I am having the same issue! I have these within inches of my growlight and it just doesn't seem to be enough! These seem to really need a lot of sun!

Really? Mine seem ok and there's minimal sun here at the moment, they're in the unheated greenhouse....

Gill - All of my sedums did really well outside during the summer, it is only when it got colder and I brought them in, they started becoming leggy and sprouting aerial roots towards the top.

I was partially inspired by your advice that gave me the courage to snip them off and restart.

How often do you water them? I've neglecting on my plants alot lately, perhaps they aren't getting enough water.

Deva - How often do you water yours too? Mind sharing pics?

During our so called summer they get watered weekly I would say. I tend to water on an 'on demand schedule', if I remember, rather than a set regime. During these colder months the sedum (and many other of my sucs, mainly jades) will get watered only if they begin to shrivel as they are in a unheated g/h at the moment which will remain unheated till such time as the temps fall below freezing, currently the UK is mild for the time of year.

Gill UK

I am trying to reduce watering right now. I'm down to once a week or maybe 10 days. I would like to get down to twice a month. But I am really going plant by plant. Sadly, I kinda wait until they show some signs of needing to get watered (e.g. soft leaves,leaves drooping) before giving them a drink. I would like to limit growth through the winter since they are not getting that summer sun.

I only had this one piece at the end of summer. This is from October. I also had a few little leaves that were sprouting. This plant was in the sunniest spot on my balcony. It got several hours of evening sun, probably from about 1pm until sunset at 7 or so. And it got all etiolated like this. This may not be a plant I can keep up with.

I had to do some repotting. That PvN was growing out the side of the pot and I had some issues with some other plants too. I know its not the right time to repot but I felt it needed to get done for them to get through winter in the best shape.

I am having some trouble getting the current pics to upload to my computer. I am just going to go post them from my phone....

This one has the decapitated main stem. The head was sent to my aunt in Florida. And please excuse that PvN. She's huge and thirsty.

And here are the babies I mentioned...

Not sure if your mix is the same all the way down or is the grit just on the top? Mine grow with about 1/3 regular potting compost mixed with grit and perlite so they do have regular soil mixed in. Maybe the pure grit mix you are using is just too gritty for them....this is just what works for me you understand :)

Gill UK

Looking great Deva, would love to see more updates!

Most of my plants are under lights, and they are telling me they are not ready for the winter prep yet. I tried extending my watering period to weekly then fortnight, but some looked really horrible if I stretch it past more than a week. Gonna go with my gut and improvise now.

Gill - I'm inclined to agree with you, I noticed if I do not water my jelly bean plants for more than 3-4 days, they start to show signs of thirst, wrinkling and etiolation too. Mine are all in the pure gritty mix as well, I've read a great deal that some % of garden loam/soil added into the gm will benefit such plants.

On a personal note, I don't grow any plants in 'absolutely pure gritty mix', I use at least 1/5 general purpose potting compost, mostly its 1/4 as for some I would cut that 1/4 with grit anyway.....works for me and mine anyway. Guess we just have to experiment with our own plants, climate and conditions we can provide and remember that others have proved that it (pure gritty mix) can and does certainly work very well.

Gill UK

Thanks for sharing Gill. I think certain species are more receptive to a higher level moisture mix, and growing environment definitely does play a role too!

not jelly bean but the same sort of thing.

some thoughts about watering.

all my soil is just so totally not gritty mix

here in nv. even in winter humidity is very low but light levels are high. many of my potted things actually grow better in winter than in the intense heat and light of summer. i water when they are bone dry, because of that i occasionally lose track and miss watering a few here and there. even after a few weeks there is seldom any withering.

so-a possibility. the organic mix holds more water longer when watering, and the plants become more fully hydrated so they are able to withstand dryness longer, i.e. not withering.

around here, unless i have a spell of obsessive care, overwatering and rot aren't an issue. in damper places some experimentation with proportions probably necessary. looks and sounds like Gill has hers about right.

Thanks for sharing too Dave, I think we all here have experienced the occasional spell of obsessive care some time or another. ^-^

My mix it 100% gritty. I have a string of buttons and a string of bananas in a fast draining soil mix, but those are the only two. I noticed that those do better in soil. Bernard, let me know if you find that yours do better with a little soil mixed in. Maybe I will have to experiment.

Deva, I only started having this idea when I read about Mark's post on using loam/garden soil modified into his gritty mix. He had grown incredible plants and very knowledgeable in regards to components for succulent soil.

He lives within my region in Long Island, so the environment we grow in are very similar. I hope to get in touch with him one day when he's active on this forum again.

Perhaps this thread might inspire you too.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1764966/soil-recipes?n=14

So far, I only started using vermiculite into my gritty mix. I haven't tried loam yet. Might give it a shot on my next batch

Interesting thread. I've thought about doing a little soil mixed with gritty mix for a few plants. Especially those with finer roots. I won't be changing anything until spring. But I may do an experiment. Like take cuttings of the same plant and monitor their growth in the different mediums. I think if they are indoors it may be okay, because I can monitor the watering. However, for the ones that are outside I get worried. Even though I have a covered balcony, when it rains my plants still get watered. Which is a good thing with gritty mix. But could lead to rot if it's too water retentive.