Sempervivum, more commonly known as house leek or hen-and-chickens, is a succulent plant native to the mountains of Europe. In the wild, sempervivum grows in crevices and on rocky slopes. These plants are tolerant of drought and poor soil conditions and are often used as ground cover in gardens. Sempervivum is also a popular houseplant because they are low-maintenance and can tolerate periods of neglect.
So, is sempervivum an indoor or outdoor plant? The answer is both! These plants can be grown indoors or outdoors, in pots, or on the ground. If you live in an area with a cold climate, it is best to grow sempervivum as houseplants. You can bring them indoors during winter to protect them from the cold weather. The most important thing is to provide it with the right growing conditions, whether you are growing it indoors or outdoors.
This blog post discusses everything you need to know about growing sempervivum, whether you are growing it indoors or outdoors. We will cover sempervivum care, soil, watering, and more topics.
By the end of this post, you will know everything you need to know about growing healthy and happy sempervivum plants!
Sempervivum Plant: A Brief Overview
Sempervivum is a genus of succulent plants that is part of the Crassulaceae family. These plants are native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The name sempervivum comes from the Latin words “Semper” and “vivus,” which means “forever alive.” This is likely because these plants can live for many years.
Sempervivum plants are known by various names, including houseleek, hen-and-chickens, and live forever. The most popular sempervivum plant is Sempervivum tectorum, also known as common houseleek or roof houseleek.
This plant gets its common name from the fact that it was often planted on the roofs of houses in Europe to help protect against fires.
The succulent is characterized by its rosette shape and thick, fleshy leaves. These plants vary in size from just a few inches to over a foot wide. The leaves of sempervivum plants are often green, but they can also be red, brown, or purple. The flowers of sempervivum are small and star-shaped, and they can be white, pink, or red.
The plant reproduces through offsets, small plantlets forming around the mother plant’s base. These offsets can be removed and planted on their own, and they will eventually grow into full-sized plants.
Sempervivum is a low-maintenance plant that requires simple care and maintenance. They are tolerant of neglect and can go for long periods without water. These plants are also resistant to most pests and diseases.
Sempervivum is a popular houseplant but can also be grown outdoors in gardens. These plants make an excellent ground cover because they spread quickly and tolerate poor soil conditions. They are also drought-tolerant and can survive in hot, dry conditions.
Sempervivum as an Indoor Plant
Sempervivum makes great houseplants because they are easy to care for and tolerate periods of neglect. These plants prefer bright, indirect light but can survive in low-light conditions.
They should be planted in a well-draining potting mix and allowed to dry out completely between watering. Sempervivum is a drought-tolerant plant, so it doesn’t need to be watered often. Allow the potting mixture to dry out completely before watering again.
These plants can go for long periods without water, so they are perfect for busy people or those who often forget to water their plants.
However, sempervivum will start to look unhealthy if they are allowed to go too long without water. If the leaves begin to wither or the plant looks otherwise weak, it is time to water.
The best spots to grow sempervivum indoors are in bright, indirect light. These plants can tolerate low-light conditions but grow best in brighter light. South- or west-facing windows are ideal for growing sempervivum indoors.
You can grow sempervivum under artificial grow lights if you don’t have a spot in your home that gets enough natural light.
Since these plants don’t need much light, you can get away with using inexpensive fluorescent tubes or CFL bulbs. Place the lights about 12 inches above the plant and leave them on for 14 to 16 hours daily.
Sempervivum as an Outdoor Plant
Sempervivum is a naturally outdoor plant grown in gardens or other outdoor spaces. The succulent prefers full sunlight but can also tolerate partial shade. Consider planting it in well-draining, sandy soil.
When grown in an outdoor garden, sempervivum spreads quickly and forms a dense ground cover. It is a drought-tolerant plant that can survive in hot, dry conditions.
Sempervivum can also be used as an annual bedding plant. Feel free to plant the succulent in the spring so it can bloom in the summer. When the weather starts to cool off in the fall, the succulent dies back and can be removed from the garden.
If you live in an area where the winters are icy, you can grow sempervivum as a houseplant and then move it outdoors for the summer. These plants can tolerate hot and cold temperatures, making them an excellent option for indoor and outdoor gardens.
Sempervivum Care
Sempervivum is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for. However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind when caring for these plants. Let’s take a look at some sempervivum care tips:
1. Light and Temperature
Sempervivum thrives in bright, indirect light. They can tolerate some direct sun, but too much direct sun will cause the leaves to scorch. The sempervivum plant prefers relatively cool temperatures and will not do well in hot, humid environments.
If you live in an area with hot summers, it is best to grow sempervivum in a shady spot outdoors or move them indoors until the weather cools off.
2. Watering
As succulents, sempervivum are very drought tolerant. However, they will need some water to survive. It is best to water your plants about once a week, allowing the soil to dry out completely between watering.
During the winter months, you can reduce watering to once every two weeks or even once a month. Be sure not to overwater your plants, as this can cause root rot.
3. Fertilizing
Sempervivum is not a heavy feeder and does not need to be fertilized often. Once a month during the growing season is sufficient. Be sure to use a light hand when fertilizing, as too much fertilizer can burn the roots of these plants.
4. Pests and Diseases
Sempervivum is generally disease and pest free. However, they can be susceptible to mealybugs and root rot if they are overwatered. Be sure to provide well-draining soil and water your plants only when the soil is dry to prevent these problems.
If you notice any pests on your plants, you can remove them by hand or treat them with insecticidal soap.
5. Pruning
As sempervivum grow, they will produce offsets—miniature replicas of the parent plant. These offsets can be removed from the parent plant and transplanted into their pot or planted in the garden.
If left unchecked, offsets will eventually overtake the parent plant. Remove any offsets that appear throughout the growing season to keep your plant looking its best.
While pruning, you may also want to remove any damaged or dying leaves. This will help keep your plant healthy and looking its best.
How to Propagate Sempervivum
Sempervivum is easy to propagate from offsets, small plantlets forming around the mother plant’s base. These offsets can be removed and planted on their own, and they will eventually grow into full-sized plants.
To remove an offset from the mother plant, gently twist it until it comes loose. Once removed, allow the offset to callous over for a few days before planting. Be sure to plant the offsets in well-draining soil.
You can also propagate sempervivum from leaf cuttings. To do this, cut a leaf from the mother plant and allow it to callous for a few days. Once the leaf has calloused, you can insert it into well-draining soil. The leaf will eventually produce roots and form a new plant.
Taking care of a newly propagated plant is the same as taking care of a mature plant. Be sure to provide only bright, indirect light and water when the soil is dry. Don’t forget to fertilize once a month during the peak growing season!
Does Sempervivum Bloom?
Sempervivum does bloom, but the flowers are not particularly showy. The blooms are small and greenish-white in color. They appear in the summer and are followed by seed pods.
The blooms of sempervivum are not what these plants are grown for—it is the exciting foliage that makes them so popular. However, the blooms can be a pleasant surprise for gardeners who are not expecting them.
Wrapping Up
Sempervivum is an easy-to-care-for plant that makes a great addition to any garden. With their ability to tolerate both hot and cold temperatures, these plants can be grown indoors and outdoors.
Keep in mind the sempervivum care tips we listed above, and you’ll indeed have a healthy, thriving plant. We hope you enjoyed learning about sempervivum and that you are ready to add one to your home or garden!
Last update on 2023-10-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
