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7080219 
Journal Article 
Optimal Growing Substrate pH for Five Sedum Species 
Zheng, Y; Clark, MJ; , 
2013 
Yes 
HortScience
ISSN: 0018-5345 
AMER SOC HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE 
ALEXANDRIA 
448-452 
To determine the optimal growing substrate pH values for Sedum plants, Sedum album, Sedum reflexum 'Blue Spruce', Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood', Sedum hybridum 'Immergrunchen', and Sedum sexangulare were grown in containers using peatmoss and perlite-based substrates at five target pH levels (i.e., 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, and 8.5). Optimal pH levels, calculated from dry weight regression models, were 6.32, 6.43, 5.71, 6.25, and 5.91 for S. album, S. reflexum, S. spurium, S. hybridum, and S. sexangulare, respectively, and 5.95 overall. Sedum spurium dry weight varied the most among pH treatments (i.e., 9.5 times greater at pH 6.3 vs. 8.3), whereas S. reflexum varied the least (i.e., 1.3 times greater at pH 6.3 vs. 4.4), indicating species-specific growth responses to growing substrate pH. These findings identified a narrow range of optimal growing substrate pH levels within a wider pH range tolerated by five Sedum spp. Therefore, by adjusting substrate pH to optimal levels, Sedum growth can be maximized.