Hens and Chicks / Common Houseleek

Sempervivum tectorum

description

Hens and Chicks is a cold-hardy rosette succulent that produces many surrounding offsets.

benefits

Low—water tolerant
Сan handle lower humidity level
Pet-friendly, non-toxic to animals
Drought-tolerant — forgives missed waterings
Low maintenance
Suitable for containers

How to care for Hens and Chicks

sunlight

On exposed rocky slopes and old roofs, hens and chicks grow in open sun. Give them the brightest spot you have, ideally outdoors or in a sunny window.

Full sun

Aim for about 6 or more hours of direct sun daily. A south- or west-facing window works indoors, while outdoor plants develop their best compact shape and color in sun. Acclimate plants gradually to stronger sun, especially after winter or a move from indoors.

If rosettes open up, stretch, or fade from their usual color, move the plant into more direct light.

watering

Water deeply, then let the gritty potting mix dry completely before watering again. Hens and Chicks stores water in its rosettes and is far more likely to suffer from wet roots than thirst.

Spring and autumn

For potted plants in active growth, water about every 1-2 weeks. Check that the mix is dry throughout the root ball and the pot feels light before soaking it, then let excess water drain away.

Summer and winter

In summer heat or winter's low light, growth slows. Water roughly every 3-5 weeks only when the mix is fully dry. Outdoor plants often need no extra winter water unless they are sheltered from rain.

A small terracotta pot in bright sun dries much faster than a large plastic pot, so use the soil and pot weight rather than a fixed calendar.

Never leave Hens and Chicks sitting in water or water frozen soil. Cold, wet roots can rot quickly.

humidity

Relative humidity

30-50%

Hens and Chicks comes from sunny, rocky European slopes, so it prefers dry, moving air. Average household humidity is suitable, and it usually tolerates around 20-60% if the potting mix drains quickly.

Very dry air rarely harms it on its own, but rosettes may look shrunken and soil will dry faster in hot, heated rooms. Check the soil before watering rather than misting.

Keep the leaves dry and give the plant good airflow, especially in humid weather.

Prolonged humidity above about 60%, combined with damp soil or crowded rosettes, can encourage rot. Do not use a humidifier or pebble tray for this succulent.

temperature

Active growth

13-24°C (55-75°F)

Winter, in the ground

to about -29°C (-20°F)

Native to exposed European mountains, hens and chicks appreciates seasonal weather and is much hardier than most succulents. It can handle summer heat with sun and airflow, but winter survival depends on soil that drains quickly and does not stay wet.

Grow it outdoors when possible, and give potted plants shelter from prolonged freezes below about -7°C (20°F), since roots freeze faster in containers.

Wet soil during freezing weather is more damaging than cold alone. Keep winter rain off pots and avoid saucers that hold water.

nutrition

March - August

Feed potted plants lightly once in spring, then again about 6-8 weeks later only if they are making new leaves or offsets. Use a cactus or succulent liquid fertilizer at about half the label strength. Plants growing in the ground usually need no feeding, and stop when growth slows in late summer.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen supports leafy rosette growth, but Hens and Chicks need very little. Too much can make growth soft and less compact, so a dilute succulent fertilizer is enough.

Apply fertilizer to already moist soil, not dry roots, and skip it if the rosettes are stretched from low light or staying wet.

soil

Gritty, fast-draining soil

Hens and Chicks needs an airy mix that dries quickly, as wet soil can rot its shallow roots. Blend succulent soil with plenty of pumice, perlite, or coarse grit, and use a pot with a drainage hole.

pH 6,0 - 7,5

This is slightly acidic to mildly alkaline, which suits this adaptable succulent. Most cactus or succulent mixes work well, especially when amended with mineral grit rather than moisture-holding compost.

Choose a shallow terracotta pot to help excess moisture evaporate, especially indoors or during cool weather.