Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 12:32 pm
Sedum rubrotinctum, also known as the pork and beans succulent, jelly beans sedum , jelly bean plant, or Jelly bean succulent, is an ornamental plant in the sedum family.
This perennial succulent typically grows with one or more upright, straight stems that reach heights of around 18 inches to 2 feet (45 to 60 cm) tall, depending on growing conditions and variety. It has narrow, pointed leaves along the stem and wider leaves at the top of the stem and at the base of each leaf pair.
Origin and distribution
Sedum rubrotinctum is a tender succulent that can be grown indoors as a houseplant. Although native to South Africa, it’s now found in other warm climates all over the world. In parts of Australia, jelly bean plants are sometimes grown as landscape plants for their attractive appearance and prolific red blooms. Because they’re so easy to care for, jelly bean succulents make great houseplants!
They also make a colorful addition to any succulent garden. If you live in an area with cold winters, you should bring your jelly bean plant inside before temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. (10 degrees C.). Otherwise, allow it to go dormant during winter by watering just enough to keep its leaves from shriveling.
Sedum rubrotinctum propagation
If you’re interested in propagating succulents or simply in growing new varieties, Sedum rubrotinctum is a very interesting choice. Unlike most other succulents, which are spread by rhizomes or pieces of their root structure that grow and form new plants, Sedum rubrotinctum spreads via its bean-like seed pods.
These pod-like structures are formed after flowering, so if you want to propagate your plant, it’s best to do so when it has flowered—you can then open up each pod and remove each individual baby plantlet. To do so, cut off a pod from your mother plant with pruning shears; once you have all of them removed from their pod, wash them thoroughly with water until no more dust remains on them.
At that point, they should be ready for potting. It’s important to note that these seeds need light in order to germinate, so be sure not to bury them too deeply into the soil. They also need warm temperatures and good air circulation around them for about two weeks before they start sprouting roots; don’t worry if nothing seems to happen at first!
Sedum rubrotinctum care information
Sedum rubrotinctum is a relatively easy plant to grow and care for in an indoor pot or garden. As long as it gets some sunlight each day, your pork and beans succulent will grow vigorously.
This perennial succulent forms low clumps with upright stems branching out to about 1 tall. The stems are bright red with darker markings at nodes and bear numerous small reddish-yellow flowers that mature into green seed pods.
Water lightly, don’t let dry out, and grow in a cactus pot or in a rock crevice.
Light requirement
In general, Sedum rubrotinctum should be exposed to at least four hours of direct sunlight each day. If you do not have any direct sunlight, be sure to supplement your plant with artificial lighting.
Pork and beans succulents prefer bright sunlight but can tolerate partial shade. If grown in too much shade, they become stringy, spindly, and less colorful. In full sun, pork and beans tend to be full and compact with brilliant red leaves that have a bit of sparkle on them when moved in direct sunlight.
Soil/potting mix
A special potting mix is required for most succulents and cacti. This is because these plants require soil that drains well. Succulents are very susceptible to overwatering; you’ll need to adjust your watering frequency if you notice that water is pooling in your pots or being left behind after watering.
Most people start off with a simple mixture of soil, perlite, and peat moss, but specialized succulent mixtures can be purchased from most garden stores as well.
Watering
Once you’ve made sure that your succulents are all planted in an appropriate soil mix, you can use your water timer to give them a little drink. Depending on what time of year it is, water at least once a week or more often if it’s very hot and dry outside.
The best way to tell whether your plants need watering is by gently poking them with your finger; if they feel like they need a drink, then go ahead and get them one! But don’t overdo it, you want to make sure that their roots stay nice and moist without sitting in soggy soil for too long.
Fertilizer
Although Sedum rubrotinctum typically doesn’t need much fertilizer to get started, it’s a good idea to start them out with some food, especially since they grow best in rich soil.
A slow-release fertilizer or one specifically designed for succulents and cacti will provide your pork and beans succulent with nutrients over a long period of time. When applying any type of fertilizer, make sure not to fertilize too often or you may burn your plant.
Temperature
Pork and beans succulents prefer it cool. They like temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid root rot or other temperature-related issues, they shouldn’t be in areas with lots of direct sunlight or windy conditions.
Succulents also don’t like to be moved, so if you buy them online, make sure to read their care instructions before bringing them home.
Humidity
Sedum rubrotinctum, also known as pork and beans succulent, is a popular houseplant for good reason. They love high humidity and are easy to grow, so their popularity has grown over time.
However, it is important to understand that there are two different varieties of these succulents, and one variety must be kept out of direct sunlight. As always with succulents, it’s important to ensure your potting soil drains well so they don’t rot away.
The ideal humidity range is 40-50%, and you can measure your succulents’ relative humidity with a hygrometer. You can also tell if your succulents need more water by feeling their leaves, if they feel dry, it’s time to water them.
Pruning
When working with woody plants like Sedum rubrotinctum, pruning is essential to keep them healthy and shapely. In late winter or early spring, cut off unwanted stems back to where they emerge from a main branch or stem. You can also remove diseased stems or damaged leaves at any time during the year.
Be sure not to cut off any of your plant’s flower buds when you prune it, it will bloom all summer long if you leave those alone! A good rule of thumb is that there should be no more than 5 to 10 percent of bare stems on your plant; trim more if necessary.
After you’ve pruned your succulent, water it well and make sure it gets plenty of sunlight for best results.
When to repot
Most succulents need to be repotted every two years. If you see their leaves turning yellow, or if they are growing too slowly, it might be time to move them into a bigger pot.
Some of these plants can live up to 100 years old! Make sure that you plant them in well-draining soil and water them very infrequently, once every two weeks should do it.
Be careful not to overwater your succulents; they don’t like being wet. They’re also sensitive to cold temperatures, so make sure you keep them away from drafts.
Dormancy/Winter rest
Dormancy and a period of winter rest are often used interchangeably but not quite correctly. Dormancy is any condition in which growth or metabolism slows down or stops completely. Winter rest is dormancy that occurs during a particular season.
Sedum rubrotinctum will undergo both a period of dormancy and a period of winter rest during its growing cycle. It should be noted that plants with low temperatures do not experience a true dormancy, as growth does not stop completely as it does for many species.
Sedum rubrotinctum is one such plant; even at 20°F (-7°C), some photosynthesis still takes place. This makes sense when you consider that Sedum rubrotinctum has evolved to survive cold winters in alpine regions where frostbite can occur on exposed parts of plants even when there’s no snow cover on the ground—it would die if it were truly dormant!
Sedum rubrotinctum flower & fragrance
Sedum rubrotinctum is a succulent plant with small pink flowers, also known as Pork and Beans. Because of its small size and ease of care, it’s an excellent plant for adding color and scent to any garden.
Growth rate
Sedum rubrotinctum is a slow-growing herbaceous perennial. Native to South Africa, it typically grows about 12 inches tall and wide in one season. The long-lasting flowers may be pink, purple or reddish in color.
Toxicity
Sedum rubrotinctum is very toxic to both humans and pets, and can also irritate the skin.
Even if you’re not worried about your dog or cat eating sedum, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Most succulents are toxic to pets because they contain a compound called saponin. This substance can lead to gastrointestinal issues in animals and can even be deadly.
USDA hardiness zones
Sedum rubrotinctum thrives best in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10. It will tolerate temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit, but it may lose its leaves if exposed to below-freezing temperatures for too long. If you live in a colder climate, choose other varieties of sedum.
Pests and diseases
Most succulents are sensitive to pests and diseases; pork and beans are no exception. It can get infected by several different pathogens but is generally resistant to most of them if they don’t reach critical mass.
As succulents, Sedum rubrotinctum is vulnerable to a variety of pests and diseases. Whiteflies, spider mites, and mealybugs tend to attack sedums, as do a range of viral diseases that cause wrinkling of leaves.
To protect your pork and beans succulents from these creatures, give them plenty of bright light, too much shade may encourage pests and disease, and water only when needed; over-watering also encourages pests.
When it comes to pest problems, you’ll want to nip them in the bud as quickly as possible, before any major damage has been done. That way, your succulent will have a fighting chance at recovery without treatment.
Conclusion
The jelly beans sedum is an interesting succulent that closely resembles a herbaceous peperomia in habit and leaf structure. They produce small round succulent leaves without much variation to them from season to season.
But their flowers are what make them extremely interesting. Flowers range from light pink to rose and even dark red or purple with some variations in between. The flowers can bloom for about two months.
