Description
Burro's Tail, also known as Sedum morganianum or donkey tail plant, is a popular succulent with trailing stems covered in thick, fleshy, blue-green leaves that resemble the tail of a donkey, hence its common names. This succulent is native to Mexico and Central America.
Key characteristics of Burro's Tail include:
Appearance: The leaves are shaped like small, plump, cylindrical beads and can grow up to 3-4 inches long. They are typically bluish-green, but the color may intensify with more sunlight exposure. The stems can grow quite long, making it a great choice for hanging baskets
How to grow Burro's Tail
Burro's Tail is a slow-growing succulent, and it tends to sprawl and trail rather than grow upright. The stems can become quite lengthy, making the plant cascade over the edges of pots or hanging baskets.
How to care for Burro's Tail
All things considered, donkey's tail succulents grow easily if you follow a few simple rules. Like most succulents, they do well if left slightly neglected—if you forget to water them once or twice, they'll still be just fine. In fact, overwatering is the worst thing you can do to a donkey's tail. Where you really have to treat your donkey's tail with care is while handling it. Its eye-catching pointed leaves covering draping stems are actually extremely fragile and can break off with even the slightest touch. For that reason, it's best to choose a sunny spot to place or hang your donkey's tail succulent and then, quite literally, forget about it.
Light
As with many succulents, donkey's tail thrives best with lots of warm sunlight, though it will tolerate a partial shade location. If you're choosing to house your plant indoors, opt for a sunny windowsill that boasts several hours of daily light. If you're growing your succulent outdoors, place it in a pot or spot in your garden that gets plenty of morning sunlight but is partially shaded during the more aggressive afternoon hours to avoid scorching its leaves.
Soil
In order for your donkey's tail succulent to grow successfully, it should be housed in well-draining, sandy soil. If you plan to plant your succulent in a container (either to keep outdoors or to live inside), opt for a gritty soil mixture suited specifically for cacti or succulents. Choose a container with a drainage hole to ensure the roots don't sit in water. If you're including it as part of a larger garden, be sure to choose a spot amongst other plants that prefer well-drained soil, as too much retained water will cause it to die (you can even consider mixing sand into your ground soil to aid in drainage). Additionally, donkey's tail thrives in soil with a neutral to alkaline pH but isn't too picky in this regard.3
Water
When it comes to watering your donkey's tail succulent, less is more. Like many succulents, donkey's tail is drought resistant once established, so you'll want to water it more frequently during its spring and summer growing season, then taper off throughout the fall and winter months. Generally, opt for a single heavy watering each month if your plant is indoors, increasing to once every two or three weeks if you're housing your succulent outdoors. A good rule of thumb: The soil of your succulent should dry out completely in-between waterings. Check the soil with your finger to make sure the soil is dry at least an inch down before watering the plant.
To aid in drainage, choose a pot with holes at its base; a terracotta or clay material can also help wick water from the soil. When in doubt, err on the side of less watering rather than more—donkey's tail holds moisture in its plump leaves and can tolerate periods of drought but is not at all tolerant of over-watering. The leaves will also begin to pucker like a raisin, indicating that it's time to water.
Temperature and Humidity
Donkey's tail prefers warm weather, though it stands up better to cooler temperatures than some other succulents. On average, try to maintain an environment of 65 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit whether you keep your plant indoors or outdoors. It can survive when exposed to temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but only briefly, so be sure to bring it inside before the first frost or move it away from drafty windows in the winter months.
When it comes to humidity, donkey's tail has no special needs. In fact, it prefers average levels of humidity and can rot if attempts are made to increase the humidity of its environment (so no need to mist its leaves or keep it somewhere more humid, like a bathroom).
Fertilizer
While fertilizing donkey's tail succulent isn't necessary for its successful growth, it also won't hurt and can be a great way to give the plant added nutrients. Focus on feeding your plant at the beginning of its growing season in spring, using a controlled-release, balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer, which contains equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Mature succulents may prefer the fertilizer at one-quarter strength, while younger plants may prefer fertilizer with less nitrogen.
Propagation: Burro's Tail can be propagated through stem cuttings. Simply take a healthy stem cutting, allow it to callus over for a day or two, and then plant it in well-draining soil. Keep the soil lightly moist until the cutting establishes roots.
Cold sensitivity: While Burro's Tail is generally easy to care for, it can be sensitive to cold temperatures. It is best to bring the plant indoors during colder months if you live in a region with frost or freezing temperatures.
Toxicity: Burro's Tail is considered mildly toxic to pets, so it's essential to keep it out of reach of curious cats and dogs.
As with all plants, it's essential to observe and adjust care according to the specific needs of your Burro's Tail. Proper light, water, and well-draining soil are the keys to maintaining a healthy and beautiful succulent.