Planting Hens and Chicks

Hens and chicks are hearty and an excellent plant for a new or beginning gardener. Most can handle temperatures down to -5 Fahrenheit, and can be used as a houseplant, outdoor plant in a pot or can be used as an outdoor ground cover.

Hens and Chicks are shaped like an artichoke with rosettes that vary in size and color, depending on the species they can be bright red, grey and purple, or green. Being they are succulent plants they have high light and low water requirements, since they are able to store water in their leaves.

You can find them as big as 12 inches around and as small as 2 inches at full maturity. Some are 'bearded' with fine or down like hairs and some will appear to be covered in spider webs, depending on what kind of Hens and Chicks you have.

They reproduce via branches or offshoots. As the rosette grows, it puts out shoots or stems, if these shoots get long enough to find soil, they will root and create new rosettes. The first rosette is the "hen", the stems or shoots are the "chicks".

Step 1 To Plant Hens and Chicks You Will Need:

Your choice of succulent plants found in many Lawn and Garden Shops or just ask a friend who has some Hens for some chicks. I am using Golden Sedum here.

Any kind of planter a minimum of 4  6 inches deep or a sunny area in your yard.
Garden Charcoal
Potting Soil, specific to Citrus and Cactus

Comments

[bobm720]

I have just planted some of these. One of the rosettes flowered. How do you get them to do this. I have about 30 individual plants but only one small one flowered. Any help is welcome. [e-mail]

[pkuhn1]

how long does it normally take for a chick just plucked from its mom to take adult form. i picked a chick up at a garden center and the employee told me to just put it in soil. ive never grown these nor have i ever seen them. i am unframilure with them.
please help. [e-mail]

[diamar79]

Ohh, so if all the leaves are falling off then I'm probably overwatering it?? Is it salvagable?

[bluefly1215]

More than likely. try transplanting it into a new pot and soil. I have a lot of these in several varieties. I have even had them fall off the deck and sit on the ground for months before I could pick them up. I have just picked them up and sat them on the soil and they take off. These are so much fun to have.

[container_gardener]

I love the term "hens and chicks". So cute! I always wanted to grow these succulents, but I don't have a window that receives enough light to sustain them.

[Deewheat]

I have five varieties of these. I love plants that thrive on neglect LOL!

[im4tooele]

I had those in California.

[hsmomof2]

I have been afraid to try something, but have wanted to try gardening on a beginners level. This looks like something I could try with my kids.

[penguingirl12]

my family has a whole pot of them I think that they are really cool and love them!

[chauntee2]

I love hens and chicks;)

[juvinurse]

My mother loved these plants and had slews of them

[JohnMac]

These are unusual will they grow in a desert climate?

[aunty]

Again, a very job.

[DebH57]

Thank you Aunty

[Bratillia]

These look unusual but very cool

[DebH57]

Thank you

[AvAngel]

Now this is different, will they grow in any geographical area?

[DebH57]

Hens and chicks will pretty much grown anywhere they can find a little bit of soil and take root Av

[Goodhart]

I remember at home (some 30 + years ago) my Dad had them growing out of chinks in a retaining wall (our driveway was about 9 feet below the backyard level at the point it entered the garage in the back), and if one fell out we'd just find a bit of dirt seeping through the wall, poke a little hole in it, and shove it in, and they normally grew.

Your way pretty much guarantees them to grow though ;-)

[DebH57]

You know Goodhart I don't think there is anything easier to grow than Hens and Chicks and they will grow almost anywhere they can find a bit of soil to root in. Thanks for commenting!

[Goodhart]

I agree, they are like dandelions, only not so destructive :-) (I have seen dandelions break up concrete sidewalks already)

[bethmez]

Another great idea from Deb

[DebH57]

Thanks Beth

[treesneedtobehugged]

Great instructable Deb!

[DebH57]

Thanks so much Trees!

[CAWildWoman]

This is really cool, I thnk I could do this.

[DebH57]

Its very easy to do and maintain/ Thanks for commenting

[AmazingGracie]

I have some of these but never knew what they were, thanks!

[DebH57]

You are welcome Grace, thanks for commenting.