Sedum rubrotinctum (SEE-dum roo-broh-TINK-tum) is a sprawling succulent member of the Crassulaceae family of plants. This charming perennial is native to Mexico and thrives in poor soil and dry settings.
The plant’s genus name, Sedum, means sedentary or sitting. The specific epithet, Rubrotinctum, means “dyed red by the sun.” This very descriptive name is quite apt for Jelly Bean Plant, which sits quietly and colorfully in the sunshine.
The plant’s common names include:
- Stone Crop
- Pork & Beans
- Jelly Bean Plant
- Christmas Cheer
How To Grow Jelly Bean Sedum Indoors
Sedum Rubrotinctum Care
Size and Growth
This self-spreading succulent grows to a maximum height of 8″ inches. It produces bright, green leaves that resemble jelly beans, hence the common name. However, some varieties have lighter, pinkish leaves that can be variegated.
Stem ends break off as the plant grows, and the tips fall to the soil and take root.
Flowering and Fragrance
Early in the springtime, Stone Crop produces dazzling clusters of bright, star-shaped yellow flowers in spring that are attractive to bees and other pollinators.
These small yellow flowers then turn into a bright scarlet red in summer.
Foliage
Jelly Bean Plant has plump jelly-bean-shaped leaves that start out bright green and then darken to a pretty shade of red.
The leaves fall off easily, and each one will grow into a new plant if it lands on even halfway decent soil.
Light and Temperature
Pork & Beans plant does well in settings with lots of sunlight ranging from partial shade to full sun. For the best leaf colors, full sun or bright sunlight location is preferred.
Also, direct sunlight is preferred to ensure the jelly bean succulents will thrive. It should also receive at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Moreover, it should ideally be placed in a south or west-facing window when grown indoors.
If kept indoors in a container, place the plant a foot or so away from a bright window. Magnified, the direct sun could cause sunburn.
Remember to turn indoor plants every couple of days to avoid uneven, leggy growth. If your plant is becoming leggy move the plant to a brighter location.
However, remember to keep this succulent in hot, dry conditions because it will not survive in humid environments.
Christmas Cheer is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9 and higher. It cannot tolerate temperatures below 20° degrees Fahrenheit.
However, the plant does best in cool temperatures between 50° to 55° degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have cold winters, bring container plants indoors for the winter.
Remember, this succulent cannot tolerate extreme winter conditions. You can use frost cloths or place it in a greenhouse to protect it from the long, harsh winter months.
Take cuttings and gather leaves from your landscape plants to start new plants indoors during the winter months.
Watering and Feeding
This drought-tolerant plant may thrive on natural rainfall alone. In very dry times, provide deep watering twice a month, especially in the spring and summer months. However, take care not to overwater, especially for long periods of time.
If unsure when to water, you can use a moisture meter or a wooden skewer stick to check for soil moisture.
One thing you need to avoid is underwatering this plant.
The easiest way to tell whether your Pink Jelly Beans are underwatered plants is when the leaves start wilting and lose their plumpness. This is a sign that underwatered plant must be watered, as it’s running low on water storage.
Jellybean Plant does very well in poor soil, so fertilizing is not absolutely necessary. If you do choose to fertilize, use a good quality, balanced liquid fertilizer prepared at a quarter or half strength.
You can also feed an all-purpose cactus and succulent fertilizer in mid-spring for healthy growth throughout the growing season.
Fertilize once early in the springtime and again mid-summer.
Soil and Transplanting
These desert dwellers like light, airy, well-drained soil. A commercial mix prepared for cacti and succulents is a good choice in a container.
Moreover, porous sandy soil is ideal for your jelly bean succulent. A cactus potting mix combined with perlite for added drainage also works well.
This plant has shallow roots, so always use shallow containers with a large surface area to allow the plant to spread.
In the landscape, amend the native soil with sand, fine gravel, coco coir, and organic compost as needed to lighten the soil and provide nourishment.
When transplanting or repotting, treat your jelly bean plant with care because it has fragile leaves that can fall off while in transit.
Grooming and Maintenance
Trim the tips to encourage the plant to branch from its base. Don’t water immediately after pruning because this may lead to fungal growth.
Allow the plant to dry out for a few days.
How To Propagate Sedum Rubrotinctum
Jelly Bean plants will self-propagate by dropping broken stems and fallen leaves onto the soil surrounding the parent plant.
To propagate plants in other settings, simply gather healthy leaves or use pruned stem tips to grow new plants.
For leaf propagation, allow them to air to callous over any wounds for a day or two. A new baby plant will then emerge from the leaf.
Drop leaf cuttings or stem tips onto slightly moist, well-draining soil in a container or the landscape. Protect the aspiring cuttings and leaves from harsh sun, wind, and rain.
Keep the soil slightly moist until you begin to see new root growth, and then gradually back off watering and transition to treating your starts as mature plants.
Pink jelly bean plants can also be propagated via stem cuttings, the easiest method to do.
Just take a stem cutting and stick it in a well-draining potting mix. Remember to place the healthy stem cuttings in a bright and warm area. However, it should be away from direct sunlight.
Also, mist the stem cuttings once the soil feels dry to the touch or every few days.
Sedum Rubrotinctum Main Pest Or Diseases
For the most part, Stone Crop is trouble-free. Take care not to overwater or overcrowd the plant, as this could lead to problems with fungus, such as root rot.
Is the plant considered toxic or poisonous to people, kids, and pets?
Pork & Beans has a tasty name, but it is not an especially tasty plant, and they can be mildly toxic. Keep the plant out of the reach of kids, pets, and livestock.
The gel inside the fleshy leaves can cause skin irritation, so wear gloves when handling.
Is the plant considered invasive?
Pork & Beans plant is not officially considered invasive, but it can and will grow out of hand in a conducive environment.
If you are planting it in the landscape in an area where it will survive the winter, keep a close eye on its growth, and don’t allow it to escape your yard and garden.
Suggested Sedum Rubrotinctum Uses
The Jelly Bean plant is an ornamental plant that’s a great choice for xeriscaping and dish gardens. It is lovely tumbling through a rock garden. It makes an excellent ground cover in hot, dry settings.
Because of its tumbling, rambling growth habit, it can make a pretty hanging basket plant, decorative plant, or potted plant. It is also nicely planted in a combination succulent container surrounding taller plants.
For every succulent lover out there, Sedum rubrotinctum will be an excellent succulent house plant for your collection, as it’s low maintenance and has showy yellow flowers for a pop of color.
You can also plant this underneath tall plants with a narrow base.