Overwintering potted hens & chicks

Jacqui T

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Sep 15, 2001, 3:04:19 PM9/15/01

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I have hens & chicks in a strawberry pot and would like to overwinter them.
Where is the best place to keep them? Should they be kept inside somewhere
until after the last frost of the spring? Also, I have some in between the
cracks of some rocks - do these need any special protection from the weather
or will they be OK on their own?

TIA,

Jacqui

ScarletSage

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Sep 15, 2001, 4:45:20 PM9/15/01

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You don't say where you live, but if you get temperatures below freezing you
will need to bring the pots into shelter so they don't crack. An ideal spot
would be an unheated or slightly heated garage that stays above freezing.
Keep them just barely moist, and if you can give them a bit of light, even
weak light, so much the better.

The ones in the ground should be just fine on their own, especially since
you have them growing in the cracks of rocks--they appreciate good drainage,
especially in winter.

Sue
Scarl...@att.net
Zone 6, south-central PA

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Lee

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Sep 15, 2001, 7:57:56 PM9/15/01

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"Jacqui T" <jacquelin...@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
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I live in Kansas and last winter was awful. I had Hens and Chicks planted
in a metal bucket and winter came on so quick, I just left them out to fend
for themselves. They actually survived! Of course, as the poster stated
above, I think your worst problem will be the pot cracking. So better do as
he suggests.
Lee

Jacqui T

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Sep 15, 2001, 8:17:45 PM9/15/01

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Sorry, Zone 5! I'll find a spot in someone's garage for them. Would they
do OK as a houseplant, or is that a waste of my time & their lives?

Jacqui

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Cereoid*

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Sep 15, 2001, 8:59:56 PM9/15/01

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As was said before, Sempervivum species are completely cold hardy and must
be left outside over the winter. They will survive freezing with no trouble
at all. I have been growing many types for years with no problems
overwintering them.

If you are worried about the container cracking during winter, keep the
plants dry at that time of the year. Do not put them in a dark locality or a
garage over the winter.

If the plants are brought inside and kept warm over the winter, the rosettes
elongate and often die. Do not keep them above freezing in the winter.

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ScarletSage

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Sep 16, 2001, 8:08:47 AM9/16/01

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Hmm....I've never tried them as a houseplant (I've got room for them in the
garage, but all the prime window real estate in the house is taken!) but it
seems like a reasonable idea. As far as I know they don't need a period of
dormancy like many perennials do. I think the main problem, if it is a
problem, in the house would be the dry indoor air. If I were trying it I
would still keep the soil just barely moist, but mist the plants themselves
from time to time. Just a guess on my part, however--has anyone done this?

They are incredibly tough plants, so whatever you do I wouldn't fret too
much about it.

Sue
Scarl...@att.net
Zone 6, south-central PA

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Steve Smedley

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Sep 17, 2001, 5:00:34 AM9/17/01

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"Jacqui T" <jacquelin...@yahoo.ca> wrote in message news:<TCNo7.18227$0%.1062423@news1.busy1.on.home.com>...

Just to complete the comments on over-wintering of houseleeks, a
number of sempervivums, particularly those with hairy leaves such as
S. ciliosum, will need protection in the winter if the weather is wet
and mild as it is here in the UK. Even with the most immaculate
drainage these plants will almost certainly rot off because their
hairy leaves act as sponges and prevent the moisture draining away.
These susceptible plants should be brought under cover into an
unheated, well-ventilated greenhouse during the wet months, just to
keep them dry. Interestingly, the cobweb houseleek, S. arachnoideum,
does not seem to suffer from this problem.

Steve Smedley, Mill Walk House Nursery

www.millwalkhouse.co.uk

E. McCullough

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Sep 17, 2001, 6:16:51 AM9/17/01

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I've had both success and failure at overwintering sempervivens outdoors here
in USDA zone 4. Mine are in an old, leaky, concrete birdbath sitting on the
ground in a sheltered location. I lost them when there was little snow cover
and they endured freeze and thaw situation. Last year the snow came before I
did anything with them, and under a good cover of snow they survived just
fine. A local nursery guru mentioned that they get potted plats through the
winter by turning the pots on their sides, so there's no damaging water
collections in the bottom of the pots.
I plan to cover them with the winter weight fabric.
Liz
CDN5/USDA4
Steve Smedley

--
E. McCullough - ac...@freenet.carleton.ca

jkstut...@gmail.com

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Dec 7, 2015, 8:50:49 PM12/7/15

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I'm in Ohio & dug up hens & chicks from our other house. Could I plant them now or should I leave them in the bucket & keep in garage? Thank you

songbird

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Dec 7, 2015, 11:08:47 PM12/7/15

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should be ok in either location. we have mild weather
for a while yet in the forecast. plant 'em, water 'em
call 'em good.

deer do find them tasty.

songbird