Sempervivum, or hens and chicks, is one of the most popular container plants for many gardeners. Even complete novices can succeed with them because they are so easy to cultivate. The color and texture of this stunning plant are both out of the ordinary.
Small, miniature or shallow pots can be used to grow hens and chicks. This is due to their shallow roots. Drought and neglect don’t bother them at all, and they can withstand temperatures as low as -35 degrees Fahrenheit in zone three. Additionally, they are hardy in Zone 8’s balmy environment.
Keep in mind that these succulents require a lot of water and a lot of drainages. However, if you don’t have any special soil in your possession, use standard potting soil if that’s all you have on hand. Make certain that the bottom of the pot has enough holes to allow any extra water to drain out (unless you can make sure not to overwater). Unless the soil is completely dry to the touch, do not add any additional water. If your pot is deep enough, you can test the soil moisture by inserting your finger up to the second knuckle. If the soil feels dry to the touch, add water to the pot until it runs out the bottom.
Incorporate a small amount of slow-release fertilizer into your potting mix, but don’t overdo it throughout the growing season.
Flowering Hens and Chickens
Because they can take up to three years to bloom, many gardeners are surprised to learn that hens and chicks produce stunning flowers from the rosettes they produce. Unfortunately, this implies that the rosette will eventually die when the bloom has faded away. The good news is that filling in the hole the plant left is a piece of cake. The earlier they blossom, the more stressed they are.
What You’ll Need to Start a Chicken and Egg Farm.
If you want to plant hens and chicks in the ground or in a container, you’ll need a tiny shovel or hand trowel. If you want to grow succulents, you should use a sandy or grittier mix that drains easily. A cacti and succulent mix can be used in a potted Sempervivum, or sand or small pebbles can be added to the soil to assist it in drain.
Where Do You Put Chickens and Hens?
For optimum growth and health, place chickens and chicks in direct sunlight. Rock gardens are ideal for succulents because the rocks reflect heat. Make sure the main rosette is level with the dirt, just like it was in the pot it came in.
The Distance Between the Hens and the Chicks
Sempervivums can be grown in rock gardens or on a rock wall, but they require some more space to thrive. Eventually, the rosette clusters covered the ground, forming a carpet of plants. It can eventually grow to at least two feet in length. To keep the hens and chicks safe from other plants, keep them at least three feet away from the drought-tolerant succulent. For hens and chicks, shallow and narrow containers are ideal since they offer the plants room to grow.
How to Start a Chicken and Egg Farm
- Although a deep hole isn’t necessary for laying hens and chicks, it should be large enough to accommodate the roots of the plant. Soil that drains properly or is sandy is best for the plant.
- The ideal site is a sunny one. Plant the hens and chicks facing south or along a south-facing wall if you reside in a colder sempervivum zone (often zone 3).
- After the first few days of planting, water deeply and slowly once a week. Ground or container soil quickly dries out, and you’ll soon discover this.
- Some of the smaller rosettes may need to be removed or divided after a few years.
- It will die back when the rosette flowers, which might take years. The hole it leaves can be filled with sand and watched by the chicks afterward.
The best time to start raising chickens
In April or late spring, after the last frost in your area, plant sempervivums in your garden. In colder climates, you might wait longer to get started on your project. Just don’t do it in the height of summer or the tail end of the growing season. During the fall and winter months, the plants grow the most and rest the least. This is the finest time of year of the year to start indoor plants because of their rapid growth in the fall.
Chick and Hen Transplantation
It is possible to separate hens and chicks as they mature and spread out. Pick a rosette with a base. In order to tell, you can either gently dig up the entire plant or leave it intact and select a rosette that is not one of the youngest chicks. Cut the rosette off where it attaches to the main rosette with a sharp knife.
Allowing the wound to heal and develop a callus is the best method for spreading the cutting. A few days in a dry environment is usually all that is needed. Afterward, place the seedling in a 3-inch container filled with grittier soil. Roots should begin to appear within a few weeks. You can even divide the plant and transplant the original in the same or a larger container if your hens and chicks outgrow a container.
