The Green Wheel: Caring For Your Hen And Chicks

The Green Wheel Hens and Chicks is a low-maintenance succulent that produces delightful, apple green rosettes. With its slow growth rate and drought tolerance, this plant is ideal for gardeners seeking a resilient and attractive addition to their collection. When it comes to caring for the Green Wheel Hens and Chicks, it's important to provide bright and direct light, ensuring the plant is placed near a sunny window. It thrives in dry environments and well-drained soil, making it perfect for rock gardens and shallow containers. Overwatering should be avoided, as these plants are sensitive to wet soil. To propagate, simply split the offsets or chicks from the parent plant or hen, transplanting them into well-drained soil. With its resilience and eye-catching appearance, the Green Wheel Hens and Chicks is a rewarding choice for gardeners of all experience levels.

Watering: Allow soil to dry between waterings, and avoid overwatering

SunvivorTM Green Wheel Hens and Chicks is a drought-tolerant succulent that can go for weeks without water. However, it is essential to let the soil dry out between waterings and to avoid overwatering, as this plant is very sensitive to wet soil.

When watering your Green Wheel, it is best to use just enough water to moisten the soil rather than saturate it. On average, the plant can use half a cup of water every 12 days when it doesn't get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot. However, in hot weather conditions, it may need watering sooner. It is also important to ensure that the potting soil drains well and doesn't retain too much moisture, as moist conditions can encourage fungal leaf spots or root rot.

To check if your plant needs watering, you can insert your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle. If the soil feels dry, it's time to water. However, if the soil is still moist, you should hold off on watering until it dries out. It is also important to note that the amount of water your Green Wheel requires will depend on the temperature, humidity, and the size of the plant.

Overwatering is a common issue with Green Wheel Hens and Chicks, and it can cause the plant to become squishy or translucent. If you notice these signs, reduce the amount of water you are giving your plant and allow the soil to dry out.

Light: Place in bright, direct light, preferably near a south-facing window

SunvivorTM Green Wheel Hens and Chicks require abundant, bright, and direct light. Place the plant less than one foot away from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive. A south-facing window is ideal for maximising the potential for growth. If you live in a very hot, dry climate, partial shade is also acceptable.

The Green Wheel variety of the Sempervivum genus is sensitive to light levels. It does not tolerate low light, so ensure your plant is receiving sufficient light. If your plant appears distressed, this may be due to too much or too little light, so consider moving your plant closer to or further away from the window, respectively.

The Green Wheel Hens and Chicks variety is a drought-tolerant succulent that thrives in dry soil and bright light. It is well-suited to sunny rock gardens and shallow containers. This plant is an excellent choice for busy gardeners as it requires very little maintenance and can go weeks without watering.

Soil: Use well-drained, gravelly soil, and avoid moist conditions to prevent fungal issues

When it comes to the soil preferences of Green Wheel Hen and Chicks, there are several key considerations. Firstly, well-drained, gravelly soil is ideal for this plant. It thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly, only when the soil is completely dry. Overwatering can lead to root rot and fungal issues, so it is important to avoid moist conditions.

The Green Wheel Hen and Chick plant is drought-tolerant and can go weeks without water. It is important to allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. When watering, provide only a small amount, such as 0.5 cups of water every 12 days for a 5" pot that does not receive direct sunlight. If the plant is in a larger pot or receives direct sunlight, it may require slightly more water but always ensure the soil is dry before watering.

The type of soil to use is also important. A good option is a succulent or cactus mix, which can be purchased or made by adding a few handfuls of perlite to regular store-bought cactus soil. This helps with drainage and provides some organic matter for nutrition. You can also add some vermiculite to further enhance drainage.

In addition to well-drained soil, Green Wheel Hen and Chicks also prefer shallow-rooted containers. This is because they have a lateral rooting system, and their roots can spread up to three feet when forming a colony. When propagating, it is important to split the offsets (the "chicks") from the parent plant (the "hen"), preserving the roots, and then transplanting them into well-drained soil, creating a shallow hole to spread out the roots.

Fertilizer: Avoid over-fertilizing. Fresh potting soil yearly provides sufficient nutrients

SunvivorTM Green Wheel Hens and Chicks are sensitive to wet soil, so it is important to choose a potting soil that drains well and doesn't retain too much moisture. A good potting mix will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition.

Fresh potting soil yearly provides all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed annually, you don't need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

If you are using fertilizer, it is important to avoid over-fertilizing. Hens and chicks appreciate a slow-release fertilizer designed for succulents or cacti that's low in nitrogen and includes beneficial soil microbes.

Hens and chicks are drought-tolerant perennials that can go weeks without water. Newly transplanted plants should be given enough water to help them establish themselves, but once they have, be careful not to overwater them. On average, a plant can use one cup of water every two weeks or sooner in hot weather. Check the soil and make sure it is dry before watering.

Pests: Check for infestations and treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap if necessary

Green Wheel "Hens and Chicks" is a low-maintenance plant that rarely attracts pests. However, it is still important to check for infestations and treat them promptly to maintain the plant's health.

To protect your Green Wheel "Hens and Chicks" from pests, you should regularly inspect the plant for any signs of infestation. Common pests that affect plants include mites, lice, fleas, and ticks. If you notice any of these pests or other insects on your plant, you can treat them with neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Neem oil is a natural pesticide that is safe to use on the Green Wheel "Hens and Chicks." It is effective against a wide range of insects, including mites, lice, fleas, and ticks. To use neem oil as a pest control measure, you can create a mixture of one gallon of warm water, two tablespoons of neem oil, and one teaspoon of dish soap. Spray this solution on the affected areas of the plant, including the leaves, stems, and soil, every day for three days. You can also dip the affected parts of the plant in a mixture of neem oil and vegetable oil.

Alternatively, you can use insecticidal soap, which is available commercially or can be made at home. To make your own insecticidal soap, mix one gallon of warm water with two tablespoons of liquid dish soap. Spray the solution on the infested areas of the plant, thoroughly coating the leaves, stems, and soil. Repeat the spraying process every day for three days to ensure the pests are eliminated.

By regularly inspecting your Green Wheel "Hens and Chicks" for pests and treating infestations with neem oil or insecticidal soap, you can effectively protect the health and beauty of this low-maintenance plant.

Frequently asked questions