Native to southern Mexico and Honduras, Sedum Morganianum. Known by names like Cola de Burro or Cola de Cordero, it has adorable little plump lime-green to bluish-green leaves. The leaves are tightly packed around the stem. These plants are known for their unique foliage and pendulous stems, which can reach 36 inches or more. In this article we will see how to propagate, grow Cola de burro and its care.
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Is it an indoor or outdoor plant?
Sedum Morganianum can be grown both indoors and outdoors, as long as it receives enough sunlight to thrive.
It grows best when exposed to plenty of sunlight. It will be happiest outdoors where it can get the brightest light possible, but you can also grow burro cola indoors if you give it the right conditions.
How to Propagate Burro’s Tail
The easiest and fastest way to propagate burro tail is by cutting the stem, but it can also be propagated through leaves.
Leaf propagation usually takes longer than stem cuttings and the success rate isn’t as high (at least for me). But since they shed their leaves quite easily, leaf propagation can be a very useful way to propagate these plants.
Step 1: Take stem or leaf cuttings. Choose stems that are plump and healthy, not shriveled or dehydrated. If you are using sheets, be sure to get the whole sheet, a damaged sheet will not work.
2nd step: Let the cuttings dry out for about a day until the cut or sore has healed. Store them in a dry place away from direct sunlight.
Optional: Dip the cuttings in rooting hormone. Although not necessary, rooting hormones can help speed up the rooting and propagation process. See: ernaizers
Step 3: Prepare a potting mix that drains well. When dry, bury the base of the cuttings in the ground no more than 1 cm deep. If propagating leaf cuttings, place them horizontally in the ground.
Step 4: Wait for the plant to take root and develop new leaves. It may take 2 weeks or more.
Step 5: Keep the cuttings out of direct sunlight to avoid burns while they root.
Step 6: Water every few days or when the soil seems dry. Once rooted and more established, reduce watering frequency to once a week or less. Mature plants have a greater water storage capacity than young plants.
Cultivation and care of donkey tail
soil requirements
Like other succulents, donkey’s tail needs well-drained soil. What I normally do is use cactus potting soil and combine it with perlite for extra drainage. I don’t use exact measurements, but rather estimate by eye a 2:1 solution of cactus and perlite mixture.
You can also consider using sandy soil. This can be achieved by mixing cactus mix or potting soil with coarse sand (in a 2:1 ratio).
To learn more about the subject of soil for succulents, visit our article on How to Make an Ideal Substrate for Succulents and Cacti for more information.
sunlight requirements
Put it in a sunny place. This plant tolerates light shade to full sun. Before moving the plant outside or increasing the amount of sunlight it receives.
Slowly increase the amount of light the plant receives so that it acclimates to the stronger light. This will help prevent sunburn or sun damage.
Keep in mind that even when the plant is already acclimatized to the sun, you should provide it with sun protection or shade during a heat wave or intense heat.
As a general rule, most cacti and succulents need at least 5-6 hours of bright light or more.
Irrigation
There really isn’t a set schedule or formula for when to water succulents. I live in a very dry climate, so my irrigation schedule is tailored to the dry conditions around me.
In summer, I water my donkey tail every 7 to 10 days, sometimes more during heat waves. When the weather gets colder, I reduce watering to every 10-14 days. If you live in a humid place, you won’t need to water as much.
During the winter season, I rely on rainwater and do not irrigate at all because that is when it rains a lot in my area. But if it doesn’t rain at all during the winter, I water at least once a month or every 2-3 weeks.
The way I water the plant is to give it a good drink and leave it alone until the soil dries out. A good way to tell if it’s time to water is to check the soil moisture. The first centimeter of soil must be dry before watering again. Look: How and when to water succulents and cacti.
feed or fertilize
Although fertilizing isn’t necessary, giving your plants the nutrients they need will help ensure good growth and encourage flowering.
Burro tail plants need a lot of energy to produce flowers, and giving them extra nutrients will help supplement their needs during the blooming season.
The most common recommendation is to pay during the active growing season or during the spring and summer months.
Fertilizers are best applied at quarter to half strength about every two weeks.
Do not fertilize them at the end of the fall season and during the winter months. A balanced mix of fertilizers diluted halfway is suitable and commonly used.
Fertilizer blends specially formulated for cacti and succulents are also suitable. These are my fertilizer recommendations.
Temperature
Succulents prefer cooler nighttime temperatures outdoors, 10-13⁰C, or nighttime temperatures indoors, at least 15-18⁰C.
Burro’s tail is not a frost tolerant plant and will need protection from freezing temperatures.
If you live in areas with extreme winter conditions, the best way to grow burro cola is in containers. This will allow you to bring them indoors during the winter to protect them from sub-zero temperatures.
You can protect your plants from frost by keeping them outdoors using shade cloths and greenhouses.
Hibernation
Hibernation is also important if you want your burro cola to thrive. This can be achieved by keeping them cool and relatively dry during the winter months.
Keep them cool during the winter months with temperatures just above freezing, between 1.5 and 7⁰C. If they are kept indoors for the winter, put them in an unheated room if possible or keep temperatures low to give them the winter chill they need.
Tips for Cola de burro to flourish
plant maturity
If the plant is too young, it is simply not ready to reproduce and therefore will not flower. For a Sedum Morganianum to flower, it must reach a certain length and maturity. Don’t expect a small or young plant to flower all the time.
appropriate temperatures
To encourage flowering, provide the right temperatures. They need a clear temperature difference between night and day, as well as during the summer and winter months.
Succulents prefer cooler nighttime temperatures outdoors, 50-55⁰F (10-13⁰C), or nighttime temperatures indoors, at least 60-65⁰F (15-18⁰C).
It may also be interesting to read: How to propagate, grow the zebra plant (zebra cactus) and its care.
Especially when kept in a controlled environment, succulents prefer a marked difference between their nighttime and daytime temperatures to mimic their natural habitat, and cool nighttime temperatures play a vital role in the plant’s growth cycle.
Brilliant
Make sure the plants get enough sunlight all year round and are kept in a bright place, even during the coldest winter months. Most cacti and succulents need at least 5-6 hours of bright light or more.
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