Caring for a Sedum Multiceps

Outdoor Site Selection

• Give S. multiceps warmth, fast drainage and plenty of sunshine, and they'll thrive with only a little attention from you. Good drainage is key, as these plants develop root rot in heavy or constantly wet soil. Use them in rock gardens, dish gardens or as a fast-spreading ground cover for dry areas, especially on slopes. There is some disagreement among experts regarding dwarf Joshua tree's hardiness, but most agree these plants are hardy outdoors only in United States Department of Agriculture plant zones 8 and warmer.

Containers

• The dwarf Joshua tree is so small that it is most commonly grown as a container specimen. Although the plant may come in a plastic pot, S. multiceps grows best in unglazed terra cotta pots, which provide good drainage and air flow and keep the top-heavy plants from toppling. Use either a commercial potting soil specially formulated for cacti or a mixture of equal parts regular potting soil, vermiculite and coarse sand. Put the plants in your sunniest window or under grow lights.

Ongoing Care

• Few plants need less attention than sedums. For outdoor plants, cut old stems back to ground level in the spring, and apply a small amount of general-purpose fertilizer. Water well to move the fertilizer down to the roots. Additional watering is rarely needed, except during extended droughts. Allow container-grown plants to dry before watering and feed them once a season with a water-soluble foliage houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength. Repot dwarf Joshua trees only if you see roots coming out of the pot's drainage holes.

Propagation

• Dwarf Joshua trees are gratifyingly easy to propagate. Remove a leaf or small piece of stem and set it in a warm, sheltered spot for a few hours. This allows a thin callous to form over the wound and discourages rot. Insert the end of the leaf or stem into a container filled with fast-draining potting soil. Water it well, then put the pot in a bright spot out of direct sunshine. Water it whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. In a few weeks, the leaf or stem will develop healthy roots; you may also see new growth at soil level. To sow S. multi ceps seeds indoors, sprinkle them over the surface of damp seed-starting medium; the seeds need light to germinate so don't cover with more medium. Cover the container with plastic wrap and place it in a brightly-lit spot where the temperature stays 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination should take 15 to 30 days, but it can be erratic. Some seeds may germinate months later, especially if they are sown outdoors.