How to Grow and Care for Sedum Adolphi Shooting Stars

Sedum adolphi ‘Shooting Stars’ is a succulent cultivar known for its vibrant appearance and straightforward care. It features fleshy, pointed leaves that form small, star-like rosettes along stems that spread and trail over time. This growth habit makes it suitable for hanging baskets or as a groundcover. Its most notable feature is the brilliant orange and red coloring on the leaf tips, which intensifies with greater sun exposure.

Shooting Stars Sedum Care

Light

To maintain its vibrant colors, Sedum adolphi ‘Shooting Stars’ requires several hours of direct sun each day. An ideal indoor location is a south or west-facing window. With less light, the colors will fade, and the plant will revert to a more uniform greenish-yellow shade.

Soil

This succulent requires a medium that drains exceptionally well to prevent water from pooling around the roots. A commercially available cactus and succulent mix is an effective choice. You can also make a suitable growing medium by amending standard potting soil with materials like perlite or pumice.

Water

Water this plant using the “soak and dry” method. Water thoroughly until it exits the drainage holes, then allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. During the dormant winter months, the plant’s water requirements decrease significantly.

Temperature and Hardiness

‘Shooting Stars’ thrives in moderate temperatures and is not frost-tolerant. It is best suited for outdoor cultivation in USDA hardiness zone 10, where temperatures remain above 30°F. If grown in a colder region, it must be brought indoors to a sunny window or under a grow light to protect it from freezing.

Fertilizer

This sedum is a light feeder and does not require frequent fertilization. If you choose to fertilize, do so only during the spring and summer growing season. Use a balanced fertilizer diluted to half-strength, as over-fertilizing can harm the plant.

Propagating Shooting Stars Sedum

Propagating ‘Shooting Stars’ is a simple process accomplished through stem cuttings. This method allows you to multiply your plant collection or salvage parts of a plant. The succulent’s ability to root from cuttings makes it resilient and easy to share.

Use clean, sharp scissors to snip a stem from the mother plant and remove the lower leaves to expose a bare section. Let the cutting sit in a dry place for a few days to allow the cut end to form a callus. This process helps prevent rot when the cutting is planted.

Once the end has callused, prepare a pot with the same well-draining soil mix used for the parent plant. Insert the callused end into the soil and water sparingly until roots have formed, as too much moisture can inhibit root development.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

A common problem is etiolation, or stretching, which occurs when the plant does not receive enough light. This causes it to grow long, spindly stems with sparse leaves. To fix this, gradually acclimate the plant to a location with more direct sunlight. While stretched growth will not revert, new growth will be more compact.

Mushy, translucent leaves or a soft stem base are indicators of overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Remove the plant from its container and inspect the roots, trimming away any that are black, brown, or mushy. Re-pot the healthy portion of the plant in fresh, dry succulent soil. As a safeguard, you can also take healthy stem cuttings to propagate, ensuring you can save the plant even if the root system is compromised.