How do you cut the fat hen? Instructions in 5 steps

Are wilted flowers, long stunted shoots and a misshapen habit a thorn in your side? Then bring your fat hen back into shape with a skilful pruning. The bizarrely striking growth of the popular garden and house plant raises questions about timing and pruning. These instructions explain in 5 steps when and how to cut stonecrop correctly.

Step 1: Choosing a date – when is the best time?

When sedum plants bathe the garden, balcony and window sill in a sea of ​​color in late summer, no one thinks of cutting back. In fact, the multifaceted species and varieties retain their decorative charisma well into winter. It is the shapely seed pods that set eye-catching accents indoors and outdoors during the cold season.

For the hardy survivors within the genus, withered flowers and seed heads also act as a natural protection against frost and snow. In order for a fat hen to be able to hibernate undamaged, the time window for pruning does not open until early spring. The following dates have proven themselves in practice:

• Houseplant: in March
• Bedding plant in winter quarters: before clearing in April
• Garden plant: in good time before fresh sprouting - depending on the region between the end of March and the beginning of May

Ideally, you should cut back sedum hens outdoors on a dry, frost-free and overcast day. The magnificent succulent plants have a soft spot for sunny locations. Of course, under the influence of direct sunlight, the fat hen does not want to be cut.

Step 2: preparatory work

A fat hen should be spared fuzzy scissors and dirty blades. Frayed cuts provide ideal targets for pathogens and pests. In most cases, the pathogens are already lurking on the cutting edges if they have not been cleaned after pruning infected plants. Therefore, please pay particular attention to the following preparatory work:

• Sharpen the blades of scissors or knives
• Take a clean cloth or kitchen fleece
• Moisten with spirit or high-proof alcohol
• Thoroughly wipe the cutting tools

Have pieces of kitchen paper or Tempo tissues ready to stop the sap flow on houseplants before they soil your window sill or floor. It is also advisable to wear gloves. The sap of the plant is slightly toxic and can trigger an allergic reaction if it comes into contact with the skin.

Step 3: Thin out

Tall sedum plants, such as Sedum spectabile or Sedum telephium, can reach majestic heights of up to half a meter. Sometimes some of the numerous species and varieties tend to become woody and bare. The third step of these instructions is intended for these plants in order to free them from ballast. How to do it right:

• Cut off lignified, old shoots at the base
• Thin out bare branches from below
• Remove weak, thin shoots close to the ground

This approach is aimed at a light-flooded fat hen whose shoots are covered in foliage from root to tip.

Step 4: Shorten shoots

In 2011, the Association of German Perennial Gardeners named Fette Henne Perennial of the Year for the second time. The plant owes this title to its magnificent appearance, which hardly requires any care. Planted correctly in a sunny location, fertilizing and watering are of secondary importance. It is also up to you to decide whether you want to cut back the shoots at all or just clean out the withered flowers. Experience has shown that bushy, compact growth is promoted by targeted pruning. This incision guarantees a perfect result:

• Clean out all withered flowers or seed heads in early spring
• Optionally cut back shoots that are too long by one to two thirds
• Ideally cut a few millimeters above a leaf or bud
• Cover cuts with a strong discharge of juice with a piece of fleece

A topiary is particularly recommended when a fat hen develops long, thin shoots and falls apart. This unnatural increase in length occurs primarily during the dark season when stonecrops overwinter as houseplants on the windowsill. Under the influence of normal room temperatures and lack of light, long thin scary shoots are formed. The damage is remedied by immediately moving to a bright, slightly warm room and cutting back into the healthy area of ​​the affected shoots. If the right winter quarters are not available, compensate for the lack of light with a daylight lamp.

Step 5: Repotting and Root Pruning

Overwintering, cutting and repotting go hand in hand when caring for sedum hens. This applies equally to indoor and balcony plants. If you leave it at a pruning, the stressed plant will lack enough energy for fresh shoots. Therefore, pot out the fat hen and remove the leached potting soil.

Examine the substrate-free root ball closely for damaged or dead roots. With sharp scissors you can cut out the strands. Finally, pot the plant in fresh succulent soil enriched with lava granules. Commercial potting soil is too nutritious for sedum hens and causes masty growth. In a lean substrate with a pH of 6.5 to 7.3, the plants will develop a compact, stable habit.

After the care measure, treat the exotic potted plant to a phase of regeneration. For this purpose, assign your stonecrop to a semi-shady, warm location. Since fresh substrate is usually pre-fertilized, do not apply fertilizer. The plant is now grateful for a sip of soft water.

Special case vase cutting - How to cut flower stalks for the vase correctly

The magnificent stonecrop and other tall species are suitable for cutting in a vase. Cut off the stems when the flowers have just unfurled. Placed in fresh water, the impressive bouquet spreads its exotic flair for several weeks. When cutting the vase, place the scissors one to three fingers above the ground. As long as at least one eye stays on the shoot, the fat hen will happily sprout again.

Learn more about pruning