+cold problem that others have.

Anyway, I have resolved this problem by moving the containers under a patio table where they still get sun, but most (not all) of the winter snow/rain misses them. This keeps them alive. However, it is also a pain for me.

What I am going to try this year is switching to a shallow container (2" depth) and use pure Turface MVP and try leaving them out all winter to deal with the snow/rain. My hope is that the shallow container will fully thaw unlike the deeper ones so the water will drain fully. We shall see.
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sedumqueen
16 years ago
i have the same problem. al, what is the best mix,container,and depth of mix is best for autumnjoy sedum? and what is the best way to propagate and when?
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redneck_grower
16 years ago
No problem here propagating Sedum 'Autumn Joy' any time during the growing season. Stems and leaves root easily. Don't need rooting hormone. Just stick a stem or leaf in good draining, moisture retentive soil and you'll have roots in no time.

Good luck.
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sedumqueen
16 years ago
i never have any luck rooting the leaves, is there a special trick or technique? also is there an individual or source out there for buying the cuttings? my friend used to buy them for 20 cents per stem,but cant remember the website? i need as many as possible to cover two shadeless acres.
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redneck_grower
16 years ago
Hmmm, I don't know if there is a trick or not (re, rooting sedum leaves). I don't try very hard at it. Lucky, I guess. Read this, if you wish:

Sedum Autumn Joy
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Can't keep semps and sedum alive in containers

Comments (6)

tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

justaguy2

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