Christmas Cheer Plant

This species from the Sedum genus is easily confused with the Jelly beans plant. The main difference between these two plants is the Christmas cheer leaves will turn red when given enough sunlight.

The Sedum rubrotinctum also gets named as Jelly beans and Pork and beans, however, it’s useful to use the correct name for each species.

Description

The Sedum rubrotinctum is known to be a hybrid plant of the Sedum pachyphyllum and the Sedum stahilii. This is a plant that is native to Mexico and therefore it is adapted to dealing with dry, warm conditions although it is a fairly hardy plant.

Through a process of rooting its stems, it can spread relatively quickly but to help achieve this, any fallen leaves can also root which leads to a thick covering over ground.

It tends to flower when the plant is in its first initial years and this also means that the plant is dense and orderly.

Foliage: The stems of the Sedum rubrotinctum grow to around 6-8 inches in height and lean to one side. The leaves are shaped like jelly beans and grow to around 他 of an inch long.

The tips of the leaves are red – red-brownish in color but during the summer months and exposure to the sun they can turn a bronze color. During the spring months, the plant will produce yellowish – green leaves that have a red hue to them.

Displaying: The Sedum rubrotinctum is a plant that is perfect for placing in pots or in the garden. It is a plant that is known to look appealing and they work just as well in a container placed on a sunny window sill.

The plant has the ability to grow easily so it is a case of finding a suitable spot and then planting it. It will then grow by rooting down in any areas where the stem meets the ground.

Care Level: This is a plant that is versatile in many ways. It is easy to easy to grow and because it copes with shade, sun and a range of different soils, it requires minimum care and attention.

Other information: It has been known to cause skin irritation when handled. The leaves are extremely delicate and they can fall off the plant very easily. Therefore, it is important to ensure that children or animals do not consumer the leaves.

Facts

Origin:	Mexico
Names:	Christmas cheer, Pork and beans (common). Sedum rubrotinctum (botanical/scientific).
Max Growth (approx):	Height upto 1 ft (30 cm).
Poisonous for pets:	Mildly toxic for cats and dogs.

Sedum Rubrotinctum Care

Temperature:	It is more suited to hotter climates and this means that temperatures below freezing will damage the plants. Moving the plant indoors during cold snaps will help to maintain its growth and health, especially if placed on a windowsill that is western or southern facing. N No lower than 50 °F (10°F) – 55°F (12.7°C) is best and during summer between 65°F (18°C) – 75°F – (23.8°C+).
Light:	Some direct light is preferable for this plant. South facing windows are ideal or west, north facing will not encourage growth. It can handle cooler climates and hotter climates and because it can handle drought conditions it can be placed in areas that are exposed to long periods of sunlight.
Watering:	Even though the Sedum rubrotinctum has the ability to cope with dry conditions it will require extra water during the spring and summer months. However, it is important to give the plant time to dry out before watering it again.
Soil:	Due to its hardy nature, it has the ability to deal with a number of soil types although it does not do particularly well in soils that do not drain well. A cactus ready mix works well.
Re-Potting:	I would suggest a grower repot every two years unless the plant as outgrown the pot. This is best done during spring.
Air Humidity:	Normal room humidity is fine. Providing air circulation during the warmer months is advised (open doors or windows).
Propagation:	To achieve this, leaves that are situated on the stem will have to be removed and dried out. Once dry, they can be placed in moist soil, ensuring that the soil remains moist until the cutting begins to grow.
Fertilizer:	During the spring and summer months it should be fertilized once a month with a diluted liquid feed at maybe half the strength.

Potential Problems

• For potential problems see the bottom section of the Sedum pachphyllum page (they’re the same).