Author Topic: Hens and chicks (Read 4058 times)

LynneNY · « **on:** May 22, 2010, 09:40:04 AM »

I've grown hens and chicks for many years now, and find it hard to resist buying "just one more" when I'm plant shopping. I bought 2 of these about a month ago at Home Depot and this one is already sending up a flower stalk - pretty early for around here, but then again my hostas are also sending up bloom stalks very early.

greenthumbnails · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2010, 03:41:18 PM »

I have a hard time growing hens and chicks down here in florida for some reason. Same problem with jade plants. What do you do with all the other ones you have bought if you are buying "just one more"? Are yours dying too?

Joyce · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2010, 05:17:03 PM »

That is sooo pretty especially in that pot.

I love them too and I bought just one more today, a giant variety called 'Desert Bloom'.
When my big pansy strawberry pot starts melting from hot weather, I intend on pulling the pansies out and replacing with H&Cs.

Jerry · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2010, 05:37:45 PM »

I call this my Breeding Pot because they seem to love the location and also being cramped.
Donkey Tails (Sedum morganum) are the same

Joyce · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2010, 05:43:53 PM »

Very pretty Jerry.

Those technically are not Hens & Chicks (Sempervivum genus), I think they are some kind of Echeveria.

(probably Echeveria secunda glauca)

I love Echeverias!

EagleEye · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2010, 07:46:47 PM »

Mine always looked like Jerrys. I'm always amazed how yours are always so BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And, mine seem to have disapeared. $:-\$
Steve

Jerry · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2010, 10:28:14 PM »

Steve, I think it's the dry climate. Joyce is correct, but hens etc are the popular name here
They love bing crowded.
Here are more

greenthumbnails · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2010, 05:08:41 AM »

I love hens and chicks...just cannot keep them alive... :'(

Joyce · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2010, 05:20:28 AM »

Steve, Echeveria are not hardy where you live.
Sempervivums should be hardy as long as they do not get soggy soil in the winter.

SueSTx · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2010, 09:18:19 AM »

Nice hens everybody.

Here are mine. I moved them "up" several years ago when the rabbits were eating everything in reach.

Maybe I ought to divide them!

Indiana Karen · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2010, 11:29:58 AM »

I love them too.

LynneNY · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2010, 12:12:30 PM »

WOW I am loving everyone's pictures of terrific plants!

I cannot overwinter echeveria here in my zone 6 either - wish I could - Jerry's look so nice!

Karen - do you overwinter that strawberry planter outside there? It's so beautifully full!

Indiana Karen · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2010, 12:38:05 PM »

Lynne, I set my strawberry jars in the garage for the winter. I have a lot of them growing in the ground. I'm in zone 5b......they do fine in the ground here.

Jerry · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2010, 01:39:57 PM »

here is one I have never seen before. I grabbed it and it has now filled the pot. really an exotic bugger!
Bottom, my new "Breeding Pot!"

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #14 on:** May 23, 2010, 02:49:47 PM »

I love your strawberry pot arrangement Indi Karen! Here's my not so hen and chicks flowering up a storm a couple of weeks ago.

LynneNY · « **Reply #15 on:** May 29, 2010, 06:37:50 PM »

WOW Jerry and Annette!!! NICE!

Here are my hens in bloom today - cute flowers aren't they?

tinkster · « **Reply #16 on:** May 29, 2010, 09:22:39 PM »

A few of mine. Mine came from esther. I have them all over now, I just love them!

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #17 on:** May 29, 2010, 10:28:39 PM »

Lynne, your flowers are very pretty! I don't think I've seen that particular flower. I was pretty sure your succulent was the same as mine. I like your flowers a lot.

Kittyzee · « **Reply #18 on:** May 30, 2010, 05:59:25 AM »

I love this thread! It got me to pot up some of my H and C!! I'll try and get pics -- I have lots to share but haven't had time to download to the computer. Everyone's HC's look wonderful--mine actually survived the winter this year--I've never been able to overwinter them before. Maybe the ground was just too soggy where they were before.. $:-\$

LynneNY · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2010, 09:12:55 AM »

I am so glad everyone is joining in here and posting pictures of their hens and chicks - thanks!

I have some more that I will get pictures of as well. They are addictive, aren't they?!?

Kittyzee - I am in the same zone as you are, and I've been able to overwinter most of mine. A few have been more finicky than others, but for the most part they do well. I had one in a spot under a butterfly bush for 3 years - it never got larger than the original 3 small pieces. This year I moved it out into more full sun and it's growing like gangbusters already! I wish you much luck with yours.

KatFish · « **Reply #20 on:** May 30, 2010, 05:32:48 PM »

Where's the camera... I have a few cute new pups I'll snap pics of tomorrow. I love this thread too!

greenthumbnails · « **Reply #21 on:** May 30, 2010, 05:48:47 PM »

Boo Hoo...I want hens and chicks too..(pout)

LynneNY · « **Reply #22 on:** May 30, 2010, 08:36:47 PM »

Awwwww - you can have some too - they are sold in many places around here - I get most of mine at Home Depot - you just have to keep looking for them when you are plant shopping.

Here are more of mine today...

These have been in this frog planter for about 3-4 years now.

A cluster (clump?) of some that turn red during fall/winter and then green up again once it stays warm/hot.

Another cluster in that garden

This one is called "cobweb" hens and chicks - you cannot see it in this picture but there is a very fine "thread" that goes around the rosettes.

Junie · « **Reply #23 on:** May 30, 2010, 08:51:08 PM »

I cannot decide which one is the prettiest-----they are all quite lovely

Kittyzee · « **Reply #24 on:** June 01, 2010, 07:17:07 PM »

A couple of shots of mine....I don't have very many and can't wait 'til mine get crowded too!

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #25 on:** June 01, 2010, 08:12:14 PM »

Looks like Lynne has much to spare

Are you sure you don't live out here in la-la land?

Very nice strawberry pot LuAnne for your succulents.

greenthumbnails · « **Reply #26 on:** June 02, 2010, 04:40:08 AM »

Curious as to why they call those strawberry pots? Anyone know?

LynneNY · « **Reply #27 on:** June 02, 2010, 05:59:53 AM »

Love that strawberry pot of hens and chicks, Luann!

I have a strawberry pot that someone was discarding on my street years ago when they moved out - it's in perfect condition BUT... it's one of the older styles where the side holes are flush with the pot sides and the soil pours out every time I watered it. After trying to grow plants in it for years, I finally put it into the pond last summer, so my fish have another place to hide from the heron, and also a fun place to swim in and out of with all the holes!

Kittyzee · « **Reply #28 on:** June 02, 2010, 12:14:13 PM »

Thanks for the compliments on the pot...I wish I could remember where I got it...it has a nice glaze on the outside. This year that pot is doing great--it seems that hens and chicks (in my experience anyway) thrive on neglect. And like Joyce said, they don't do well planted somewhere where they sit in soggy snowy conditions over the winter.

I move the big iron pot to the porch since it doesn't have a hole in the bottom and I don't want them swimming in water either...

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #29 on:** June 02, 2010, 12:23:28 PM »

Quote

Curious as to why they call those strawberry pots? Anyone know?

My guess is that the pockets around the pot are great for growing strawberries and keeping the fruit off the ground....keeping bugs off the ripening fruit.

I potted a new Japanese red stem maple a few weeks ago and tried to emulate some potted trees at the nursery. They used moss which I can already say won't grow for me unless I over water (can't afford to go over my limit). So I used the next best thing....succulents. So is there a hen and chicks amongst them? The green rosette planted at about 4 o'clock, or lower right corner of photo, is soft and located where DD can pet it. Awww.

And neglect? I can do real well with that.