How to Propagate Burro’s Tail: 5 Burro's Tail Care Tips

Burro's tail (sedum morganianum) is a succulent plant from the Crassulaceae or stonecrop family. The drought-tolerant succulent is also known as donkey tail, horse's tail, lamb's tail, and monkey's tail because of its pendulous stems and blue-green leaves. Native to southern Mexico and Honduras, Burro's tail is frequently sold as an indoor houseplant in North America, though it can live outdoors year-round in a warm climate (USDA Hardiness Zones 9–11). The plants grow best in hanging baskets or large pots.

The trailing stems of the burro's tail grow vertically downward and can reach up to four feet in length, though the stems of the Baby Donkey Tail (sedum burrito) only reach two feet in length when fully grown. The leaves of the burro's tail are blue-green and, like its stem, very brittle to the touch. On infrequent occasions during the spring and summer, the burro's tail will grow small, unscented flowers that are either red, pink, or lavender.

Burro's tail is a popular plant for novice and veteran gardeners alike: It's visually appealing, requires little care or space to grow, and is very easy to propagate, or develop new plants from stems or leaf cuttings. Here are a few care tips for the succulent:

1. 1. Place near a sunny area. Burro's tails need bright light or partial sun for a minimum of four hours a day. Keep it away from full sun, which will turn the leaves pale green or yellow; if your burro's tail is an indoor plant, make sure it's near bright light but away from windowsills with full, hot sun. Bring your burro's tail indoors if you live in cold weather climates; they thrive in indoor temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. 2. Water sparingly. Burro's tails are succulent plants, which means that the leaves store water. Overwatering your burro's tail will cause the plant to rot. Outdoor plants only need water every 10 to 14 days, though, in its growing season, experts recommend watering the plant about every 10 days when temperatures are regularly above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. When it's time to water, use the "soak and dry" method, which means that the soil should be completely dry before watering again. Indoor burro's tails only need a thorough watering once a month, depending on the temperature and amount of light in your home. Learn more about caring for succulent plants.
3. 3. Use well-draining soil. Like all succulents, burro's tails need well-draining soil. Pure garden soil will promote root rot, so a mixed soil for succulents is ideal. You can also make your own well-draining soil, composed of equal parts horticultural grade sand and perlite or pumice, which you add to potting soil. Feeding compost and worm castings will give your burro's tails extra nutrients; feed it these ingredients once a month during warm weather and not at all during winter.
4. 4. Monitor pests. Luckily, burro's tails seem to resist most insect pests, though you may find aphids or mealybugs on your plant. You can spray them with a blast of water from the hose or a mix of rubbing alcohol or water. Neem oil, a naturally occurring pesticide made from the seeds of the neem tree, is also safe for use with burro's tails.
5. 5. Repot as necessary. Repotting a burro's tail is easy to do if the plant grows too big or outgrows its pot, though mature plants are often too brittle to repot. A terra-cotta pot with draining holes will work best, as it will allow the plant to breathe and hold water. When the soil is dry, remove the plant; check for and remove rotted roots and then cover it in the new pot with well-draining soil. Keep the burro's tail dry for a week, and then water the soil lightly to allow the roots to grow while also warding off root rot.

Burro's tail, like most succulent plants, can be easy to propagate. Here's a step-by-step guide to burro's tail propagation:

• Choose stems or leaves. You can propagate a burro's tail in either the spring or summer, using either the stems or leaf cuttings. Propagating from leaf cuttings is the most straightforward method: simply pluck a few leaves from the tail stem and plant them in moist soil. Sprouts should appear in a few days, and when they reach a half-inch in length, you can transplant them into individual pots.
• Cut the stems. If you’re propagating with stems, use clippers or a similar tool to cut them to your desired length. Peel off the leaves at the bottom of the stem, and let the stems heal and form calluses. Depending on your climate, the healing process can take from one day to two weeks.
• Prepare the pot. Fill the new pot with well-draining soil or soil mix to approximately one-quarter inch below the top rim of the point. Create a hole using a pencil or chopstick, and then insert the cutting into the hole. If the stems are heavy, you can pin them down with floral pins.
• Place near light. Put your propagated plant in bright light but out of direct or full sun.
• Water. Keep the stems and soil dry for one to three days, and then water the mix every five to seven days, depending on your climate or indoor temperature. Water lightly so the soil is moist and not saturated. Overwatering can promote root rot. Check out 10 essential watering tips from expert gardener Ron Finley.

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