Do the plant hens and chicks like sun or shade?
Hens and chicks need lots of outdoor sunlight to show their best colors and maintain their rosette forms. This is called Sempervivum ‘Grammens’ – a pretty pink to orange shade with dark plum tips. Grammens’ is a giant rosette which turns a deep purple in winter. Growing just a few inches tall, hens and chicks or sempervivum, form a central mother plant (the hen) that produces lookalike babies around her (chicks) every year. The plump rosettes of wedge-shaped leaves come in a variety of colors from bright green to maroon and retain their color through the winter.Blooms on hens and chicks plants are not only natural but an additional wonder with this fun, diminutive Sempervivum. I love to walk the garden and see that my hens and chicks are flowering. This generally occurs in summer when the long warm days and bright light jar the plant’s instincts to form blooms.
How deep should Hens and Chicks be planted?
Hens and chicks do not need a deep hole, but the hole should be deep enough to accommodate the plant’s roots. Give the plant sandy or well-draining soil. Hens & Chicks have shallow root systems that do not require deep soil. They can even grow in rocky, roughy crevices with limited soil. If growing in containers, make sure there is adequate drainage. A porous material like terracotta or hyper-tufa is ideal.
Do hens and chicks spread fast?
Hens and chicks will grow quickly under ideal conditions. They can spread upwards of 3 feet so allow for plenty of space. If your plant has become overcrowded, you can transplant to another location or pot by removing offsets. Never remove whole colonies, as this can cause too much stress on the plant. Hens and chicks are easy to care for and can survive no problem in growing zones 3 to 8. So typically there is no need for any special care during the winter months of these plants. Just ensure the plants are in well drained soil, and they will easily come back next year.Hens and chicks are great options for dry, full sun, low-maintenance gardens where you’re choosing plants based on their drought tolerance. Choose a spot that gets direct sun (some partial shade is okay) and very well-draining soil. In fact, the soil doesn’t have to be that great as the plants don’t mind sandier soils.