A couple of silly questions...

Okay, these should be really easy questions to answer:

First, can hens and chicks (Sempervivums) be grown as houseplants? I recently got a Euphorbia-- just one stalk-- and I thought it may look neat to plant a couple hens and chicks around the bottom of it since there's room for now. Might this work?

Second, how many spider plantlets do you usually pot into one pot, and what size? I have some babies that I'd like to pot up, but I don't have any adults to compare. :)

Thanks,
Dana

I usually plant 3 babies in a pot. Most of the 10" pots that I've gotten in the past had 3 - 4 plants. It depends on how bushy you want it to look. As far as the h&c's, my friends mom grows them in and outside. She only plants them by themselves. I don't know to much about those guys as I've never had any.

Oh, thank you! Now I can plant my spiders, and I guess it can't hurt to give the hens and chicks a try.

Yes, you can grow Sempervivum soboliferum as a houseplant, PROVIDING you don't overwater it. It will need to be almost bone-dry and in bright light, in a soil mixture of 3/4 sand and 1/4 good potting mix.

Thanks! I really like them, so it will be fun try them indoors, too. I appreciate the pointers.

The first question, I would not because hen & chicks like cool weather, or they flower then die. Euphorbia come from Madagascar, and like it warm. Semps. come from Europe in cool mountain regions. Love the snow. The would love Ohio, it has winter snow. I need to shade mine with a 50-80% shade cloth in the summer. But I live in So. Calif. Norma

I have a whole bunch of hens and chicks, so I can risk trying a couple in with the Euphorbia. So far so good, but we'll see if it works long term. I'll let you know the results of my experiment. :)

Glad I found this thread! I just got a small container of sempervivum soboliferum --I just like the waty it looks but I didn't have much information before bringing it home. One of the outstanding things I didn't know is that it prefers cooler climates. I am in zone 9a (listed as the hottest zone it will tolerate?). I wonder about planting it outside in the cactus and succulent area I have started? Or potting it up (because it is very crowded) and keeping it indoors?
There are several little offshoots that are around the main plant, still contained--barely--and one little offshoot that it hanging outside of the container by its root. How do I separate the little one falling out of the container to plant it on its own?
Three questions at once...sorry for overloading the post. I appreciate advise and help with this awesome plant!

Re the offshoot, just clip with fingers or scissors. Give more water until established.

Danak, there are no stupid questions. The only way to learn is to ask. Luciee {;^)