how do you look after sempervivum plants

General Care for Sempervivum

• Watering Although drought-tolerant, Sempervivum s require consistent moisture during the growing season. ...
• Fertilizing Most Sempervivum s grow well without feeding, but they benefit from a controlled-release fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season. ...
• Repotting Plants in containers will benefit from being repotted. ...

Full Answer

How to grow Sempervivum?

The easiest way to grow sempervivum plants is to separate their offsets. These will be clones of the parent and have a jump start on life. Of course, you can also purchase nursery plants too. Sempervivum plants prefer well-draining compost with 25 to 50 % sand or other grit.

How do you know when Sempervivum will bloom?

All Sempervivum will eventually bloom after several years of growth, whether induced by stress or simply age. Signs that a rosette is preparing to flower include a closing in of the central leaves, stretching of the main stem, and tilting of the whole rosette.

How do you take care of Sempervivum?

Sempervivum plants prefer well-draining compost with 25 to 50 % sand or other grit. They may grow in trays, in ground, or on wood or in rock piles. Once established, the plant’s need no further care – in most cases.

Do sempervivums change appearance over time?

Sempervivums can vary considerably when grown under different conditions - in addition to any change of appearance throughout the year. Generally, don't spoil them as they're tough alpine plants.

Do you cut back sempervivum?

No. Sempervivum species require no pruning, but you should cut off spent flower spikes and carefully remove dried, damaged and dead leaves.

How do you take care of sempervivum?

They perform best in a sunny, outdoor position, in a well-drained compost with sharp horticultural grit added for drainage. A layer of grit added to the surface of the compost will stop the leaves from becoming wet from mud, preventing rotting.

Is sempervivum an indoor or outdoor plant?

Although Sempervivums are predominantly an outdoor plant, you can still have fantastic success when situating one indoors. Choose a pest-free, healthy specimen from a garden centre or online store, to avoid infestations or plant-death; those with a healthy 'crown' and base are best.

What do you do with the sempervivum in the winter?

Most of the time your sedum and sempervivum really don't need any extra winter care. The best protection you can give you succulent plants is what you did when you planted them, good soil drainage, good light exposure, and a good inert mulch (plant blanket, plastic, etc).

How do you know when Sempervivum needs water?

Sempervivums can handle periods of drought, but only so much. Usually, when the plant needs water, you will notice the leaves look crispy, wrinkled, or bend more than usual.

How do you grow Sempervivum in pots?

Growing in containers. Sempervivum will thrive in pots and containers of every kind but they must have drainage holes to let water out the bottom. Tubs, troughs, planters, old boots, hollowed-out logs, teapots - use anything that has a drain hole and will hold about 1 litre or more of compost.

What to do with Sempervivums after flowering?

Once removed or flowering has passed, the stalk will leave a gap in the plant, often spoiling a clump of lovely rosettes. Fear not, Semps root easily, so take younger rosettes and simply replant them in the gap - it's that easy!

How quickly do Sempervivums grow?

They grow from tiny, dime-sized plantlets (Sempervivum arenaria) to full-grown plants, ranging in size from one inch to eight inches across (Sempervivum magnificum) and just as tall (depending on the variety), within a couple of months.

Does Sempervivum go dormant?

The temperatures at which succulents go dormant vary depending on the species. Sempervivums are cold hardy, can tolerate frost, and might go dormant at below freezing temperatures. But Echeverias are more tender and can go dormant at a higher temperature.

Can sempervivum survive frost?

Sempervivum Care and Maintenance The majority of sempervivum are frost hardy but if you prefer to grow a variety that is not, plant it in a pot or flat and move indoors for winter. Sempervivum are monocarpic, which means that once a rosette flowers, it dies.

Will sempervivum survive winter?

They survive sub-zero temperatures in winter and natural rainfall is enough in spring/summer, so supplementary watering is not usually required once they're established. Sempervivums need plant food, but only a little bit - so make sure you don't overfeed. Initially, there'll be enough in the soil.

Are all Sempervivums cold hardy?

Sempervivums are cold hardy to - 30 degrees Fahrenheit (Hardiness Zone 4 - Zone 9). Low temperature in the winter may make their rosettes close up a little tighter and their colors darker (some turn deep red) as these are Sempervivums natural defense mechanism against cold weather.

How often should you water Sempervivum?

They survive sub-zero temperatures in winter and natural rainfall is enough in spring/summer, so supplementary watering is not usually required once they're established.

Can Sempervivum be kept indoors?

Hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum or S. arachnoideum) can grow outdoors or indoors. In fact, they are great container plants.

Do Sempervivums need full sun?

Sempervivum produces rosettes in a host of hues. They are low growing and adaptable to most soils but prefer full sun and a well-draining medium. Many of the varieties produce star-shaped flowers in pink, red, or occasionally yellow.

Can Sempervivum survive winter?

Sempervivum, Hardy Sedum and Hardy Opuntia are three of the most cold hardy genus that can survive freezing winter up to -30F.

How to keep sempervivums from watering?

If there is a weakness, sempervivums don't like being waterlogged. This is easily prevented by planting them in a well-drained, soil-based compost. We suggest John Innes No 3 - available from any garden centre or DIY store. Mix this with horticultural grit (again, widely available as above) at a ratio of 3 parts John Innes to 1 part grit. A generous top dressing of grit will also help combat excessive moisture, as well as providing an attractive finish. All containers must have drainage holes in the base.

Where do sempervivums live?

Sempervivums are tough, translating from Latin as "always alive". The wild species are mainly found on mountains in Europe, such as the Alps, where they survive dry summers and cold winters covered by snow.

Why mix and match different plants?

Mixing and matching different varieties will enhance each plant's individual beauty. And their on-going appeal and interest is stimulated by seasonal changes in colour - always providing a focal point in the garden. Some enthusiasts have collections of up to a few thousand different varieties.

Can sempervivums be planted in a trough?

Here's a short film on how to plant sempervivums in a trough, including the best soil mix to use:

Do sempervivums need water?

They survive sub-zero temperatures in winter and natural rainfall is enough in spring/summer, so supplementary watering is not usually required once they're established. Sempervivums need plant food, but only a little bit - so make sure you don't overfeed. Initially, there'll be enough in the soil.

Can sempervivums be kept in pots?

A generous top dressing of grit will also help combat excessive moisture, as well as providing an attractive finish. All containers must have drainage holes in the base. Sempervivums are versatile plants. They can be kept in pots, bowls, troughs, or in open ground such as a rock garden.

How do you know if a sempervivum is blooming?

All Sempervivum will eventually bloom after several years of growth, whether induced by stress or simply age. Signs that a rosette is preparing to flower include a closing in of the central leaves, stretching of the main stem, and tilting of the whole rosette.

Where to separate the tighter, upturned leaves of the bloom from the low-lying layers of the leaves?

Separate the tighter, upturned leaves of the developing bloom from the low-lying layers of leaves at the base of the rosette.

Do rosettes bloom when you catch them too late?

You can minimize stress to reduce the incidence of blooming, but all rosettes will eventually bloom regardless. When this happens, you need to remove the bloom stalk as soon as it is noticeable. If you catch it too late, the stem will be tougher and the hormones that initiate flowering will already be at work.

Is a sempervivum a rosette?

Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks) and Sempervivum heuffelii are resilient perennial succulents that make striking outdoor plantings. But just like an Agave century plant that send up a spike and goes to seed, a flowering semp rosette is at the end of its life.

Do semps need to flower to reproduce?

Semps can produce vegetative offsets (chicks) every year, so they do not need to flower to reproduce new seedlings annually. They are, however, a monocarpic plant, meaning that any rosette that does flower and go to seed will die. Think of it as the plant's swan song at the end of its life as it makes way for a new generation.

Can you transplant rosettes from a sempervivum rosette?

This procedure is your last chance to get new chicks from a blooming Sempervivum rosette. It will not return you to the single, perfectly symmetrical mother hen you started with, but it can give you more offsets to transplant. Even if you follow this guide perfectly, some rosettes will keep trying to flower. You can continue to remove new bloom stalks, but be sure not to confuse them with emerging chicks. If you spot new offsets forming within the rosette, congratulations! You have successfully saved the rosette. If not, any non-flowering rosettes in the surrounding colony will survive and grow to fill the gap left by the one that went to seed and died.

How to propagate sempervivum?

For ideal sempervivum propagation, use a pot with a hole in the bottom to ensure drainage. They can be cultivated in a lightly shaded section of a cold frame and then planted in the summer once the roots are established. Another option for sempervivum propagation is to start from seed.

What is a sempervivum?

Also called common houseleek or hens and chicks, sempervivum (Sempervivum tectorum) is a mat-forming succulent that produce rosettes of juicy leaves. These leaves are often covered by white hair. The large parent rosette is the "hen," while the offshoots are the "chicks."

Why do people plant sempervivum on roofs?

A native of Europe, sempervivum was once planted on thatched roofs in order to help slow fires. They are common in some regions on chimneys and limestone structures.

How long does it take for a sempervivum to germinate?

Another option for sempervivum propagation is to start from seed. Seeds may also be sown in early spring, where they will usually germinate in two to six weeks.

What kind of soil do sempervivums need?

Sempervivum Watering and Soil Requirements. Sempervivum must have very well-draining soil in order to thrive, whether that comes in the form of gritty soil, sand or rocks. The plant will grow in almost no soil in rocky crevices or walls.

Does Sempervivum need soil?

Sempervivum must have very well-draining soil in order to thrive, whether that comes in the form of gritty soil, sand or rocks. The plant will grow in almost no soil in rocky crevices or walls.

Can sempervivum be grown on a roof?

They can be left outdoors to spread of their own accord in a rock garden or sandy area, and they can even be grown on a roof or chimney side.

What is the predator of Sempervivum?

The oddest pest is something you would never suspect, and they can clean out every last scrap, down to the roots. This unexpected predator is the wild turkey.

Can mice damage succulents?

Only put those in their winter storage area after the first few frosts, as mice and other vermin can do a lot of damage on the tender succulent growth.

Is sempervivum a fool proof plant?

Once you learn the tricks of how to grow Sempervivum you'll wonder why it seemed so difficult. Sempervivum for all their exotic appearance are really fool proof. There are a few rules and requirements, but honestly, you’ll find these beauties very relaxed in their needs.

Can you ship bareroot plants?

Shipping them is really easy – luckily, they don’t mind being sent in the mail bareroot, and once you unpack them and put them in the garden they quickly recover from their journey.

Can sempervivum be grown in the ground?

That’s it for growing Sempervivum in the ground – very simple and undemanding, despite their appearance. Sempervivum in succulent crafts or root planters are a different story, as in most cases the soil will be almost non-existent and there is air all around the succulent topiary, succulent mosaic or containers for succulents.

How to replant a chick?

To replant a chick, you will need to wait until it is ready to be separated from the hen. A chick develops as a tiny bud in the hen and remains attached by a stem called a stolon. If the stolon still has leaves and the chick is still nestled in the hen, it's not ready to be plucked.

How to grow seeds in a garden?

Once they sprout, sprinkle some fine gravel around them as mulch. Seeds are usually started in pots and then transferred to the garden as seedlings. You can start your seeds in the fall and transplant in the spring.

Why are hen rosette plants considered alpine?

They are considered alpine or rock garden plants, because of their hardiness and drought resistance. The original hen rosette produces tiny rosette offsets known as the chicks. They are slow-growing plants, and they remain evergreen throughout the year, even in cold climates.

What temperature do sage plants need to grow?

These plants are tough and can grow in poor conditions in a range of temperatures. They do, however, prefer an average climate between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If temperatures drop too low, they will not necessarily die off but will stop growing and go into a semi-dormant state.

Can you prune a hen plant?

Pruning this plant is typically unnecessary, but doing so could be beneficial in one instance. If you have too many hen and chick plants packed together, they could lose their distinctive rosette shape and instead grow taller into vertical plants.

Can you plant hypertufa in a pot?

Planting them in a pot and raising it off the ground will also make hens and chicks more of a feature. A classic way to feather them is in strawberry pots, although you’ll need to divide them as they outgrow the pot. They are also a natural with hypertufa planters or any kind of stone container.