why has my Autumn Joy Seedum gone all floppy ?

[gingeroots]

seems to need staking ,does it need water ?

or maybe because not cut back in past ?

I'm afraid I can't post pictures ..

It could just be the weight of the flowerheads esp with the added weight of water. If the stems feel and look quite firm but have fallen over a bit (often leaving an ugly gap in the middle) this may well be the reason!

You can get around it by giving the plant the Chelsea chop in May - take a pair of shears and cut off around 1/3 of the new growth on every stem. Do it at around the time the Chelsea flower show is on telly (hence the name). This will force the plant to bush up. The seed heads will come smaller on more compact growth and they will also be a bit later - but they don't fall over nearly as much! I haven't had the problem since I've been doing it.

I used to have this problem but this year put an upturned cheap wire hanging basket over them in spring when I cut out old stems and new growth had just started. It works! No hole in middle and all still upright.

Sedums seem to grow best in a sunny well drained spot. I planted one in semi shade and, like yours, it doesn't stay upright but flops. I kind of got round this by putting in one of those metal stake things but I might move it into full sun next year.

Really helpful every one ,thanks so much .

Chopping and coat hangers first !

Sometimes the plants need dividing - they get woody in the middle. Do it in Spring and just replant the healthy outside bits. I've got some of the variety `Matrona' and they've really flopped this year. I'm going to try dividing them and also Chelsea Chopping them next year. Also need to find out whether the cat sleeping in the middle is the cause of the flop or if she only goes there once the stems have already collapsed.

watsit excellent idea. My baskets have been hanging in the shed for years because I can't be botheres with the faff of watering.

Glad I did't throw them out now

They like crap soil too. If your soil is rich or you've been improving it with garden compost, Sedum will produce stems that are too long and flower heads that are too big = flop.