Hens and chicks are easy-to-care-for plants that don’t require much attention. They are ideal for busy or forgetful gardeners who don’t have time to fuss after their plants.
As we go into care instructions below, you’ll see that most Sempervivum problems result from over-caring for plants rather than under-caring for them.
Watering Hens and Chicks Plants
Sempervivums are plants that can withstand drought. They don’t need to be watered frequently, like succulents. You shouldn’t have to bother about watering them at all if you live in a region with consistent rainfall.
If it hasn’t rained in a few weeks, water your Sempervivums until the soil is completely moist.
Water these succulents only when the soil is fully dry if you’re keeping them indoors. Fill the soil to the point where water starts to leak out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot.
Since hens and chicks are dormant during the fall and winter, irrigation should be minimized as much as possible.
Fertilizing Hens and Chicks
Hens and chicks thrive in dirt with very few nutrients in their natural habitat. They won’t require fertilizer frequently, if ever.
The only exception is if you have plants that haven’t had any top-ups or repotting for years and are still in the same pot. In this situation, fertilizing can be done once a year in the spring.
Repotting Hens and Chicks Plants
Repotting is not frequently necessary for hens and chicks. Choose a pot that is one size larger or an inch or two broader than your plant’s present container if it has outgrown its current one or has become root-bound.
You don’t want hens and chicks to be in a container that is too big since they are prone to overwatering. Extra soil slows down the drying process and promotes root rot.
Repotting is best done in the spring or summer, when the plant is actively growing.
Overwintering Hens and Chicks
Sempervivum prefer to remain outdoors throughout the winter, when they go through a dry, cold dormant period, so don’t bring them indoors.
Cover the soil with something like mulch or autumn leaves and pile it up several inches high to protect them from the chilly temperatures. Although mine only had a thin coating, as you can see from the photo above, they survived our winter season without incident.
How is a hen and chicks succulent transplanted?
Several folks have gotten in touch with me in the last week to ask about raising hens and chicks. I suppose it is simply that time of year once more. Sempervivum plants start to produce new offspring as the weather warms from winter into April. By the time summer arrives, the tiny chicks have significantly grown, and people start to consider whether to remove them right away or leave them on the stem.
The baby plants that the mother plant produces are called offsets, and they start off as little nubs inside the leaves of their mother. Then, on stems known as stolons, these tiny offsets that resemble buds are forced away from the parent plant. One of the nice things about sempervivum succulents is how many offsets one plant can produce.
In an effort to expand, the plant may grow unusually long stems for its offsets, depending on the hen and chick variety and the available space. As seen in the images below, the offset will develop from a bud shape into the usual rosette. The stolon that connects the mother and offset, however, has leaves and is still in excellent health. This indicates that the hen is still feeding the chick and that it is not yet appropriate to separate them.
Not always, the chick plant resembles the mother plant exactly. Colors could differ. Different shapes may exist. Varieties frequently develop into their color or plant morphology.
The plants should be allowed to coexist until the chick sprouts its own roots and the stolon starts to wilt. When they reach this point, you know they are prepared for transplantation. Hens and chicks don’t always live in a perfect world, though. If you accidentally break off some chicks before they should, plant them, and they should thrive without any issues.
How to Split It is quite simple to separate the offsets from the mother plant. Simply snap the stem that connects the two plants, pry the chick plant free, and move it to a new location.
Let’s not divide and space out. It’s common practice to let hens and chicks grow up unattended. After all, they are low-maintenance plants. In this instance, the chicks end up squashing the hen plant, and the chicks get crushed by their chicks, and so on, until all the available growing area is occupied.
However, when plants are not spaced out, they grow in one way—straight up. There is nothing wrong with this, and it can even result in a rather distinctive environment. When crowded, hens and chicks lose their rosette shape and expand into tall, vertical plants. You will periodically need to divide or thin your chicks if you do not want this to occur.
What sort of soil are necessary for hens and chicks?
Chicken & Hen Known as Sempervivum Sempervivum, which literally means “live forever,” derives from how quickly they develop and spread. Whatever you choose to call them—semps, hens and chicks, or houseleeks—these succulents are beautiful plants.
There is enough diversity in Hens and Chicks to keep you engaged for a lifetime. They are enjoyable and simple to grow. These succulents come in a wide variety of colors, forms, textures, and sizes thanks to the over 3,000 recognized sempervivum varieties.
Extremely Cold Hardy throughout the US
Hens and chicks can be grown all across the USA since they are hardy. Sempervivum prefer cool evenings and require a cold, dormant season to thrive. Zones 4–8 are best for cultivating them. Moving the plants inside a greenhouse or covering them during harsh winter weather may be advantageous in colder climates. Hairy cultivars and Jovibarba species also benefit from a piece of glass or transparent, hard plastic to protect them from winter rain.
Part sun to full sun
Sempervivums exhibit vivid colors when exposed to sunlight. Many types tend to fade to a basic green tint when planted in full shade. However, afternoon shadow can actually help plant colors stay longer in hotter summer climates including in the southern United States.
Sandy, Outstanding Drainage
The most crucial condition for Sempervivum is good drainage. Plant them in sandy soil, or improve the soil’s drainage by adding compost, potting soil, gravel, or vermiculite. Where other plants can’t grow, Hens and Chicks can. They thrive in areas with minimal soil, including gravel and gaps in rock walls, but if water builds up, the plants will perish. The ideal pH range for soil is between 6.6 to 7.5, which is considered neutral.
Low, Tolerant of Drought
Water well right away after transplanting. After that, wait a while before wetting the soil again. Although the leaves of these succulent plants retain water, they still require water to survive droughts. They will need to be watered more regularly in the summer heat. Avoid overwatering. Check the soil drainage and reduce watering if you notice your plants are having trouble.
Growing Hen & Chick Plants Hens and chicks can “live forever” because they produce a large number of progeny. Depending on the kind, babies are produced in varying quantities and rates. Anytime throughout the spring/summer growing season, sempervivums can be divided. The young chicks may be relocated or allowed to develop close to the mother hen.
Hens and chicks can be divided into three main categories: Sempervivum, Jovibarba heuffelii, and Jovibarba Rollers. Although they are all frequently referred to as Sempervivum, the ways in which they produce children vary.
Sempervivum These bear children on runners. Simply remove the chicks and place them somewhere else. When the runner starts to wither is the ideal time to remove the pups. Offsets take root fast and only need to come into contact with the soil to begin growing.
Heuffelii Jovibarba On stolons, this species does not produce “chicks.” Instead, this plant produces its children within the mother plant. It must be divided with a knife in order to reproduce.
Rollers Jovibarba The “chicks” produced by these hens and chicks are loosely attached, readily pop off, and roll away from the mother plant.
By using offsets to propagate, each cultivar’s traits are preserved. Sempervivum blooms yield seeds that typically result in plants that aren’t true to type.
A chick born from a hen plant will start having babies of its own after just one season. Sempervivum plants typically only live for three years, giving them two productive years before passing away. A Sempervivum has a tall center stalk that blooms before the plant dies after three years and after it has generated several baby plants. The plant will not survive if the center stalk is removed.
It is a lot of joy to raise hens and chicks, watch them develop, and watch them lay eggs. As they mature, as the weather changes, as they are exposed to the sun more, and other variables, their colors shift dramatically over the season. Give your plants adequate room to stretch out. For tiny plants, they should have four, and for large variety, six to eight. Rosettes with good form are produced in sufficient space.
Do hens and chicks require soil that is pliable?
Hens and Chicks and other heat-loving succulents grow best in milder climates like late winter or early spring. You can plant the plants when it’s a little cooler if you keep them largely indoors. Introduce Hens and Chicks to the sun gradually if the summer heat index is at its highest.
To grow and flourish, hens and chicks require a lot of sunlight. Put the pot where it will receive lots of sunlight, either outside or indoors during the winter. Succulents can be planted in practically any size or depth of container because to their shallow roots, but shallow and wide ones work best. Terracotta and other common container materials are acceptable. Make sure the container you use has good drainage. The main plant lives for two to three years, and if a lot of chicks hatch and outgrow the pot, you can repot it.
Best Soil For Hens and Chicks in Pots
Hens and Chicks, like the majority of succulents, thrive in well-draining soil, yet they may also grow well in “poor” soil without the need for extra nutrients or compost. Standard potting mixtures for containers retain too much moisture. The healthiest succulents grow on free-draining soil that contains at least 30% grit or sand (you can add sand and grit to typical container potting mix).
Cactus soil mix is the greatest dirt you can get. If desired, add some decorative rocks, gravel, or glass beads to the container’s top. The rocks enhance the appearance of your container by absorbing heat and filling in empty spots till the plant grows. Once you’ve mastered growing them in containers, plant one between several big rocks in a broad, shallow pot and enjoy. Hens and chicks also flourish in rock cracks outside.
Can chickens and chicks be planted in rocks?
Sempervivum can be planted in a rock wall or amid rocks, although they require some space to expand. The vegetation expanded into a carpet of rosette clusters. It can eventually grow to a minimum of 2 feet. Aim to keep other plants away from the hens and chicks, especially if they require more water than the succulent that can withstand drought. The finest containers for hens and chicks are shallow and narrow so that the plants have opportunity to spread.
Are the roots of hen and chicks deep?
Sempervivum, popularly known as hens and chicks, is a perennial favorite of container gardeners. Due to how simple they are to cultivate, even complete beginners can succeed greatly with them. This lovely plant has an interesting texture and color.
Hens and chicks can be grown in tiny, miniature, or shallow containers because of their shallow roots. They can withstand extreme drought and neglect, as well as frigid temperatures as low as -35 F in zone 3. Additionally, they can withstand the warm climate of zone eight.
It’s important to remember that these succulents require proper drainage when growing them. If standard potting soil is all you have, you can still use it, but a mixture made especially for succulents and cacti is preferable. Make sure your pot has enough holes in the bottom for the water to drain out (unless you can make sure not to overwater). After the earth has dried out beneath the surface, only add water. If the pot is deep enough, insert your finger up to the second knuckle into the potting mix to check the soil’s moisture level. Add water to the pot until the dirt runs out the bottom if it feels dry to the touch.
You can add a little amount of slow-release fertilizer to your potting mix, but don’t stress out too much about adding more over the growing season.