How to Grow October Daphne (Japanese Stonecrop)

The place to Purchase

There are two generally out there choices – the species plant and a variegated kind.

The straight species has blueish inexperienced leaves that seem in whorls. You may typically discover crops out there at nurseries that inventory a wide selection of succulents.

Variegated October stonecrop, H. sieboldii f. variegatum is a naturally occurring kind with bluish-green leaves which have cream coloured splotches of their facilities.

Variegated October Daphne

You will discover variegated October daphne in two-inch nursery pots out there from EKT Nursery through Walmart.

Upkeep

A great rule of thumb is to divide established crops each three to 4 years – nevertheless, you possibly can divide it sooner, as described under, if the plant begins to look naked within the center.

As for pruning, the stems of October daphne will die again throughout the winter, and new progress will seem in springtime.

Wait till early spring to trim again any lifeless foliage, so birds can use the seeds as meals over winter.

If you happen to stay within the colder finish of the beneficial hardiness vary, it’s a good suggestion to mulch across the plant in winter to guard it from chilly snaps.

Study extra about caring for succulents in winter right here.

Propagation

October stonecrop could be propagated from seed, stem cuttings, and by division.

From Seed

To begin from seed, you’ll want seeds, a seed-starting medium, and trays or small nursery pots.

Begin this venture in late winter or early spring to permit the seedlings to dimension up earlier than the next winter.

1. Fill the nursery pots or trays with a moist succulent and cactus potting combine.
2. Scatter the seeds on the floor of the soil, then cowl with a humidity dome.
3. Place the nursery pots in a heat location with shiny, oblique gentle and preserve the medium moist till germination, which often occurs in about two to a few weeks.
4. After eight weeks, begin to acclimate the seedlings to extra intense lighting and regularly take away the humidity dome, however preserve the rising medium moist.

When the seedlings are a number of inches tall, cut back watering and begin to harden them off to organize for transplanting.

Study extra about rising succulents from seed right here.

From Stem Cuttings

You may take stem cuttings in summer time. You’ll want three- to six-inch stem cuttings, a succulent and cactus rising medium, and nursery pots or tray.

1. Fill the nursery pots or tray with rising medium, poke a gap within the middle of the pot, and insert the reducing.
2. Don’t water immediately, as an alternative, wait every week earlier than watering, then preserve the rising medium moist however not waterlogged.
3. Inside eight weeks the reducing ought to produce roots. You may verify by giving it a delicate tug, if it resists then you definately could be certain the roots are growing.

When roots have developed you possibly can transplant the cuttings into particular person pots or out into the backyard.

Learn how to propagate succulents from stem cuttings right here.

By Division

October daphne crops could be divided within the spring to propagate new crops for different areas in your backyard, and provides present plantings extra room.

You should utilize a hori hori knife to dig up the clump and divide it into smaller clumps to plant elsewhere.

Study extra about dividing sedums right here.

Transplanting

Whether or not you’re transplanting October daphne into a bigger pot or into the bottom, make sure that the soil is effectively draining.