















Black Hens and Chicks
About Black Hens and Chicks
Black Hens and Chicks is a super rare houseplant 🌿 that needs very little water to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.
Black Hens and Chicks likes soil that is extremely well-draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.
Taxonomy
Sempervivum 'Black'
Sempervivum
Crassulaceae
Saxifragales

How to care for Black Hens and Chicks

How often to water your Black Hens and Chicks

every 12
Black Hens and Chicks needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
12

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Black Hens and Chicks in your home

a window
Black Hens and Chicks love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Black Hens and Chicks does not tolerate low-light 🚫.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Black Hens and Chicks in your home 🏡.

How to fertilize Black Hens and Chicks

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Black Hens and Chicks after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Black Hens and Chicks thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Sunlight Needs
Black Hens and Chicks requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
Toxicity
Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.
If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.
Humidity
Black Hens and Chicks prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.
Soil
Black Hens and Chicks is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!
Fertilizer
Black Hens and Chicks should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
Dormancy
It’s common for Black Hens and Chicks to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.
Native Region
Black Hens and Chicks is native to the Mediterranean.
Flowers
Black Hens and Chicks produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.
Care Summary for Black Hens and Chicks
Black Hens and Chicks
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 12 days

< 1ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
