Lucas Delgado
If you're looking for a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant, hen and chick plants are a great choice. These succulents are easy to grow and can withstand dry conditions and poor soil, making them perfect for rock gardens and wall crevices. With their ability to produce many chicks or baby plants, you'll soon have a thriving colony. To plant your own hen and chick garden, choose a spot with full sun and well-drained soil. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and position the plant, gently pressing down on the soil and watering it. Space multiple plants 12-18 inches apart, and your hen and chick garden will soon be flourishing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plant type | Succulent |
| Plant species | Sempervivum tectorum |
| Common names | Hen and chicks, house leek |
| Light requirement | Full sun (at least 6 hours daily) |
| Soil type | Sandy, gritty, well-drained |
| Soil pH | Neutral (6.5-7.5) |
| Watering | Rare, only when the soil is dry |
| Fertilizer | Rare, slow-release granular fertilizer in spring |
| Temperature | 65-75°F |
| Propagation | Division, cuttings, seeds |
| Spacing | 12-18 inches apart |
| Container requirements | Well-drained, with drainage holes |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a location with full sun and well-drained soil
When choosing a location for your hen and chick plants, it is important to select a spot that receives full sun. These plants need at least six hours of full sun daily for optimal foliage coloration and plentiful offsets. If there isn't enough sun, the plant will stay green and its leaves will be thin and sparse. In hotter climates, it is recommended to provide afternoon shade to prevent the plants from overheating.
Additionally, when choosing a location, ensure that the soil is well-drained. Sandy or gravelly soil is ideal, as it allows excess water to drain away quickly. If your soil is heavy and doesn't drain well, you can improve its drainage by mixing in gravel, pumice, perlite, or sand. This will increase aeration and help prevent root rot.
Before planting your hen and chick plants, it is a good idea to break up the soil using a rake or spade, depending on the size of the area. This will help create a fresh layer of soil for the plants to establish themselves. If you are planting in a container, make sure it has drainage holes, and consider adding rocks or gravel at the bottom to aid in drainage.
Overall, by choosing a location with full sun and well-drained soil, you will provide your hen and chick plants with the ideal conditions they need to thrive and display their vibrant colors.
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Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball
When planting your hen and chick plants, start by digging a hole that is slightly larger than the root ball. Remember, the hole doesn't need to be very big, as the plant has shallow roots. If you're planting multiple hen and chick plants, be sure to space them at least 12-18 inches apart.
Before placing the plant in the hole, you can prepare the soil mixture. Mix together potting soil and gravel or sand to ensure proper drainage. You can also add perlite to the bottom of the hole and top it with a mixture of sphagnum peat moss and cactus potting mix.
Now, gently place the plant in the hole, taking care not to damage the roots. Spread out the roots and cover them with soil, filling the hole until it reaches the base of the plant. Gently tamp down the soil and water the plant.
If you're planting in a container, choose a size that suits your preferences and ensure it has drainage holes. If it doesn't have holes, use a drill to create small holes around the bottom and sides of the pot. Fill the container with your soil mixture and follow the same steps as above to position and cover the roots.
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Position the plant and backfill with soil
Positioning the plant correctly is crucial to its growth. Choose a full-sun location with sandy or well-drained soil. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, ensuring it is not too deep. The plant has shallow roots, so the hole does not need to be big. Space multiple plants at least 12-18 inches apart as they will spread over time.
When positioning the plant, place it at the same soil line as it was in its container. This is important to ensure the plant is not too deep in the ground. Once the plant is in the correct position, backfill the hole with soil. Gently press down on the soil and water the plant.
If planting in a container, use a well-draining pot and fill it with a soil mixture. You can create your own soil mixture by mixing potting soil with gravel or sand to ensure proper drainage. If your container does not have drainage holes, create some with a drill.
Hens and chicks require very little soil and can even grow in rock crevices. They are drought-tolerant and can go weeks without watering once established. However, provide enough water to moisten the soil after transplanting, but be careful not to overwater.
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Water the plant and provide supplemental artificial lighting
As a type of succulent, hen and chick plants require very little water. They are drought-tolerant and can go weeks without watering once established. However, when you do water them, make sure the soil is completely dry, and water the plant thoroughly. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. In regions with prolonged dry spells, water every 10 to 14 days, providing more water during extreme heat. During the fall, when the plants enter dormancy, reduce or stop watering.
When growing indoors, place the plant in a location where it will receive plenty of bright light. A windowsill that receives direct sunlight is ideal. If the plant does not receive enough sunlight, it may lose some of its colouring. In this case, provide supplemental artificial lighting.
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Propagate the plant by dividing the offsets from the parent plant
To propagate a hen and chick plant, you will need to divide the offsets, or "chicks", from the parent plant, or "hen". The first step is to use a small trowel to dig a shallow hole in well-drained soil. Next, gently pull or snip the chick from the mother plant, preserving the roots of each if possible. Then, transplant the chick into the hole and spread out its roots. Finally, cover the roots with soil and tamp the soil down gently.
The mother rosette (or hen) multiplies freely by runners that spread in all directions to form offsets (or chicks). The chicks may be as small as a dime, and the mother can grow to the size of a small plate. The mother plant will die off after four to six years and should be removed. The plants produce a flower when mature, and these should be pulled off the plant when they expire.
It is important to divide the chicks from the mother plant at least every two years to prevent overcrowding. You can place the chicks in the same pot or garden bed as the mother plant, or you can transplant them to a new location. If you are transplanting to a new location, be sure to choose a site with full sun and well-drained soil, as hens and chicks prefer dry, nutrient-poor conditions.
Hens and chicks are drought-tolerant perennials that can withstand weeks without watering. They are low-maintenance plants that are easy to care for and can be grown in a variety of temperatures and humidity levels. When grown in the right conditions, they have few pest or disease issues.
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