Hen and Chicks

Care Schedule

Basic caregiving schedule for a Hen and Chicks plant (Sempervivum species):

Weekly:

• Watering: Check the soil moisture once a week by touching the soil. If the top inch is dry, water thoroughly until water drains out of the bottom of the pot. In cooler months, reduce watering to every other week or less, depending on humidity and temperature.
• Sunlight: Ensure the plant receives at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight daily. Rotate the pot to ensure all sides of the plant receive light.

Monthly:

• Inspection: Check for signs of pests or disease, such as discolored leaves or a sticky residue.
• Cleaning: Gently brush off any dust from the leaves with a soft brush to ensure the plant can photosynthesize efficiently.

Seasonally:

• Spring and Summer (growing season):
• Feeding: Apply a balanced, diluted fertilizer once at the beginning of the growing season if desired.
• Repotting: Consider repotting if the plant has outgrown its pot or the soil is depleted. This is best done in the spring.
• Fall and Winter (dormant season):
• Protection: If potted outdoors, move the plants indoors or to a sheltered area if temperatures are expected to drop below freezing.
• Watering: Reduce watering as the plant's growth slows down.

Annually:

• Offset Transplanting: In the spring, gently separate offsets (chicks) from the parent plant (hen) to propagate and give more space for growth.

As needed:

• Pruning: Remove dead or withered leaves to encourage healthy growth and prevent rot.

Remember that these are general guidelines, and the specific needs of your plant may vary depending on its environment and growing conditions. Always adjust care routines to your plant's response.

Propagation

Propagating Hen and Chicks (Sempervivum species) is a straightforward process, as these plants readily produce offsets. Here's a step-by-step guide to propagating your Hen and Chicks:

1. Wait for Offsets:

• Hen and Chicks will naturally produce small rosettes, or offsets, around the base of the mother plant (the "hen"). These are the "chicks."
• Wait until these chicks are a few inches in diameter and have their own roots before attempting to propagate.

2. Separate Offsets:

• Choose a clear, dry day for propagation.
• Gently grasp the offset and wiggle it back and forth to see if it will come loose on its own.
• If it does not, use a clean, sharp knife or scissors to cut the offset from the mother plant. Make sure to include some roots.

3. Allow to Callous:

• Place the separated offsets in a dry, shaded area for a few days to allow the cut end to callous over. This helps prevent rot when planted.

4. Prepare Soil:

• Use a well-draining soil mix, preferably one designed for cacti and succulents.
• Fill a pot with the soil mix. The pot should have a drainage hole at the bottom.

5. Plant Offsets:

• After the offsets have calloused, plant them in the soil, setting them firmly enough that they stand upright.
• Space multiple offsets at least a few inches apart to give them room to grow.

6. Initial Care:

• Do not water immediately after planting to avoid rot. Wait for a few days to a week before lightly watering.
• Place the pot in a location with bright, indirect sunlight.

7. Ongoing Care:

• Once established, water the offsets only when the soil has dried out completely.
• After a few weeks, begin to slowly acclimate them to more direct sunlight.

8. Growth and Repotting:

• As the chicks grow and develop their root systems, they will start to produce their own offsets.
• If they become too crowded, you can repot them into larger containers or separate some of the chicks to give away or plant elsewhere.

Tips:

• Avoid overwatering, which is the main cause of rot in succulents.
• During the growing season, you can feed your propagated Hen and Chicks with a diluted, balanced fertilizer once a month to encourage growth.
• It's normal for the mother plant to eventually die after it flowers. This is a natural part of the plant's life cycle, and by then, she will have produced many offsets to take her place.

With patience and care, your propagated Hen and Chicks will flourish and multiply, providing you with an ever-expanding collection.