Sophie Bennett
Sempervivum tectorum, commonly known as Hens and Chicks, is an evergreen succulent that forms neat, tight clusters of vibrant foliage. It is a popular choice for a terrarium due to its small size, drought tolerance, and ability to thrive in a variety of conditions. With the right care and placement, Hens and Chicks can be a beautiful and low-maintenance addition to your terrarium. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about planting and caring for Hens and Chicks in a terrarium, from choosing the right enclosure to providing the ideal lighting and drainage conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Hens and Chicks |
| Scientific name | Sempervivum, Sempervivum tectorum |
| Plant type | Succulent |
| Sunlight | Full sun for a few hours each day, partial shade |
| Temperature | 65–75 °F (18.3–23.8 °C); can withstand temperature drops to 30 °F (-1.1 °C) |
| Soil | Well-drained, gritty, sandy, poor soil; small amount of soil required |
| Container | Clay pot, hanging basket, terrarium |
| Watering | Allow to dry out fully between waterings; water sparingly |
| Fertilizer | Rarely required |
| Propagation | Divide offsets from mother plant, replant, or sow seeds |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a terrarium
Size and Space:
Hens and chicks are known for their neat, tight clusters of vibrant foliage. They produce numerous "chicks" or offsets from the main "hen" plant, so ensure your terrarium has sufficient space to accommodate their growth and multiplication. Choose a terrarium that is slightly larger than the current size of your plant to allow for future expansion.
Drainage and Soil:
Hens and chicks prefer well-drained soil or substrates like sand and gravel, which provide good aeration. They thrive in rocky, arid environments and can even grow in rock crevasses. When selecting a terrarium, ensure it has adequate drainage holes or consider adding a layer of rocks at the bottom to facilitate drainage. You can also use a succulent potting mix or create your own mix with regular potting soil, coarse sand, and perlite for better drainage.
Light and Temperature:
These plants prefer bright, indirect light and can tolerate partial shade. They do well with a few hours of direct sunlight daily but be cautious of intense light or fluorescent lighting, as it may damage the plant. Choose a terrarium that allows you to place it in a spot with the right light conditions. Additionally, consider the temperature requirements of hens and chicks, which prefer temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in a cold climate, ensure your terrarium can be easily moved indoors during the colder months.
Air Circulation:
Hens and chicks need plenty of air circulation to thrive. Select a terrarium with a spacious opening or consider a hanging terrarium to provide ample airflow. Avoid fully enclosed terrariums without proper ventilation.
Aesthetic Appeal:
Hens and chicks come in a variety of colours and can add a pop of colour to your terrarium. Consider choosing a terrarium that complements the colours and sizes of your plants. Decorative glass jars or clay pots can be excellent choices, providing both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Remember, the key to choosing the right terrarium is replicating the natural habitat of hens and chicks while ensuring their basic needs, such as drainage, light, and air circulation, are met.
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Preparing the soil
After establishing the rock layer, you can proceed to fill the container with soil. Regular potting soil is generally suitable for hens and chicks, but you can also use a succulent potting mix or create your own mix. If opting for a custom mix, combine three parts regular potting mix with two parts coarse sand and one part perlite. This mixture will enhance drainage and provide a suitable growing medium for your plants.
When adding the soil, ensure it is slightly moist but not soaked. Hens and chicks prefer well-drained, gritty soil that is similar to the conditions found in rocky, arid environments. Avoid using too much soil, as these plants can thrive even in minimal soil conditions. Leave enough space for water to drain into the rock layer beneath.
If desired, you can incorporate fertilizer into the soil to provide additional nutrients. Time-released fertilizers are an excellent option for low-maintenance care. Alternatively, you can use a liquid fertilizer diluted by half during spring and summer irrigation.
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Planting the hens and chicks
Hens and chicks, or Sempervivum tectorum, are easy to plant and care for. They are a great choice for a low-maintenance terrarium plant. Their resilience, drought tolerance, and beautiful appearance make them a popular pick for terrariums. They are commonly called houseleeks and can grow well indoors and outdoors, in cool or hot temperatures.
- Choose a suitable terrarium: Select a terrarium that is fully terrain-based with little to no aquatic features. Hens and chicks thrive in hanging baskets or against hardscapes in vivariums. Ensure that the terrarium has good air circulation and partial shading.
- Prepare the substrate: Hens and chicks prefer a well-draining substrate. You can use sand, gravel, or a well-draining terrarium soil mix. If using soil, a regular potting mix with added perlite for better drainage works well. Place a layer of rocks at the bottom of the terrarium for drainage. Rinse the rocks before use to remove any dust or debris.
- Plant the hens and chicks: Gently remove the plants from their current pot. Clean off any dead leaves and trim the stems. You can separate the 'chicks' or small offshoots from the 'hen' or mother plant to create multiple plants. Place the plants in the terrarium, leaving space between them to allow for growth.
- Watering: Water the plants thoroughly after planting to help them reestablish their roots. Use a funnel to direct the water to the soil around the plants, ensuring the soil is wet but not soaked. Allow the plants to dry out fully between waterings, as overwatering is the biggest risk.
- Fertilizer: While hens and chicks do not require much fertilizer, you can add compost or a diluted liquid fertilizer during spring and summer irrigation for additional nutrients.
- Lighting: Place the terrarium in a spot with bright, indirect light. They can tolerate direct sunlight for a few hours a day but avoid intense light as it may cause sunburn. Keep them away from fluorescent lighting.
With these simple steps, you can successfully plant and care for hens and chicks in a terrarium. Enjoy your beautiful and easy-going succulent display!
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Lighting and temperature
Hens and chicks are succulents that thrive in full sun. They require at least six hours of bright, direct sunlight daily, preferably in the morning or afternoon. If you're growing them indoors, place them near a sunny window or provide artificial grow lights. If the plant doesn't get enough sunlight, it will stay green and its leaves will be thin and sparse.
In very hot, dry climates, provide some afternoon shade to prevent the plant from overheating. However, too much shade will result in poor colouring and spindly growth. Additionally, protect the plant from extreme temperatures, as they can cause plant shock. The ideal temperature range for hens and chicks is between 18°C and 24°C (65°F to 75°F). When the temperature goes outside this range, the plants will enter a semi-dormant state and stop growing.
Hens and chicks are drought-tolerant and can go several days or even weeks without water once established. However, they should be watered regularly during their growing season, especially in dry, warm climates. Water them thoroughly, ensuring that the water reaches the roots, but avoid overwatering as this can lead to root rot. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
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Maintenance and propagation
Hens and chicks are a low-maintenance plant that can be propagated easily. They require very little care compared to other plants. They are drought-tolerant and can go weeks without water. However, if you notice mushy or transparent leaves, you are likely overwatering.
To propagate, you can divide or propagate offsets from a full, healthy mother plant. First, examine the mother plant for offsets to remove. If possible, gently remove the plant from its pot and examine beneath the soil line to identify offsets that have already grown some of their own roots. You can also simply choose a healthy-looking offset at the outer edge of the container. For offsets with roots, gently pull them from the mother plant. For offsets without roots, use garden shears to remove the offset, cutting the stem as close to the mother plant as possible without damaging it. Autumn is the best time to propagate hens and chicks. Remove the offsets with scissors and place them in a pot or basket with enough soil or medium for them to root and establish themselves.
Hens and chicks require full sun and well-drained, gritty soil. They can be grown in sandy, poor soil, but it must be well-draining. They require very little fertilizer and should rarely be watered. They can be grown in a variety of soils, including regular potting soil, succulent potting mix, or a mixture of three parts regular potting mix, two parts coarse sand, and one part perlite. They should be kept in a spot with bright, indirect light. They can tolerate direct sunlight for a few hours a day but will become sunburned if exposed to too much direct or intense light. They should be kept away from fluorescent lighting as this may damage the plant.
The mother plant will die off after four to six years and should be removed. The plants produce flowers when mature, and these should be pulled off the plant when they expire. Divide the chicks from the mother plant at least every two years to prevent overcrowding.
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Frequently asked questions
A well-draining terrarium soil mix is best for planting hens and chicks. You can use a succulent potting mix or make your own by combining three parts regular potting mix with two parts coarse sand and one part perlite.
Hens and chicks are drought-tolerant and accustomed to very little water. Allow the plant to dry out fully between waterings. You can go weeks without watering, and overwatering is a bigger risk than underwatering. If you notice the leaves becoming mushy or transparent, you are likely overwatering the plant.
Hens and chicks do best in partial or full indirect light and can tolerate direct sunlight for a few hours a day. They will also need good air circulation.
