On the shortest day of the year we found spring in the
basement!
We checked on Sedum cuttings made in late October.
Look with us: It is always such a thrill to see small things
growing!
The story: A new planting called for 12 of the
Sedum cauticola hybrid 'Vera Jameson.' Only two plants
could be found for sale.
"No problem," we said to K.T., "they grow! After a year or so
you can split them to fill the area."
"Any way to make that happen faster?" K.T. asked.
"We can stick cuttings. You can keep them growing all winter if
you have a cool place where you can set up fluorescent light."
"What about on a windowsill?"
"Not ideal. Never as much light... but no harm trying!"
Below: The windowsill they sit on is in a cool basement.
That's good, as it's a big challenge to keep even a well rooted
sun-loving plant alive where it's warm but in low light.
So we clipped all the stems off the two plants we had, and cut
those into 12 segments with stem-plus leaf. For each tiny clipping
we made a terrarium: a disposable coffee cup punched with drain
holes, filled with soilless potting mix into which we stuck a
cutting's stem base, the whole covered with clear plastic held
tight with a rubber band.
(Also, we'd hoped for condensation under the plastic as a cue to
the soil moisture. It's a sign that's simpler to read than checking
the weight of such small pots. Alas, these cups are too cool for
condensation to form. If they were warmer -- in which case they
would also need more hours of light each day -- lack of
condensation would mean "water me".)
Eight weeks later, 10 of the 12 are growing.
Below: The new leaves are still tiny compared to what they
will be, but we applaud them -- to have regrouped and resumed
growth in just a few hours light per day! Kudos go to the
gardener, K.T., who's careful to add a bit of water only when the
cups feel light.
Above: Some are fading -- new foliage green but older leaves
growing pale. For why...
By spring our clones will be well rooted chunky plants which
K.T. can move into the garden.
Below: The two mother plants might approach this size in
their second or third year, dusky blue-purple foliage on stems
spreading eighteen inches wide and ten tall. They'll produce rosy
flowers in fall. The little ones will probably match their size the
following year.
