Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Care of Hens and Chicks Plants
Care of Hens and Chicks Plants. Hens and chicks, or Sempervivum, is a sturdy succulent that stays green year-round. Hens and chicks are a popular plant for planters and can be ground cover in yards. This plant is categorized as a cactus and tolerates heat and humidity well. The plant gets its name from the rosettes that sprout around it, as...
Hens and chicks, or Sempervivum, is a sturdy succulent that stays green year-round. Hens and chicks are a popular plant for planters and can be ground cover in yards. This plant is categorized as a cactus and tolerates heat and humidity well. The plant gets its name from the rosettes that sprout around it, as resembling a mother hen surrounded by baby chicks.
Basic Care
Sempervivum is marked by its thick, green leaves and bristled, white hair. It blooms from mid- to late summer with red or purple flowers. Rosettes replace each other after the flowers die and the leaves resemble those of an artichoke.
This plant does well in anything from clay to sandy soil and does not require a lot of water. Be careful to water from underneath and to avoid overwatering. Overwatering can cause soil erosion and encourage "rust," a kind of fungus, to grow on the leaves. It is best to water during the day so the soil can become dry overnight.
Hens and chicks do well in most light conditions, from semishade to full sun. When transplanting, avoid full sun until the plant is stable. Full sun means six hours or more of exposure.
Problems
Rust is a fungus that forms on the underside of the leaves. Check for overly moist soil and use a rust-specific fungicide to resolve the issue. Erosion can cause problems by exposing the roots. Make sure you aerate the soil around the plant to keep it dry. Watch the plants when you are keeping it inside for the winter, and water less during those months.
