The Beautiful Graptosedum ‘California Sunset’ Succulent

Have you ever come upon a plant so beautiful that you couldn’t rest until you had one to call your own? The Beautiful California Sunset is so charming that you can’t keep calm until one is on its way home with you.

California Sunset or Graptosedum is a succulent that grows reddish- colored rosettes and very thick greyish leaves. This succulent is popular among hobbyists and horticulturists, as it is relatively easy to grow and manage. If you maintain it well, the succulent will produce pleasant white flowers during the spring.

Origins of California Sunset Glaptosedum

Graptsedum is a hybrid between Sedum adolphi and Graptopetum. Vera Wiggins and Alpenglow Succulent are other types of Graptosedum, each type differentiated by the color of its leaves. The succulent’s mother origin is Mexico, and that’s why they look like the Echeveria genus.  California Sunset grows to a height of up to 11.8 inches (30 cm) and a width of 9 inches (23 cm).  

California Sunset is just like any other basic succulent. It’s relatively easy to grow and maintain even if you have no experience handling succulents. If you plant it in the right type of soil and put it in the correct spot, you’ll delight in your Graptosedum for ages. Here’s how to grow and care for California Sunset.

How to Grow and Look after California Sunset Succulent (Graptosedum)

As earlier intimated, there’s nothing peculiar about growing this succulent. It’s easy to grow and manage because it doesn’t ask for much to thrive. Here’s how to grow the California sunset succulent.

Water

Water is life for all living things, and California Sunset needs water to help it absorb nutrients from the soil. The Graptosedum stores water in its leaves and stem. California Sunset can survive without water for over a week. Take great care when watering it. Its roots rot if they stay submerged in a moist place for an extended period.

To be sure if it’s time to water the California Sunset, check the moisture level in the soil. Here’s how to do it. Examine the topsoil.  If it feels a bit dry to your touch, water the soil. You can also test the soil’s moisture by inserting a stick just one inch into the topsoil. Water the Graptosedum if the end of your stick comes out dry.

Sunlight

Just like all other plants, this succulent needs sunlight to grow, survive and reproduce. Plants have to create their source of food using the light from the sun, water, and many gases from the air to make their food in a process via photosynthesis.

Graptosedum as a garden plant should be kept in an area that receives direct sunlight for at least six hours a day. As most Graptosedum that come from the Crassulaceae family, this succulent is not frost resistant. It’s highly recommended to take the succulent indoors if the temperature in your location falls below 30° F (-1.1° C).

If this succulent is growing indoors, put it in a room that receives enough sunlight. The perfect location is near a window that receives full to partial sunlight for six hours a day. If finding plenty of natural sunlight for this succulent is impossible, place California Sunset under a nice warm grow light for at least six hours daily.

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Pot and Soil

The correct pot for the succulent will make sure that the soil dries out completely. Remember, California Sunset will rot if the roots remain submerged in the water for a long time. That said, there are several types of succulent pots in the local market. However, the top choice for this succulent is hands-down an unglazed ceramic or terra cotta pot.

The beauty of these types of pots is that they support evaporation. You should pick a pot that’s big enough to allow the roots to grow nicely. Ensure your selected pot has a hole for drainage (this is very important, do not skip this detail). When it is time to water the soil, place mesh wiring on this drainage hole to stop big chunks of soil from falling off the pot.

You should dilute the fertilizer with pure water until it reaches the required ratio of ¼ to ½ of its original state, as revealed in the instructions. Now that we have learned how to grow and care for California Sunset let’s dig a little deeper and know how to propagate it.

First off, what do we mean by propagating Graptosedum? It means taking a part of a full-grown succulent and using it to grow a brand-new plant. It’s that simple. If you have an undying love for this succulent, you can multiply them and have as many as you desire (we won’t judge)! This is done by using leaf cuttings, offsets, and seeds from a mature plant, or by stem cutting. Let’s go into detail on how to propagate the Graptosedum using the mentioned methods.

How to Propagate California Sunset ( Graptosedum)

Using a Leaf

When you want to propagate the succulent from a leaf, gently twist and pull it from the stem (don’t cut it!). Ensure you have managed to get a clean pull, meaning no part of the leaf is left on its stem. You’ll have a fruitful propagation if you do this. Leave the leaf to callous over for two days before putting it in well-draining soil.

Propagating through Seeds

If you want to grow California Sunset from the seeds, Ensure the temperature is warm.  Or better still, you can use a seed warmer and a grow light. Plant the seeds in warm, well-draining soils, and water only when it gets dry. Germination might take several weeks, though it’ll largely depend on your geographical location.

Via Cuttings

To grow it from cuttings, be sure to use a pair of scissors or a sterile sharp knife. Detach the leaf from the plant and let it harden for a day or two before planting it in well-draining soil. Remember to water the soil when it completely dries out.

Using Offsets

California Sunset will keep producing small rosette offsets. Remove the offsets from the mother plant using a sterile sharp knife or a pair of scissors. Let them callous before placing them in soil that’s well-draining.  That’s it.

Be Wary of These Mistakes – They’ll Kill Your Plant

Overwatering  

Overwatering will make the cells of the root burst and cause rot. When rotting begins, an infection can set in, and if it does, the infection will quickly spread throughout the plant. If the leaves start turning yellow or having blackish brownish color, there’s a good chance that the plant is rotting.

No need to fear! Address the problem by cutting off the rotting sections with a pair of garden shears that are sharpened and sterilized.  Uproot the plant, shake off its excess soil, and thoroughly examine the soil’s condition. Cut off the rotten leaves and dead roots, plant the succulent in an area with shade and let it dry thoroughly. Make ready a new pot for the Graptosedum and fill it with well-draining fresh soil. Place the California Sunset in its new beautiful home once it has dried out completely.

Pest infestation

Just like all other succulents, California Sunsets attracts a variety of pests such as aphids and mealybugs. These pests slowly kill the Graptosedum by eating the plant’s nutritious sap. The plant starves and eventually dies. Remove the pests by spraying California Sunset with a mixture of water and insecticide soap.

Lack of Enough Sunlight

If you ever observe the plant leaves’ stretching out, it’s a sure sign that the Graptosedum isn’t receiving enough sunlight. Failure to get adequate sunlight means death for this succulent because it needs the sun’s energy to manufacture its food. Move the plant to a place where it can get full or partial sunlight. If the plant is growing indoors, it’s recommended to put it under a grow light.