Last Updated on October 26, 2022 by Griselda M.
Growing hens and chicks indoors is a great way to take your succulent plants indoors. Hens and chicks are members of the Sempervivum family of succulent plants.
They are called many names. More often than not, they are called houseleeks and for this reason, they grow very well indoors and out. They can withstand cold and hot weather. Hens and chicks got their name from the rosette shape and habit of the plant to produce numerous baby rosettes. The hen is the biggest rosette while the numerous babies around it are the chicks.
Thankfully, hens and chicks are very easy to care for even when grown indoors. All you need is a good care habit and a beautiful pot to put it in.
Tips On Growing Hens and Chicks Indoors For First-Timers
Light
Develop your hens and chicks’ plants in full sun (something like six hours every day), which will prompt both ideal tinges in the foliage, just as abundant “posterity.” That being said, the plants can fill in halfway shade too, particularly in a case being focused on in a particularly blistering, dry environment.
If you want to grow this succulent indoors, you need to place them near the windows that are south-facing of the sun. Hens and chicks like indirect sunlight. Giving them the best location inside your home will have you a beautiful succulent in the making.
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Soil
Hens and chick plants are particularly unfussy about their dirt and will fill best in a blend that is poor and sandy. The primary soil necessity for the plant is that it be well-depleting.
If your dirt is weighty and doesn’t deplete well, work some peat into the combination to expand the air circulation and waste. In case you’re developing your plants in a compartment, the best preparing medium is a blend figured for succulents and desert plants. You can likewise pick a pot that is produced using dirt or earthenware to help wick additional dampness from the dirt. The hens and chicks plant likewise inclines toward an impartial dirt pH.
Water
Hens and chicks are dry seasons lenient perennials, so they can withstand going a long time at a time without proper watering. Give recently relocated plants adequate water to assist them with getting set up, yet when they are, be mindful so as not to over-water them. Check the dirt and ensure it is dry before watering.
Temperature and humidity
Hens and chicks can be effectively filled in the scope of temperatures, yet incline toward a normal environment somewhere in the range of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. If temperatures drop excessively low, they won’t vanish however will quit developing and go into a semi-torpid state. Also, hens and chicks endure a wide scope of dampness levels and are very well-known in dry environments.
Fertilizer
This ground cover will flourish in helpless soils, so there is no compelling reason to treat hens and chicks’ plants.
Learn more about: Propagating Sempervivum From Leaves
Growing Hens and Chicks Indoors and Propagating Them
Propagating hens and chicks is ideal for gardeners who want to multiply their plants. Depending on your goal, the good news is that it is possible to propagate this plant. To go with this, simply split the offsets from the parent rosette.
Transplant the offsets into well-drained soil, making a shallow hole where you can spread out the roots. Replace the soil with the brown of the plant and carefully compact it around the roots. Then you can give the offspring light watering. Just sprinkle the water and do not pour it directly into the plot. Plants will spread on their own given the perfect indoor environment.
Hens and Chicks Varieties
Many cultivars have been grown from the Sempervivum Genus. If you are looking for the best variety of hens and chicks for growing indoors, the following will suffice your needs.
- Bernstein: This variety of succulents has copper and gold leaves that look good, especially when growing hens and chicks indoors.
- Big blue: It is an eye-catching version characterized by bluish-green leaves.
- Black: A stunning version with green leaves and purple tips. Perfect for indoor gardens or succulents in a jar.
- Terracotta baby: It got its name from the vibrant orangey-red foliage.
A mixture of the different varieties of hens and chicks in your indoor garden or terrarium. This way, you can make beautiful indoor decorations. Just remember the right formula to grow your succulent successfully is adequate sun exposure, temperature, and proper watering technique.
Can I Grow Hens and Chicks From Seeds?
Yes, you definitely can. When growing hens and chicks from seeds, you need to find a legit supplier of seeds.
Once you get hold of succulent seeds, you can sprinkle them on top of the soil or a gravel mix. On the other hand, you can prepare a seed tray where you can grow them gradually.
The seeds should sprout within three weeks. When this happens, you need to put the seed tray out to see some light. Or you can buy a grow light so there is no need to bring your seed tray outside more often.
Wait for a couple more weeks to allow the seeds to grow enough that you can transfer them. Once they’re stable, you can transfer them to a new pot.
Growing Hens and Chicks Indoors: Possible Challenges
There are various challenges when growing hens and chicks indoors. One of them is that they could be more prone to pests and diseases. If your indoor environment is too cold, the dust in the air could mix with moisture and stick to your plants.
A common pest is called mealybugs or aphids. These are tiny white insects that stick under the leaves of your plants. If you noticed signs of an infestation, you can try to remove them with soap and water.
Simply rub the leaves with your hand. Slowly remove the aphids until they are fully gone. Once they’re gone, you need to let your succulents for a while to allow them to dry.
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