Sedeverias are hybrids of Sedum and Echeveria species, and Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ is a succulent coveted for its purplish leaves with green centers.
This succulent loves getting lots of direct sunlight and the colors of its leaves become a lot more vibrant and noticeable when it gets the amount of sunlight that it likes every day.
This plant is a great choice for people who are still starting their succulent collections and are looking for plants that are low-maintenance, easy to care for, adaptable to drought and moments of neglect, and easy to propagate.
In this article, we will discuss the care requirements of Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’, as well as how to properly propagate it.
Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ care
Light requirements
Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ can be grown as either an indoor or an outdoor plant, as long as it can get the light it needs. This succulent needs at least six hours of light every day for it to thrive.
The ideal is to grow this plant outdoors because it is happiest under full sun, and the more sun it gets, the more vibrant and beautiful it becomes.
If you have recently purchased your plant from a store or from a nursery where it was grown in a shadier environment, do not place it immediately in an open garden under direct sunlight. This can lead to the leaves getting sun-damaged.
You need to give the plant time to adjust to its new environment, so gradually give it more and more time in full sunlight every day. For a week, leave it out for an additional hour each day, until it has adapted to the intense light and it can then be left outside full time.
If you live in a place where the sunlight may be too intense and lasts for more than a few hours a day, you can place the plant under a tree or on your patio so that it gets a few hours each day in the shade and does not get sunburn.
If you live in an apartment or if you just prefer growing your succulents indoors, you can place the plant somewhere like a windowsill where it will get exposed to sunlight.
If your region has harsh winters and you need to take the plant indoors for the season, you can support its light requirements using a grow light. The grow light will act just as well as the sun in providing the plant with the light it needs to survive while the real thing is unavailable.
Water requirements
Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ is a succulent and, like most succulents, can tolerate a certain level of drought because its leaves and body are able to store water.
The best way to know whether your Sedeveria needs to be watered is to touch the top two inches of soil in the plant’s pot. If the top two inches of soil are dry, water the plant, but if the soil is still damp, wait one or two days before checking it again.
There is no set schedule that you can simply follow when it comes to watering your plant, because we all live in different regions that have different climates, seasons and weather.
If you live where the climate is dry and arid, you will obviously water your plant more often than someone who lives in a place that is colder and has constant rain.
You will also have to adjust your watering depending on the season. Your plant’s soil will dry out faster during the summer than in the winter.
The most important thing to remember is to let the soil dry out between waterings.
Never overwater your succulent, because this can have far more detrimental effects than underwatering.
One condition that can stem from overwatering is root rot. This happens when the soil in the plant’s pot is perpetually waterlogged, which blocks the roots’ access to oxygen and eventually drowns them. The dead roots will begin to rot and will attract opportunistic pathogens in the soil.
These pathogens will cause the rot to spread faster to the rest of the plant and may even lead to its death.
If you suspect that your plant is being overwatered, stop watering it immediately. Remove it from its pot and wash off as much of the soil as you can. Inspect the roots for any sections that are brown or black; these are rotten and will need to be removed. Use a sterile pair of scissors to cut them off until only white, healthy roots are left.
Then, lay the plant on a dry paper towel to air dry for a couple of hours. While you wait, prepare the new pot, which needs to have drainage holes at the bottom. Fill it two-thirds of the way with fresh potting mix, place the plant in the middle of the pot and cover the roots with the rest of the soil. Pat the soil around the roots to make the plant more stable.
You do not need to water the newly-repotted plant immediately. Wait at least a week before watering, so that it has fully recovered from the stress of repotting.
Soil requirements
The best kind of soil to use for your Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ is a mix of succulent and cactus potting mix. These types of potting mixes are well-draining and airy, which are the qualities that succulents like.
You can make your own potting mix by adding coarse sand or perlite to regular potting soil.
Perlite lessens the soil’s ability to retain too much water, and provided your pot has drainage holes at the bottom, your plant will thus have no problem with overwatering.
Is Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ hardy?
Sedeveria is one of the less cold-hardy succulents, and cannot grow in a zone lower than zone 10. Succulents that grow in zone 10 can only tolerate temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
So, if you live in a place where the falls or winters can get quite cold, remember to take the plant indoors before the cold sets in. The temperature inside your house is more stable than outside during the colder months.
Inside the house, make sure you keep the plant away from air conditioners and do not position it near windows or doors that might let in cold drafts, as this can also blast the plant with lower temperatures that might affect it.
Pests and diseases
Succulents are not very prone to pest infestations unless they are being overwatered.
Excess water in the soil and in the leaves attracts insects because it provides a source of hydration and the rigid leaves and stems also provide shelter to these pests.
The most commonly observed pests on Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ are mealybugs and scale insects.
Both of these insects will damage the succulent by feeding on the sap in its leaves and stems.
Unfortunately, while there are still only a few of these insects on the plant, it may be hard to spot them, and by the time the effects are noticeable, the infestation is already considerable.
One of the first signs of an infestation is a black, mold-like coating on the plant. The leaves will also feel sticky to the touch.
Scale insects have dome-shaped shells and look like cotton. Mealybugs are white, also resemble cotton and cluster in the veins of the leaves.
You can get rid of these pests by spraying them directly with rubbing alcohol, or you can make a solution of dish soap and water and spray the insects with this as well. Repeat the process once a week until all of the pests are gone.
The best way to avoid a pest infestation is to make sure not to overwater your plant. Make it a habit to inspect the underside of the leaves every time you water it, so that you can catch any infestation in its early stages.
Is Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ toxic to humans or pets?
No, Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ does not pose a threat to you, your children, or your pets, so it is safe to keep as an indoor plant.
Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ propagation
The easiest method of propagation for Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ is to use stem cuttings.
Choose a stem from your parent plant and make sure that it is healthy. Use a sterile knife or scissors to cut the stem off.
Let the cutting callous for 24 hours, and then place it two inches deep into a well-draining potting mix in a container that has drainage holes at the bottom.
Make sure that the cutting does not have any leaves buried in the soil, as these will rot and you do not want this to affect the growth of your cutting.
Place the container with the planted cutting in a spot where it can get lots of indirect light, and only water it when the soil in the container is dry.
Remember never to give the growing cutting full sunlight because it is fragile while rooting and could get sun damaged.
After a few weeks, the cutting should have sprouted roots. You can check whether they are well-established by tugging on the cutting. If you can feel resistance when you pull, that means that the roots are growing well and you can now transfer each new plant to its own pot
if you planted multiple cuttings. Going forward, you can care for the plants as you would any mature plant.
Conclusion
Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ is a succulent hybrid of Sedum and Echeveria. It is popular for the purple hues of its leaves.
It is quite low-maintenance, as many succulents are, and it can be a great starter plant for someone who is just getting into succulents. It does not require a lot of care and attention in order to thrive. It is drought-tolerant and can be neglected for weeks and still survive.
Of course, we do not suggest that you test the plant’s limits. It is still best to care for it by providing its ideal living conditions.
Give the plant at least six hours of bright, indirect light every day, and water it only when the top two inches of soil are dry to the touch. If the top two inches of soil are still damp, wait one or two days before checking it again.
This plant likes airy, well-draining potting mix, and grows best in a pot that has drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to escape. This helps to avoid overwatering and root rot.
This plant is non-toxic to both humans and animals, and the best way to propagate it is using stem cuttings.
So, if you are looking for a succulent that is not only pretty but also easy to care for and propagate, then give Sedeveria ‘Sorrento’ a try – it might be just the plant you are looking for!
Image: istockphoto.com / ksushsh