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Fredericksburg, VA on Mar 18, 2012

HEN & CHICKS

I was given a bunch of Hen & Chicks and wanted to put them in my rock garden. This area gets the full blast of summer sun. Will this be too much sun & heat from the rocks? I know they're a succulent, sort of in same class as the cactus and it certainly does fine. Just not sure about H & C. Thanks for any and all input.

11 Comments

Donna McCrummen Bernardsville, NJ

I love hen and chick especially in a strawberry pot. I'd like to know the answer too!

on Mar 18, 2012 · Like 0
Addygirl Vancouver, WA

yeah they are hardy

on Mar 18, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

I found some at a small privately owned nursery last year and put them in a strawberry pot but the ones in the side holes didn't survive the winter. Maybe I didn't get them anchored in well enough. They don't have much of a root system so if anyone knows the trick to keeping them in feel free to chime in. The ones on top did OK but I'm just not sure sure how much of Mother Nature they can tolerate! Don't want themt to cook on the rocks!!

on Mar 18, 2012 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Hen and chicks (Sempervivum spp.) are usually near the top of the list of plants for rock gardens. They should thrive where you intend to plant them. The biggest concern is that they not get too much water.

on Mar 19, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Thank you ALL for your help. So full sun and rocks are the order of the day for Hen & Chicks. Doug, can you tell me how to keep them anchored in the side opening of Strawberry pots until the roots take hold?

on Mar 19, 2012 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

I can't speak from personal experience, Susan, but here's how one person did it: http://www.greencirclegrowers.com/_webapp_39...

on Mar 19, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Hey Doug - just checked out this link!! How SIMPLE and the watering tube is pure genius. Trying to keep the soil inside the pot and get everything watered from top to bottom w/o floating out the side guys was . . . . .challenging and the fix is so simple, window screening, who knew??? Thanks so much for the info, you've been a BIG HELP!! ; ~ )

on Mar 19, 2012 · Like 0
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

You're very welcome, Susan.

on Mar 20, 2012 · Like 0
Cathy B Phoenix, AZ

Once they are growing they will survive the sun and heat..my neighbor make a little sunshade to shade them till they take...they are beautiful in rock gardens and worth it.

on Mar 20, 2012 · Like 1
Susan S Fredericksburg, VA

Today I'm going to go outside and do the prep work so I can get my Hen & Chicks in the ground. Have to clear out all the weeds that have proliferated over the winter and also have to rearrange some strategic rocks for the chicks to climb over ; ~ ).
Next project is to re-do the strawberry pot using the method Doug shared w/me. I told my Honey about the PVC pipe and we had a piece the perfect diameter so he got to work and drilled the holes ...»
right away. Just have to get screening now. I used all mine last summer w/new perennials hoping to discourage voles from eating everything!! Endless battle.

on Mar 22, 2012 · Like 0
Bernice H Yakima, WA

Susan...how is your pot with hens and chicks doing? Did you see mine? I havent done any of what that link said to do, I just stuck those babies in there, and they stayed. They get watered almost every day too because i have a hubs-built watering system for the whole garden.In winter I put them in the shed, unheated but at least the freezing wind doesnt damage them. However I have others that are out the whole winter in the ground or in planters, and they survive cold , wind , frost , ...»
snow, ice...I guess they are pretty tough! I dont leave the strawberry pot out , because another one i had, broke, probably expansion of water, ice, freezing etc. Funny, I have half of it still and the plants still are thriving..they have been in there a few years now. HOwever if i did it again, I would do as the link said! Any pictures? I would like to do a tire planter, that would be so neat with hens and chickies!

on Aug 10, 2012 · Like 0

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