Jelly Bean Succulent – Secrets to Growing This Alluring Plant

What Are Jelly Bean Succulents

Also called sedum rubrotinctum, the jelly bean refers to a low-growing and evergreen perennial succulent species, which is a native plant in Mexico. Many also call this succulent banana cactus or pork and beans. If you search for the world’s best succulent ground cover, then the jelly bean may be a good fit. The reason is that its sprawling growth habit makes mature versions of this succulent useful as ground covers.

Jelly bean succulents also boast of their attractive bright green leaves. You can expect their tips to turn bright red if you let them grow in full sun. The sunlight keeps the leaves nice and compact, too. You will also notice their leaves being shaped like jelly beans, which is the reason for the name. The jelly bean is made even more attractive to bloom yellow flowers during the spring season.

Benefits of Jelly Bean Succulents

If you are fond of growing succulents, the jelly bean will be one of those succulent species that will capture your interest. The reason is its numerous favorable benefits for succulent lovers – among which are the following:

Look Beautiful

One thing that will surely entice you to grow certain succulents is the way they look – and jelly beans will never disappoint you in that area. You can see this succulent being capable of growing nice-looking leaves in bright red. You will also surely fall in love with their jelly bean-like shapes. The tips also have nice bright red colors. Aside from that, the yellow flowers they can produce in the spring can make them look even more aesthetically pleasing.

Grow Quickly

Another fantastic benefit of the jelly bean succulent is that it can grow fast. You can even expect it to grow up to four inches wide and twelve inches tall. It can achieve that growth in case you were able to provide it with sufficient room for growth. You also have the option to stop it from growing that big by cultivating it in just a small area. This promotes more flexibility and freedom for those who want to grow succulents the way they want exactly.

Can Grow Both Indoors and Outdoors

Jelly beans also continue to gain positive recognition with their flexibility to grow both indoors and outdoors. While you can expect them to grow even larger and healthier if you cultivate them outdoors, they will still thrive indoors. With that, you can choose to grow them either indoors or outdoors based on what you think is more convenient for you.

How Do Jelly Bean Succulents Work

Most jelly bean succulents work by adding more life and beauty to your indoor or outdoor space. You can expect them to grow by exposing them to plenty of sunlight. This means that they are not like those premium low-light succulents that can thrive even with just a bit of light.

Even when planted indoors, you need to put them in a spot that exposes them directly to full sun. You will notice these succulents working and growing as they should by putting them in a hot and sunny location. You also have to water them infrequently as they are incapable of tolerating too much moisture.

Pros and Cons of Jelly Bean Succulents

Pros

• Look beautiful whether you plant them indoors or outdoors.
• Easy to grow and maintain.
• Ideal for beginners as they do not require a lot of care and maintenance.
• Does not require a lot of pruning and repotting.
• Can thrive even in nutrient-poor conditions, making it quite unnecessary to use fertilizers.

Cons

• Mildly toxic to both humans and pets.

Features of Jelly Bean Succulents

What are the features that make the jelly bean succulents distinctive and aesthetically pleasing? Undeniably, they are as beautiful as other species, including the attractive bunny ear succulents, but they also hold unique features that make them easily recognizable.

Form

Holding the same unique charm of echeverias, the jelly bean continues to win the hearts of many succulent lovers. One distinctive feature related to its form is the presence of the sprawling stems covered with bean-shaped leaves that are tightly packed together. They surround the stem and grow in a spiral.

Foliage

The jelly bean also has attractive foliage, so many also compare it to the bunny ear succulents. It has foliage that greatly resembles jelly beans but you can expect the color to differ based on the variety of jelly beans you have chosen and the specific amount of sun it gets.

During winter, expect the foliage to look green. You will also notice the leaves starting to showcase a brilliant red shade, specifically on the tips, once they gain more sun. This makes the jelly bean one of those amazing full-light succulents. Once autumn comes, it will start producing small flowers with a bright yellow shade.

Height

As for the height, you will notice the leaves growing up to around 2 centimeters. Overall, the plant can reach around 20 centimeters tall. It also has the tendency of leaning on one side once it grows.

Flowers

This succulent also has the ability to bloom yellow and star-shaped flowers when it is in ideal conditions. It is possible for these flowers to come out and blossom abundantly during spring or autumn.

Uses

One great use of the jelly bean succulent is a ground cover, especially if you intend to grow this species in your garden. In that case, make sure that you grow the jelly bean beneath tall plants with a narrow base. Haworthias can be used to decorate indoor spaces, and it is a benefit you can enjoy from the jelly bean succulent, too. This means that you can also use the jelly bean as an amazing decorative plant due to its unique and interesting color and shape. The rich color adds aesthetic value to the plant, as well.

Jelly Bean Succulent Requirements

To make sure that you grow your jelly bean succulent the best way you can, ensure that the following requirements are met as far as their environment and living conditions are concerned:

Light

Sun exposure to the new plants, specifically the jelly bean succulents, is vital. For this succulent, full sun exposure to a light shade is already a big help. It would also be best to provide the succulent with around 2-4 hours of the afternoon sun. It also helps to put the succulents in a south-facing window since facing the north may hamper the plant’s growth.

Soil

One advantage of jelly bean succulents is that they are capable of tolerating and handling various well-drained soils. However, remember that these succulents are incapable of tolerating excess moisture that well. Excess moisture can even make the plant extremely prone to root rot.

Water

What is great about the jelly bean is that it does not require a lot of water to survive. Just a little bit of it would be enough. It is even used to long drought periods with only a bit of moisture. If you plan to plant the jelly beans indoors, then make sure to let the water dry out thoroughly between each watering.

Temperature and Humidity

You can expect this succulent to thrive better when staying in dry and hot conditions. It is also possible for it to experience problems growing and surviving in extremely humid environments. While it is not frost-tolerant, there is still a great chance for it to grow well outdoors, provided the temperature does not go down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fertilizers

Fertilizers are not that necessary for jelly beans as they can even thrive in conditions with poor nutrients. If you want, you can put in all-purpose succulent and cactus fertilizers during the early or middle parts of spring. It can promote the healthy growth of your succulents during the entire growing season.

However, the use of fertilizers for the jelly bean is not that necessary as it can grow independently. Excessive use of fertilizers on this succulent can even lead to it having discolored leaves and root burn. With that said, you should avoid applying the fertilizers too frequently. Do it sparingly only.

Pests and Diseases

You can expect this plant to be prone to root rot because of overwatering. Aside from that, it may develop powdery mildew if it grows in humid environments and conditions. Fortunately, this succulent is disease-resistant and not vulnerable to developing dangerous diseases. When it comes to insects and pets, you will be glad to know that the jelly bean can resist them.

How to Grow Jelly Bean Succulents

Step 1 – Lay the succulent on the specific plant

This should be applicable for the shorter varieties of jelly beans. This step also begins the process of planting and caring for the jelly beans. It will then send roots from the specific places that touch the roof and the ground.

Step 2 – Break off one stem

This step works for taller jelly bean varieties. After breaking off the stem, push it to the ground where you intend to make it grow. Expect the step to root easily, causing the new plant to come out and develop in just one to two seasons. Water whenever you notice that the oil dries out completely.

 

How to Care for Jelly Bean Succulents

Step 1 – Put it in a sunny spot

Remember that the jelly bean requires plenty of sun to retain its nice-looking and colorful leaves.

Step 2 – Restrict watering

Caring for your jelly bean succulent also means you should limit watering it. The reason is that it can thrive even with just a bit of water. If it frequently rains in your location, then you may not need to give it additional water. Allow a prolonged dry period as much as possible, too. Do it in between each watering.

Step 3 – Ensure that soil mix is fast-draining

Choose fast-draining soil mixes when growing these succulents. Some choices are sand, pumice, and perlite mix with a bit of potting soil and peat.

Step 4 – Watch out for pests

These pests rarely appear on the jelly bean, though. Despite that, you still have to watch out for scale and mealybugs. If those are present, then use a Q-tip soaked in alcohol to remove them.

 

Does More Spending Mean More Quality

When it comes to growing succulents, the cost does not matter a lot as far as the quality of the growing plants is concerned. The reason is that the way the jelly bean, or any other succulent for that matter, grows will depend on the environment and whether or not the requirements for their survival are met. You have to make sure, therefore, that the jelly bean has the best living conditions to make it grow beautifully and healthily.

Do’s and Don’ts With Jelly Bean Succulents

• Make sure that the jelly bean is exposed to the sun. Note that it needs to be in full and direct sun most hours of the day. Good sun exposure is also necessary for making this succulent grow beautifully.
• Apply the soak and dry technique. This means watering only the succulent once the soil gets fully dry. It is actually alright to do this tip as the jelly bean does not need water to thrive.
• Use porous sandy oil. The reason is that it is the perfect soil for this type of succulents.
• Do not plant the succulents with non-intact roots. This means that you have to check first whether the roots of the succulents are intact before you plant them in well-drained soil.
• Do not forget to transplant your succulents. There are several positive effects of transplanting your succulents, so you should never forget this process when cultivating a jelly bean. Ensure that you already have appropriate soil and soil mixes, as well as pots, where you can put the jellybean plant after gently removing it.
• Do not overfertilize. Ensure that you do not fertilize the succulents too frequently than necessary. If possible, use only a fertilizer once monthly, specifically during the summer. Avoid overfertilizing as it may only hamper the growth of the plant, even killing it in the process.

FAQ About Jelly Bean Succulents

How much light do jelly bean succulents need?

Basically, your jelly bean succulents need a lot of natural and complete sun so they can continue displaying the attractive reddish hue of their leaves. During an extremely hot climate, it would put it outdoors in just a semi-shade. Doing so can prevent it from being exposed to the scorching sun excessively.

When indoors, put the plants in a sunny area. Just make sure that its environment is not overheated. The reason is that overheating may cause its leaves to lose their shape and stretch.

How often should you water a jelly bean plant?

Water the jelly bean when it is truly completely dry. The exact frequency of watering, however, will greatly depend on the climate of the place you specifically live in. For instance, you only need to water the succulent every 7 to 10 days during the summer. When it’s spring or fall, water it only once every 10 to 14 days. The reason behind this long gap between each watering is that the jelly bean has an assurance that it can survive regardless of the condition it is in.

How do you stress a jelly bean succulent?

The stress we are talking about here is actually good for the jelly bean. Note that there are instances when you need to expose the jelly bean succulent to a stressful condition in order to add a soft red shade at its leaves’ tips. What you should do here is to make the succulent happily stressed, which is possible by exposing it to more heat and sunlight than what is recommended.

Why is my jelly bean plant dying?

There are several reasons why your jelly plant may be dying. One potential reason is overwatering. Just like what has been indicated earlier, the jelly bean can survive with just minimal water so try to avoid overwatering it as much as possible. Your jelly bean may also be dying because of an inadequate drainage system in its container, incorrect pot used, and inadequate space in its container.

Is jelly bean an indoor plant?

Yes, the jelly bean is also an indoor plant. While it may be more favorable for it to be cultivated as an outdoor plant as it means good exposure to the sun, caring for it indoors is also possible. This plant can thrive even when indoors, provided it gets all the things it needs for survival, like adequate sunlight, limited watering, and well-draining soil.

Are jelly bean succulents poisonous?

Yes, they are. They can be mildly toxic and poisonous to both animals, especially dogs, cats and other pets, as well as kids.

Why is my jelly bean plant turning red?

It is possible for your jelly bean to develop a reddish color on its leaves if you grow it outdoors and expose it to partial or full sun for a max of six hours daily. The reason for this is that this hue has a substance that can protect the entire plant from sunburns, especially during the scorching summer.

Conclusion

The jelly bean succulent is definitely a great addition to your garden. It looks great, plus it is not that hard to grow and maintain. What is even better about the jelly bean is that it gives you the freedom to choose whether to grow it indoors or outdoors as it thrives in both conditions. Just make sure that you prepare everything it needs for its survival and beautiful growth, like adequate sunlight. 

Photos from: flafab53 / depositphotos.com, Wirestock / depositphotos.com, soniabonetruiz / depositphotos.com and Luoxi / depositphotos.com.