Jelly Bean Plant Care Guide

Family: Crassulaceae

Genus: Sedum

Botanical Name: Sedum rubrotinctum

Difficulty: Low-maintenance

Light

This little bright tipped guy can handle the heat. They can thrive in lighting conditions from indirect to full sunlight. In fact, they actually turn a more beautiful red color if they receive more direct sunlight!

Water

They like to be watered thoroughly. Like many other succulents, they love to be watered from the bottom to prevent getting the leaves wet. This will also allow your plant to take in as much water as it needs. You should allow the potting soil to dry out between each watering.

Climate

They don’t really have any crazy humidity demands. They will be happy in your average household conditions or outside in the summer heat. They like temperatures above 50°F and humidity can vary. Average humidity levels around 30% are ideal but jelly bean plants are not particularly picky.

 Soil

You should choose a well-draining cactus and succulent mix that is sandy and will not hold excess water.

Pests and Diseases

They aren’t usually affected by pests or diseases, but jelly bean plants can be susceptible to mealybugs and root rot. They may develop a powdery mildew if kept in a humid environment.

Tips

• Gradually introduce your plant to outdoor sunlight if you want to move your plant outside.

• For the prettiest jelly beans, keep your plant in an area that gets full sun to partial shade.  

 Signs your jelly bean plant isn’t happy

• Mushy, discolored beans: over watered

• Wrinkly, shriveled beans: under watered

 How to propagate

Jelly bean plants propagate pretty easily. You can take a stem cutting or leaf and leave it out to dry. You want it to dry out for a day or two to prevent it from oozing sap. When it’s ready, prepare a small pot with damp potting mix and then poke the stem cutting or leaf down into the soil and place the pot where it will not receive direct sunlight until it’s started to produce new growth. This should take about 3-4 weeks!

Fun Facts

• The leaves of a jelly bean plant grow symmetrically around the stems.

• They can be used as ground covers in your garden.

Hardiness Zones

Before you move your plant outside, be sure to check the hardiness zone to save yourself some grief and the loss of a beloved plant.

The hardiness zones for jelly bean plants are : 9-11

If you live in Tennessee, here’s a hardiness map to help you decide if your plant can survive outside!