code: 947
Their care is easy, as they thrive on neglect
Family: Crassulaceae
Common name: Yellow houseleek
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial
Minimum Height: 5 cm
Maximum Height: 20 cm
This lovely variety has rosettes of succulent green leaves which often shade to red when older, stout stems bearing the trusses of red-eyed, starry yellow flowers. Although they look tender these lovely, easy-to-grow plants are totally hardy alpine succulents. Their care is easy, as they thrive on neglect, and will actually live much longer if carelessly dried out and forgotten than they will if planted in rich, organic soil and well watered. In their natural habitat, they are usually found 3,000-8,000 feet above sea level in the mountainous regions of Central and Southern Europe and on the Mediterranean Islands. In some places sempervivums are grown on rooftops, and in ancient times, they were thought to guard against thunderbolts, storms and sorcery, and even to ensure the prosperity of the occupants. Translated, Sempervivum means “always living,” A common European name, derived from the practice of growing them on rooftops, is houseleek, whilst in the United States they are most commonly known as hens and chicks, and sometimes cats and kittens.
Sowing advice:
Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.
Light:
It thrives best in full sun to light shade. In indoor an east or west-facing window where they receive four to six hours of sunlight is ideal.
Soil:
It grows well in a well-drained succulent mix, with an ideal pH around 6.0 (slightly acidic) or an equal part sharp sand with all-purpose potting mix.
Water:
Water regularly during the summer and spring. keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. You can allow the topsoil to become slightly dry between each watering. Reduce water in the winter.
Temperature:
It prefers an average summer temperature 65 degrees Fahrenheit – 70 degrees Fahrenheit / 18 degrees Celsius – 21 degrees Celsius. In winter, some varieties can withstand temperatures down to freezing.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize with a controlled-release fertilizer at the beginning of the season or weekly with a weak liquid solution. Use a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer at 1/4 strength on mature plants, and a fertilizer with less nitrogen on young plants.
Repotting:
Re-pot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To re-pot, a succulent, make sure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. Treat any cuts with a fungicide. Place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots out as you re-pot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
Pests and Diseases:
It has no serious pest or disease problems. Mealybugs can be a problem, and if dead leaves are not expelled from the plant, it can attract other insect pests or have problems with fungus.
Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by offsets, leaves or small cuttings. Take leaves or small cuttings and allow them to dry and heal over for about a week. Next place them in the sand and wait for the tiny rosettes to start in a few weeks. Sempervivum earned their famous name “Hen and Chicks” from their growth habit. The mother plant, or hen, sends off numerous offsets, which will cluster around her base like chicks. These offsets can be easily re-potted, or the plants can be left to form a clumping mat.
