Learn more about hardy succulents. Old fashioned hens and chicks just may be the perfect succulent for your next project.
Hardy Succulents – Growing Hens and Chicks
If you live anywhere north of the deep south, you may have noticed that your succulents don’t make it through the winter. You can try to bring them inside in the fall, but you will still need a strong sun source. It seems that many places generically label “succulents” when they can vary greatly in their ability to withstand cold and heat. If you’re shopping online, some websites will have a section of “hardy” succulents and one for “tender” ones. So if you live in a northern climate, stick to those labeled hardy, unless you have a great bright sun room in your home to house the tender succulents.
The reality of this hit me when I planted some really pretty succulents and they died over the winter. Some that I planted indoors with supplemental light died too. So I researched this problem and came across something that I never connected. Hens & chicks, the nickname for Sempervivum succulents, have been growing outside in my area forever. They kind of seemed old-fashioned and not very interesting, but when I realized that these are the same plants I see planted in so many beautiful creations, I had a light bulb moment. Since they are actually an alpine plant, they can withstand harsh winters. Not only that, they stay small and are available in a nice variety of colors.
After this realization I went out and purchased a few hens & chicks to plant in a new planter. Another thing I learned was that these plants’ biggest enemy was over watering so I chose a terra-cotta for their container.
It was a little too new for my taste so I tried the yogurt and moss trick to age the pot. Unfortunately it proceeded to rain here for days and now it just looks like a dirty pot. Hopefully once we have a few nice sunny days it will gain some patina.
For added drainage I filled the bottom with some gravel and planted the three plants with a cactus and succulent soil mix.
Then I topped it off with a little fancy rock mix to help keep the leaves from sitting on the wet soil.
Here’s an old hypertufa planter that had a few dead plants in it. A little while back I added a Sempervivum, this hen has lots of chicks, and a Sedum ground cover. Sedums are also great hardy succulents, but most grow very large or are ground covers and I just love the rosette look of the Hens and Chicks. Sadly, the finger-like succulent in the background appears to be a tender succulent so I may lose it. I don’t plan on bringing these indoors come fall but will move them onto our screened in porch for the winter.
Tina says
My Grandmother always called them “cat & kittens”. She kept them in a huge cast iron kettle that hung from a tripod hanger where they were so very full and plentiful when I moved always from our farm I took a some with me along with a piece of her bleeding heart. Unfortunately my cat & kittens have died off but my bleeding heart has grown beyond belief and I’ve had to separate them 4 different times.
Sense reading your blog I think I’m going to try the cat & kittens again and see what happens!!
Patti Estep says
Hi Tina,
What a lovely story. There is nothing better than a plant passed on from family. I’m sorry your “Cat & Kittens” (love that name) didn’t make it and I hope you try them again. Apparently Bleeding Hearts love you and you will always have them to remember your Grandmother.
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Marty says
I’ve over wintered my hen n chicks also but they are now growing well. A couple of the “hens” have flowered even but then I cut them off. The others are having profuse chicks. What I don’t understand is what do I do with all the little ones? Cut them and plant them? Thanks for the wonderful tips.
Patti says
Hi Marty,
Sounds like your plants are doing well. Regarding the chicks. You could leave them alone and the should eventually root themselves or you can cut them from the runners and plant them. Contact with well draining soil should be enough to get them to root. Thanks for stopping by.
Patti
Janet Katerberg says
Wondered where you are located, because I live in Ontario Canada and my hens and chicks survived the winter very well and are blooming profusely!
Thank you for posting the instructions for the 5 gal pail toolbelt. Been looking for one of these for a year.
Patti says
I live in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania which is probably similar to your area maybe slightly warmer. Thanks for confirming that hens and chicks are the way to go. So glad you like the toolbelt. It’s fun to make and works well for me in the garden.
Carole West @ Garden Up Green says
Thank you for pointing out the problem areas with succulents. I like your solutions this is very helpful. I still haven’t made a succulent container, plan to and since you mentioned Terra – Cotta I now have a container direction. Thanks for the tips.
Carole