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Sedum Golden Moss Succulent Care

A great succulent for beginners who are just growing their collection is Sedum Gold Moss. Hardy and low-maintenance, this mat-forming plant is ideal for those who are busy or who feel that taking care of a plant would be too much of a commitment.

Sedum acre (Gold Moss), a succulent perennial with tangled stems covered in conical, bright green leaves, is extremely hardy and drought tolerant. Throughout most of the summer, tiny clusters of star-shaped, bright yellow flowers with protruding stamens bloom just above the foliage.

Strong and quick-spreading Sedum acre, or even another type such as Biting Stonecrop, make a cheery groundcover and looks fantastic cascading from containers or spread across a rock garden.

While it makes an excellent alternative for sunny areas with little foot traffic, there is still some Sedum acre care you need. In our guide, you can learn more about how to get a garden area ready for these plants and what Gold Moss Sedum care you need to carry out. (Read Why Is My Schefflera Losing Leaves)

Sedum Golden Moss Succulent Care

Sedum Features Overview

  • Native to Europe, Africa, North America, and Turkey
  • Deer and rabbit resistant.
  • Low maintenance
  • Grows to 3 inches and 12–24 in. wide.
  • Plants self-seed in ideal conditions.
  • Best grown in full sun
  • Prefers dry to medium moist, well-drained, and infertile to fertile soils.
  • Perfect for rock gardens, containers, and groundcover
  • No serious pest or disease issues.

What is Sedum Gold Moss Plant?

Sedum Gold Moss is also known as mossy stonecrop or Sedum Acre. It is an adaptable succulent that thrives in rocky and sandy soil, making it a good option for a rock garden.

This low-growing succulent makes an excellent ground cover and will tumble over any rocks and other garden accents you might add.

Most gardeners concur that this mossy stonecrop is easy to grow and take care of, and it looks great next to your other plants. The Sedum Gold Moss has tiny, spike-like leaves, and the flower head, which is covered with small, yellow star-shaped flowers, is where the name “gold” comes from.

Common names:

  • Mossy Stonecrop
  • Gold moss Sedum
  • Biting Stonecrop

Sedum Acre Care

Here you can find the basics of the Sedum Acre care needed for these plants.

Lighting

If Sedum Gold Moss gets at least six hours of sunlight daily, its leaves will be reddish-orange. This plant thrives in direct sunlight and is unhappy indoors, even with grow lights. Even if the plant likes direct sunlight, don’t expose it right home after buying it.

You must gradually expose the plant to more sun each day until you can leave it outside 24/7. Failure to acclimate the plant to sunlight can lead to sun-damaged foliage.

soil

Soil

Sedums prefer well-draining soil that isn’t soggy. These plants need brick chunks, river sand, gravel, and limestone. Loose soil, not dense or compact, with non-organic components is best. However, if the potting mix contains even a quarter of organic materials like compost, mulch, or peat, that’s fine.

Too dense and clay-rich potting soil won’t work for Sedum Gold Moss. If the soil clumps in your fist, it’s too compact. Sedums prefer alkaline soil, but they’re adaptable as long as it’s well-drained. (Learn How To Care For Tiger Lilies)

Water

The amount of water your Sedum Gold Moss needs and how often you water will depend on its stage of life. Its needs as a small, recently propagated plant differ from those of a mature plant.

Sedums are succulents that store water in their leaves and stems to withstand drought and are sensitive to over-watering, as are most succulents. When the top two inches of soil are bone dry, drench all the soil in the pot until excess water flows out of the drainage holes at the bottom.

The number of days between waterings is irrelevant if you check the soil before watering. In the summer, you may need to water twice a week, but in the winter, when the soil dries slowly, you may only need to water every two weeks.

Temperature

Sedum Gold Moss, like most Sedum varieties, is cold-hardy. However, it does well in warm climates because it stores water.

It can withstand high heat and temperatures as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit. So even if you grow the plant in your outdoor garden and bury it in snow during the winter, it will survive.

Temperature extremes bring out Sedum Gold Moss’s most vibrant colors. When a plant is in the snow all winter, its spring sprouts have interesting colors.

Fertilizer

Sedum Gold Moss does not need fertilizer to thrive, although if you want to fertilize the plant, use a succulent-specific fertilizer. Fertilize the plant once a month during the growing season in early spring and dilute the recommended concentration by a fourth.

Do not fertilize the plant if it’s less than a year old, and ensure your plant is stable to cope with the growth spurt it will receive.

Potting Requirements

This plant can be grown indoors or outdoors in a rock garden. If you plant it in a container, make sure it’s not plastic. This plant likes its roots to dry out quickly between waterings, and plastic containers lock in too much moisture.

Terracotta containers allow water and moisture to escape quickly, although they ensure the container has enough drainage holes. If the holes are too big, loose soil may run out. Check the holes’ size, or you can place broken terracotta pot pieces or brick chunks around the drainage holes before adding your potting mix.

sedum golden moss

How Fast Does Sedum Acre Plant Grow?

This plant is known as gold moss because of how it develops: low to the ground and tangles up. While only growing an average height of four inches, it will actively cover the ground.

This plant spreads sideways rather than tall because it doesn’t grow vertically. A Sedum Gold Moss plant can grow about a foot in diameter after about a year. (Read Cleaning Landscape Rocks Guide)

How To Propagate Sedum Acre Gold Moss

Sedum Gold Moss responds well to stem cuttings, seeds, or dead fallen leaves for propagation.

Stem cuttings offer the best success rate of the three techniques, making them the simplest for beginners.

  1. Select a stem from your Sedum Gold Moss that is long enough and has aerial roots on it so that you can propagate the plant.
  2. Cut off two to three inches of the stem with a sterile pair of scissors or a sharp knife.
  3. On a dry paper towel, let the cut callus for a day. The stem will callus more quickly the thinner it is.
  4. The following day, plant the stem cuttings in succulent potting soil that has been moistened. The best potting mixture is one that includes peat-sand or peat-perlite.
  5. To keep the potting mix consistently moist, water the soil where the cuttings are planted.
  6. The plant will have established roots after a few weeks, which you can verify by giving it a light tug.

If the plant shows noticeable resistance, the roots have settled in nicely, and you can increase the amount of sunlight the plant receives and water it only when the top two inches of the soil feel dry to the touch.

After three months, the plant can be moved to a sunnier location, but edge it to more sunlight slowly, so it doesn’t burn. The plant shouldn’t be propagated in the fall or winter; it is best to do it in the spring and summer when it is actively growing.

Care for Sedum Acre ‘Gold moss Stonecrop’

Care for Gold moss Sedums is comparable to that of many succulents. Because it is not overly demanding and thrives in low light conditions, this Sedum species makes an easy houseplant.

Sun & Light

Full sun or partial shade is best for Sedum Acre ‘Gold moss Stonecrop’ It needs full sun, but afternoon shade and afternoon sun suit it better. Gold moss Sedum needs at least four hours of direct light daily when grown indoors.

watering succulent

Watering

Gold moss Sedum is a low-water drought-tolerant succulent, so as the soil dries, water them. They don’t enjoy sitting wet for long periods, so let them drain before watering again.

Gold moss Stonecrop is drought tolerant, requires little water, and can survive brief periods of low soil moisture.

Soil

Sedum acre ‘Gold moss’ thrives in well-drained, gritty soil. A mix of sand and peat moss works best because it retains moisture while draining quickly. A cactus/succulent mix also works for Gold moss Sedum care.

Suitable soil is essential for succulents and cacti as it can help prevent root rot.

Temperature and Humidity

  • Gold moss Sedum needs 60-75 degrees F (16-24 degrees C) and 50% humidity.
  • Gold moss Sedum doesn’t like extreme temperatures, so keep it in the middle. Plants also need good air circulation.

Because it can thrive in conditions where other plants cannot, the Gold moss Sedum plant can withstand various temperatures. For USDA zones 3 to 8, recommended. It tolerates more sunlight than many other plants and thrives in full and partial sun environments. However, Sedum Gold Moss Care is much less than other houseplants you can grow.

Fertilizing

If you fertilize Sedum acre, use a slow-release fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizers are for low-fertilizer plants.

  • Slow-release fertilizer is a good option because it provides nutrients over time, not all at once.
  • Only apply liquid or granular fertilizers when watering every two weeks during its active growing season, which is the spring.

Potting Or Repotting

Gold moss Stonecrop should be repotted in spring or summer.

  1. To repot, remove the container and inspect its roots for dryness or root rot.
  2. Continuing potting if the root ball looks healthy.
  3. Fill a new pot that’s at least two inches wider than the old one with peaty sand, perlite, and cactus/succulent potting mix.
  4. Loosen the old container’s roots and plant Sedum ‘Gold moss’ in the new pot.

The plant flourishes in the dirtiest environment. It is suitable for sandy, loamy, and clay soils and is pH-tolerant. But it prefers light and well-drained soil for the best growth. (Learn How To Get Rid Of Banana Trees)

Pruning

Sedum acre ‘Gold moss’ needs little pruning. They’ll grow golden leaves naturally.

  1. Pruning is only needed to remove old, brown foliage and shade close areas.
  2. Use a sharp pair of garden shears to remove dry brown foliage.
  3. If needed, cut old stems at the roots. These may decay and spread disease to your Golden Sedum’s roots.

lightings

Pests and Disease

Gold moss Sedum has few pests and diseases but watch for aphids and mealybugs. Unattended, these pests can weaken Golden Sedum.

  1. Wash the plant with a strong water sprayer to eliminate these insects.
  2. Then, use insecticidal soap to kill aphids and mealybugs on the leaves.
  3. If pests persist, spray your plant with neem oil.

This organic and environmentally friendly option won’t harm Sedum succulents or plants in your garden.

Spray every three days for about four weeks to eliminate all aphids on the leaves without damaging the plant’s growth cycle.

Gold moss Sedum is prone to leaf spots.

  1. This can be treated with a fungicide, but it won’t affect plant growth or spread. However, Browning or spotting on Gold moss Stonecrop leaves may indicate infection.
  2. If you see these signs, apply fungicide to remove the leaf spot.

Gold moss Sedum Care in Winter

Winter care for Gold moss Sedum plants differs from warmer months. In light, bring Sedums indoors to a bright, warm location (at least 60° F).

  • Watering Sedum Acre once every few weeks is enough on these cold days.
  • Never let the gold moss succulent’s potting mix dry out, or it will die quickly.
  • Gold moss Sedum plants require dormancy in winter.
  • Before spring, cut back on watering and give the plant time to rest.
  • Provide as much natural sunlight as possible during these months, so your gold moss succulent has enough energy for new growth once warm weather returns.

How To Propagate Sedum Acre ‘Gold moss Stonecrop’

Sedum acre ‘Gold moss Stonecrop’ propagates new plants from a stem cutting like other succulents.

  1. To propagate Sedum ‘Gold Moss,’ take a stem cutting.
  2. Cut a plant stem and let it be callous for a week before planting.
  3. Water the cut end in a well-draining succulent potting mix.
  4. After a few weeks, the plant should show signs of growth.

Is Sedum Acre ‘Gold moss’ Toxic?

Although the Sedum Acre “Gold moss” is not toxic to people, it is slightly toxic to cats and dogs. Make sure pets can’t get to the Sedum Gold Moss plant mature plants, so they don’t accidentally eat any of it.

Small amounts of Sedum acre can be consumed, giving food a spicy flavor. Younger plants have edible stems and leaves, while mature plants must be cooked before eating.

Conclusion

The low-maintenance succulent Sedum Gold Moss can withstand cold temperatures and thrive in hotter environments, so it only asks to be grown outdoors where it can receive plenty of light.

Water the mature plant when the top two inches of soil feel dry. Plant your Sedum Gold Moss in a terracotta pot with succulent soil that drains well so that any extra water can quickly run off and reduce the risk of over-watering.

It is straightforward to propagate Sedum Gold Moss, mainly if you use stem cuttings from a mother plant. If you want a simple, low-maintenance plant to grow and maintain in the garden, this might be the plant for you because it is very beginner-friendly.

Sedum Golden Moss Succulent Care (2)