Donkey’s tail: Diseases and Remedies (3-minute Read)

NOTE: Donkey’s tail may be referred to as Sedum morganianum in this article, in fact, those are the same plants, Sedum morganianum is the botanical name for Donkey’s tail.

The leaves of the donkey’s tail are blue-green in color and are easy to grow. In six years’ time, mature specimen can reach trailing lengths of up to 4 feet, though the average length is closer to 24 inches. They are most commonly grown as potted plants. The best time to plant the Succulent outdoors is in the early spring. There are red or pink flowers in the late summer.

Why does my Sedum morganianum roots have rot?

Root rot on your Donkey’s tail (Sedum morganianum) can be fatal if not treated with care. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you follow our guide to keep your plant alive if the symptoms occur: Root soft and blackened.
Donkey's

Why does my Donkey’s tail have gray mold spots?

Gray mold spots are a type of fungus that is found a lot in flowers, and spreads quite rapidly. If you notice brown (or gray) spots, it is probably this fungus. Don’t ignore these symptoms, as they may end up killing your plant.

Our Solution

The answer is obvious once you recognize the cause of the problem. Most frequently, it results from the Sedum morganianum being overwatered. We strongly advise you to remove the damaged plant parts, cut off the diseased roots and leaves, and then repot your plant in a new container with sterile potting soil.

Why does my Donkey’s tail have leaf spots?

Leaf We provide you with all the information you need to identify and save your plants if they display signs like leaves that suddenly change color or wilt/droop. This sort of sickness is one of the most aggravating for Donkey’s tail owners.

Why are my Donkey’s tail leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves are arguably the most prevalent issue in the gardening world. Overwatering or a lack of nutrients are the 2 main causes of this issue.

Reduce your watering frequency when you fear your plants are being overwatered, and follow these steps to determine whether they may be lacking in nutrients:

Each deficiency produces a different yellowing on the Sedum morganianum in question, here’s how to spot them:

  • Magnesium deficiency starts as yellow patches between leaf veins on older leaves. Veins stay green as yellow moves from the leaf center out. Leaf edges turn yellow last.
  • Another indicator of iron deficiency is yellowing between leaf veins, but young leaves on plant tops and branch tips are first affected.
  • The newest leaves are first affected by sulfur deficiency, rendering them completely yellow.
  • Insufficient potassium causes the leaf edges to turn brilliant yellow while the interior of the leaf stays green. Older leaves show the symptoms initially, and the leaf edges quickly darken.
  • A broad yellowing indicates a nitrogen deficiency. Yellowing starts with older, inner leaves. Yellowing spreads as it advances, eventually touching new leaves as well.

Our Solution

According to the symptoms mentioned above, you just have to act accordingly. You can reduce your watering frequency, or fix a deficiency in Potassium, or Nitrogen, for that, you just have to buy a special soil for your deficiency, a consultant in a gardening store will know perfectly well how to inform you.

Is my Donkey’s tail sunburned?

It is quite easy to find out if your Donkey’s tail (Sedum morganianum) has been burned by the sun. Just like on us, your plant will change color in this case, it will start to turn yellow or white.

Sunburned

As we saw above, the leaves of your Donkey’s tail can also change color if it receives too much water or insufficient light.

To find out if the yellow leaves have been sunburned, look at the part of the bottom that is tinted closer to the base. The yellow leaf is probably burnt and not something else if this portion stays greener.

Why are my Donkey’s tail leaves turning brown?

The classic sign that a plant has been overexposed to direct sunlight and sunburned is the development of browning leaves. Rest assured that while this may probably save your plant from dying, it will adversely affect its growth.

Should I leave my Sedum morganianum in direct sunlight?

No! If your Sedum morganianum (or Donkey’s tail) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Donkey’s tail is in such a state!

Our Solution

The remedy, as said in the paragraph above, is simple: just move your plant’s Donkey’s tail out of direct sunlight. Your plant should swiftly re-grow with this strategy and appropriate watering.

Why are my Sedum morganianum leaves drooping or wilting ?

This typically occurs when your Sedum morganianum gets dehydrated. Large plants are more at risk since they naturally require more water than smaller plants.

Drooping

Whether your Sedum morganianum plant’s pot appears light, the soil and roots are likely fairly dry and need water, so you can readily tell if it needs to be hydrated.

Our Solution

If the soil in the container is completely dry, you must first moisten it to guarantee that your plant’s roots absorb the benefits of the water. One common mistake is to drown the Donkey’s tail right away after a dry time because you think it needs a lot of water.

This is the case, but giving too much water at once is the best way to finish it off, you should actually water the soil normally, resuming a quiet watering rhythm.

Caring Tips for Sedum morganianum

Water Occasionally

Your plant needs water to survive, but it’s crucial to balance the amount and timing of watering. As we previously mentioned, overwatering could be catastrophic for your Sedum morganianum.

You can tell if your plant needs water by touching the soil; if it still feels damp, it’s usually preferable to wait a few more days.

Always keep temperatures stable

It is also a good idea to keep your Sedum morganianum at a stable temperature (especially if it is kept indoors!). At GreenShack, we generally recommend staying in the 65 and 85 degrees F range. Of course, do not place your Sedum morganianum near a source of hot (or cold) air such as A/C units, radiators or the like.

Keep your Donkey’s tail Dust-Free

This one concerns indoor plants, just like on your furniture, dust is also deposited on the leaves of your indoor plants, the problem is that it can prevent them from receiving the necessary light, this would slow down (or even stop) the photosynthesis process, and eventually, they would lose their colors.

This would be a true journey into hell for your Donkey’s tail and would also satisfy the pests.

Take a microfiber cloth and gently massage the plant’s leaves to get rid of the dust. Use a damp cloth to make dust removal easier, but avoid using corrosive materials like rubbing alcohol!

Keep drainage in mind

If you have a tendency to overwater, you should be mindful of your drainage, and if they don’t already have them, we suggest selecting a saucer and a pot with drainage holes.

You can add volcanic rocks (or any other pebbles with holes) to the bottom of your pot in the interim if your pots don’t already have holes in them. This will help to form a channel so that the water doesn’t pool there for too long (preventing the rot of the roots!).