Popular and simple to cultivate, donkey’s tail (Sedum morganianum) has rows of fleshy, teardrop-shaped, blue-green leaves. Native to Mexico and Honduras, mature specimens grow gradually yet steadily, reaching trailing lengths of up to 4 feet in just six years (though the average length is closer to 24 inches). They are often grown in pots and frequently used as hanging specimens. The succulent can be planted and multiplied year-round indoors, but it grows best outside when planted in the early spring. Although the plant hardly ever blooms indoors, late summer can see the appearance of red or pink blossoms.
How should a donkey tail succulent be cared for?
Burro’s tail requires a lot more water than many other varieties of succulents in order to maintain nice, lush leaves. Particularly when kept inside because it thrives in the well-drained container, properly soak its soil and do not water it again until the dirt dries up entirely. Stick your finger in the water to get a more precise reading, and make sure the area around your burro’s tail is at least an inch deep.
Do not overwater this drought-tolerant plant because doing so will cause it to decay. However, keep in mind that older plants require more frequent watering; make sure to check the soil frequently. Once every 14 days, you should water your burro’s tail.
To ensure that the collected salts from fertilizers and water flow out of your plant pot, make sure to give it a thorough drink. Water your donkey’s tail more frequently, or every nine days, during the growing season when the days are warmer. Succulents in clay containers typically dry out more quickly. As a result, during the warmer season, you should make sure your plant gets enough water.
Do donkey tail succulents have flowers?
The family of stonecrops includes a significant number of species under the genus Sedum (Crassulaceae). A tropical species of sedum known as Sedum morganianum has long been cultivated as an ornamental because of its unusual, evergreen foliage. Due to the pendulous stems’ similarity to an animal’s tail, it goes by numerous common names, including burro’s tail, donkey’s tail (also a traditional name for the hardy perennial Euphorbia myrsinites), horse’s tail, and lamb’s tail. This long-lived sensitive trailing sub-shrub, which is native to southern Mexico and Honduras, is often grown as a houseplant in most of North America because it is hardy only when it is consistently above freezing. It received the 1993 Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
The trailing stalks and succulent, blue-green leaves of this delicate perennial plant have a silvery bloom that rubs off when touched. The stems begin by growing straight before slanting downward and lengthening to four feet; due to the water content of the leaves, they can become rather heavy. The lance-shaped, overlapping, smooth-textured leaves develop in a densely whorled, nearly swirling pattern to completely encircle the stem, giving it a braided-like look. The pointy ends of the short, thick, cylindrical leaves swell to become very plump when plants are adequately watered and will shrivel when conditions are too dry. Because the plant’s stems and leaves are fragile, it should be placed in an area where it won’t be accidentally knocked over or harmed by passing humans or animals. Branch formation may occur where the stems are lacking in leaves. ‘Burrito’ or ‘Baby Burro Tail’ has lime-green leaves that are smaller, more rounded, and on shorter stems—it is uncertain if this refers to a different species, a cultivar, or a hybrid.
Although burro’s tail planted indoors rarely blooms, in the summer terminal clusters of 1-6 flowers on slender pedicels may have tiny but stunning pink to crimson blossoms. The tiny, star-shaped flowers feature plump, lighter pink sepals and vivid yellow stamens. They produce a lot of nectar and entice flies and bees with it. Before the plants may flower, they must be fully grown, with stems that are at least 25 cm long. Moving plants outside in the summer and keeping them at milder temperatures (50°F and 60°F as opposed to room temperature) during the winter may promote flowering.
Burro’s tail grows best in containers where the stems can hang down vertically because of its trailing branches. The pendant stems can be displayed in hanging baskets, urns, or sizable pots on pedestals. Put enough material in a head-shaped container to resemble dreadlocks. Individual plants can live for decades under ideal conditions inside. They can be utilized as temporary hanging plants outdoors in wind-sheltered areas. There are multiple hanging baskets of these plants at Lotusland in Santa Barbara, California, each with a shade cover that gives them the appearance of a gigantic jellyfish.
The optimal conditions for burro’s tail growth are bright light to full sun; in low light, the internodes will be longer and the stems’ leaves won’t be as tightly packed. If the light is too strong, the leaves lose their blue-green color and turn yellowish. It thrives in a growing medium with good drainage, like cactus mix or standard potting soil that has been liberally supplemented with perlite, pumice, baked clay granules, or even fine pea gravel (but not sand, which tends to fill the soil pores and hinder rather than enhance drainage). Only once or twice during the growing season, apply mild fertilizer. Repot in the spring, but only after the plant has completely filled the container. After repotting, wait about a week before watering again, and then water sparingly until the plant is established again. Mealybugs rarely infest the stems of this plant, which has minimal insect problems overall; root rot brought on by excessive watering is the most frequent problem. Wilting or mushy leaves could be a sign of excessive soil moisture.
Being a succulent, it cannot handle being overwatered, especially during the winter when it is dormant. Between waterings, the soil should be given a chance to almost dry out. During the growing season, water often, but less frequently in the fall and only enough during the winter to keep the potting media from drying up entirely. Indoor plants could only require watering once a month, depending on the environment.
In the Midwest, burro’s tail is typically grown as a year-round houseplant, but if the weather consistently rises above 40°F, the plants can be transferred outside for the growing season. They must gradually get used to the light circumstances outside to avoid being sunburned. In the fall, bring the plants back inside when it’s expected that the nightly low would be 40°F. Cuttings of stems or leaves can be used to easily propagate Sedum morganianum. Individual leaves cut from the stem will produce roots, but it will take more time to regenerate a plant of significant size than from stem cuttings. To root stem cuttings, push the stem ends down into the rooting media after removing the leaves from the lower end of the cut stem and letting it dry for a day or two. In order to keep long or heavy stem cuttings in place while the roots grow enough, they may need to be pinned or staked. Plants may not begin to root successfully for several months. You can also grow this species from seeds or divisions.
How Fast Do Donkey Tail Succulents Grow?
If properly cared for, donkey tail succulents can reach maturity in about 6 years and grow up to 4 feet long during that time. They grow slowly and consistently. However, the donkey tail plant typically reaches a length of 24 inches.
Why Is My Donkey Tail Succulent Losing Leaves?
Due to its fragility, leaf loss is the most frequent issue with donkey tail succulents. Because the plant’s beaded leaves are so delicate, handling it needs to be done with extreme care. Therefore, it is preferable to set the plant down and forget about it, and to avoid continuously handling it.
Always water the plant wherever you have it and try to avoid moving or disturbing it frequently. Your donkey tail plant should ideally be placed in a spot where it won’t be disturbed, such a windowsill or hanging pot in a corner. As far as you can, refrain from repotting the succulent, and keep it away from children and pets.
The donkey tail or burro’s tail succulent is a well-liked indoor plant that is extremely common. These magnificent long, trailing, grey-green succulents are simple to grow and care for and can bring elegance to any area of your home.
How frequently should a donkey tail plant be watered?
Both inexperienced and experienced gardeners like burro’s tail: It is aesthetically pleasing, grows quickly, needs little maintenance or space, and is very simple to propagate—that is, to create new plants from stem or leaf cuttings. Here are some suggestions for maintaining succulents:
- 1. Put in a sunny spot. Burro tails require bright light or some sun for at least four hours each day. If your burro’s tail is an indoor plant, make sure it’s close to strong light but away from windowsills with full, intense sun. Full sun will turn the leaves pale green or yellow. If you live in a chilly climate, bring your burro’s tail inside because they prefer temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2.Use water prudently. Since burro’s tails are succulent plants, the leaves can hold water. Your burro’s tail plant will decay if you overwater it. Although experts advise watering the plant roughly every 10 days throughout the growing season when temperatures are typically above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, outdoor plants only require water every 10 to 14 days. Use the “soak and dry” procedure when it’s time to water, which specifies that the soil must be entirely dry before additional irrigation. Depending on the temperature and amount of light in your home, indoor burro’s tails only require thorough watering once a month. Discover more about succulent plant maintenance.
- 3. Use soil that drains effectively. Burro’s tails need well-draining soil, much like all succulents do. A mixed soil is best for succulents because pure garden soil would encourage root rot. Additionally, you can create your own well-draining soil by combining potting soil with equal parts horticultural grade sand, perlite, or pumice. Compost and worm castings can be fed to your burro once a month during the warm months and not at all during the winter to add extra nutrients to its tails.
- Pest surveillance. Fortunately, burro’s tails appear to be resistant to the majority of insect pests, however your plant may still have aphids or mealybugs. A burst of water from the hose or a solution of water and rubbing alcohol can be used to spritz them. Burro’s tails can be safely be treated with neem oil, a naturally occurring insecticide derived from the seeds of the neem tree.
- 5. Repot as required. Although mature plants are frequently too fragile to repot, repotting a burro’s tail is simple to perform if the plant becomes too large or outgrows its pot. The best container is a terra-cotta pot with draining holes since it will let the plant breathe and store water. Remove the plant once the dirt is completely dry, look for and remove any rotten roots, and then repot it in a fresh pot with well-draining soil. After a week of keeping the burro’s tail dry, lightly irrigate the soil to promote root growth and prevent root rot.
Why is the tail of my donkey losing leaves?
You should try to determine the cause of any leaf loss on your burro’s tail. Is it just because the plant is delicate, or may there be something more serious going on?
A plant that can withstand drought is burro’s tail. Additionally, throughout the winter, when it is dormant, it requires no water at all. Check to see if the soil is completely dry before you water your plant.
You are overwatering the plant and causing its leaves to drop off if you water a burro’s tail when the soil is still damp from the last watering. Reduce watering and check that the draining hole is not clogged to fix the problem.
Root rot is another issue that requires caution. Overwatering frequently results in root rot because too much moisture encourages the growth of dangerous bacteria that cause rot in the plant’s roots and leaves.
After you water the soil, see if it takes too long to dry. The soil is not draining adequately, therefore this indicates. You need to dig a little and manually inspect the roots to be certain.
The burro’s tail has root rot if the roots are turning brown. You must remove the plant and carefully trim away all of the decaying components in order to save the plant.
Allow the roots to dry over a few days so that calluses can develop over them. Repot the plant in a suitable, quick-draining soil mixture to finish.
How much time does it take a donkey tail to grow?
When handling the plant, exercise caution because the leaves are highly sensitive and will quickly separate from the stem.
In the event that they do break, allow them to callus over at the end before planting in a seed starting solution. A fresh plant will grow easily and develop roots in a few days.
Re-potting Burros Tail Sedum
Your plant will slow down the growth of its tails if it becomes pot-bound. By removing the plant from the pot, you may examine the roots. It’s time to re-pot the plant if you notice a dense collection of roots.
The greatest times to repot burro’s tail are during the warm months. Before you begin, make sure the soil is dry. Knock off part of the old soil as you gently remove the replant.
Place the plant in a new, one-third-larger pot, and backfill with more succulent soil. (Referral link) After the first week, stop watering the plant and start it again.
Cold Hardiness for Donkey’s Tail Sedum
The succulent Sedum morganianum is regarded as being delicate. Minimum temperatures of between 41 and 45 degrees can be tolerated. typically spends the winter in zones 10a to 11b.
The plant does best when cultivated inside if the local temperature is below these levels. Check out my list of succulents that can withstand the cold here.
Growth habit for Sedum Morganianum
When you look at the succulent’s development pattern, it is simple to understand how the common names were given to the plant. When the succulent is young, its hefty leaves resemble those of many other sedums.
Sedum morganianum and sedum burrito, however, both have a drooping tendency that is ideal for hanging baskets when the plant is healthy and mature. This explains why the plant resembles the tail of a donkey or burro so strongly.
Size of Burro’s Tail Sedum
These trailing stems from this succulent perennial plant can grow to be up to 24 inches long or even longer. It features thick, meaty, blue-green, leaves.
It can take a mature plant roughly 6 years to reach a length of 4 feet. This can be difficult because the leaves are delicate and easily break off when they come into contact with nearby objects (or your hands! ), leaving bald places in your planter.
To take use of the plant’s drooping propensity for the greatest results, place several of the stems in a planter.
It is a succulent perennial with fleshy blue-green leaves and terminal pink to red blooms in the summer that has trailing stems up to 60 cm (24 in) long.
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Sedum Morganianum Flowers
Donkey’s tail sedum has flowers at the end of a thick, full stem. Although it is fantastic to view them on an established plant, even a smaller specimen has blossoms that are worth the wait.
The flowers bloom throughout the summer and come in a variety of colors, from pink and red to yellow and white.