The Ultimate Guide To Caring For Your Hen And Chick Plant

The hen and chick plant, also known as the Sempervivum tectorum, is a succulent that is easy to care for and maintain. It is a drought-tolerant perennial plant that can go weeks without water and is adaptable to different temperatures. With its ability to propagate through offsets, or chicks, from the parent plant, or hen, this low-maintenance plant is a popular choice for gardeners and can be grown both indoors and outdoors.

Light and temperature requirements

When it comes to light, hen and chick plants prefer full sun and thrive with at least six hours of bright, direct sunlight daily. They can also tolerate partial shade, especially in very hot and dry climates. If grown indoors, ensure they receive bright, indirect light.

Hen and chick plants are drought-tolerant perennials that can withstand a wide range of temperatures. They prefer average temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In cooler temperatures, they may enter a semi-dormant state and stop growing, but they won't die off. These plants are winter hardy in zones 3 to 8 and can tolerate poor soils and dry conditions.

When planting hen and chick plants, choose a location with good drainage and sandy or gravelly soil. They can be planted at any time if kept indoors, but outdoor planting should be done during the warm season, preferably in spring after the last spring frost. Avoid planting during the heat of summer or late fall.

Hen and chick plants are relatively low-maintenance and easy to care for, making them a popular choice for gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike.

Soil and fertiliser

Hens and chicks are drought-tolerant perennials that can withstand weeks without watering. They are versatile and can be planted outside or inside. They are winter hardy in zones 3 to 8 and can be planted at any time if kept indoors. However, they should be planted in the warm season if kept outside, and they should be established before winter.

When planting, choose a full-sun location with sandy or well-drained soil. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, which won't be large as the plant has shallow roots. Position the plant at the same soil line as it was in its container and backfill with soil dug from the hole. Press down on the soil gently and water the plant. If planting multiple hens and chicks plants, space them at least 12 to 18 inches apart. They will spread over time.

For pots, it is good practice to mix the soil with gravel to increase drainage. Pots will be prone to drying out quickly, but since hens and chicks are succulents, they can tolerate dry periods. If planting in a pot, you will need to water more frequently than if planted in the ground.

Hens and chicks can thrive in cool temperatures and can go dormant if the temperature is too cool. They can also tolerate various humidity levels and are popular in dry climates. They can even thrive in poor soils and unwelcoming conditions. They appreciate a slow-release fertiliser designed for succulents or cacti that is low in nitrogen and includes beneficial soil microbes. However, be careful not to over-fertilise.

Watering

When you do water your hen and chick plant, you should only do so about once a week, or when the soil is dry. Before watering, check the soil for dryness. If the soil is damp, avoid watering. If your plant is kept outside, wait several days after rain before considering adding water. If you have overwatered, skip the next scheduled watering session and let your plant dry out naturally.

When watering, avoid getting water on the leaves of the plant, as this can increase the risk of fungal diseases. Instead, focus on watering the soil. If your plant is kept in a pot, you will need to water it more frequently than if it were planted in the ground.

The frequency with which you water your hen and chick plant may vary depending on the temperature and climate. These plants can be grown in various temperatures but prefer an average climate between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is too low, the plant will stop growing and enter a semi-dormant state. In very hot, dry climates, the plant should be kept in light shade.

Propagation

The name "hen and chicks" comes from the way the plant propagates. The large central rosette is the "hen", and the smaller offsets it produces over time are the baby "chicks". These "chicks" can be propagated into new plants.

To propagate a hen and chick plant, divide the offsets (the "chicks") from the parent plant (the "hen"), preserving the roots of each if possible. Using a small trowel, transplant the offsets into well-drained soil, creating a shallow hole to spread out the roots. Place newly planted offsets in a warm place with bright, indirect light, and care for them as usual.

Hen and chick plants can be propagated through several methods. While they can be grown from seed, it's more efficient to divide or propagate offsets from a full, healthy mother plant.

Hen and chick plants are very versatile and can be planted outside or inside. They are drought-tolerant perennials that can withstand weeks without watering. They can be grown in various temperatures but prefer an average climate between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Varieties

There are hundreds of species of hen and chick plants, but they all form a tight rosette close to the ground, never growing taller than 6 inches. The botanical name for the hen and chick plant is Sempervivum tectorum, and they are commonly called houseleeks. They are native to the mountains of southern Europe.

The two species variations available for purchase are Sempervivum tectorum var. arvernense, which has leaves covered in velvet-like hairs, and Sempervivum tectorum var. tectorum, which has smooth leaves edged with hairs.

Some popular varieties include the Reinhardt variety, which has lime green leaves with pointy violet-tipped ends, and the Tokajense variety, which has more rounded rosettes and is mostly green, with inner leaves that are almost entirely purple or red. Blue Boy hen and chick plants are blue-grey and shaped like artichokes.

The Chick Charms brand offers a collection of hens and chicks plants that vary in shapes, colours, and sizes. Some examples include Cranberry Cocktail (Sempervivum 'Killer'), which has red leaves, and Appletini (Sempervivum 'Reinhardt'), which has green leaves.

The Cosmic Candy Chick Charms red cobweb hen and chick variety and the Gold Nugget variety are also favourites.

Frequently asked questions