Pruning guide
How to prune hens and chicks
More hens and chicks care
Pruning hens and chicks — FAQ
When should I prune hens and chicks?
After the mother rosette has fully died back following flowering. Twist or cut the spent mother rosette and its flowering stem out cleanly at the base. Surrounding offsets need no intervention — they establish and spread naturally.
How often does hens and chicks need pruning?
Only after a rosette flowers and dies (monocarpic cycle). Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum) need virtually no pruning. The mother rosette flowers once then dies — this is natural monocarpic behaviour, not a problem. Simply remove the spent flowering stem and dead rosette at the base after it collapses. The surrounding offsets (chicks) will fill in. No other pruning is needed or beneficial.
How do you prune hens and chicks?
Twist or cut the spent mother rosette and its flowering stem out cleanly at the base. Surrounding offsets need no intervention — they establish and spread naturally.