Repotting guide

When & how to repot Hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)

Also called Hens and chicks, Common houseleek, Houseleek, Roof houseleek, Liveforever.

More about hens and chicks

About Hens and chicks

Sempervivum tectorum · also called Hens and chicks, Common houseleek · houseplant

Hens and chicks is a hardy alpine succulent that forms tight rosettes (the "hen") ringed by offset pups (the "chicks"). Its one non-negotiable need is sharp drainage: it stores water in its fleshy leaves and rots quickly in soggy compost, so treat it lean, sunny and on the dry side.

Mature size: Rosettes stay low, to about 10cm (4in) tall, spreading 0.1-0.5m (4-20in) wide as a colony; flowering stems reach 20-30cm. Takes around 5-10 years to fill its ultimate spread.

Watch for — Crown and root rot: Caused by overwatering or poor drainage, especially in winter wet. Rosettes go soft, mushy and brown at the base. Use gritty compost, water only when bone dry, and shelter outdoor plants from persistent winter rain.

How to tell hens and chicks needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For hens and chicks, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot hens and chicks

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Hens and chicks's growth habit — low, mat-forming evergreen succulent that spreads by short horizontal stolons, producing offset rosettes ("chicks") around the parent ("hen"). it is monocarpic: each rosette flowers once, sending up a starry pink bloom spike, then dies, but the surrounding chicks carry the colony on. — sets the pace. Hens and chicks is a hardy alpine succulent that forms tight rosettes (the "hen") ringed by offset pups (the "chicks"). Its one non-negotiable need is sharp drainage: it stores water in its fleshy leaves and rots quickly in soggy compost, so treat it lean, sunny and on the dry side.

What size pot to step hens and chicks up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Hens and chicks stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot hens and chicks

Spring or summer, while hens and chicks is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting hens and chicks

Repot dry. Do not water hens and chicks for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty gritty, free-draining cactus/alpine mix ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set hens and chicks at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep hens and chicks completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for hens and chicks

Hens and chicks wants gritty, free-draining cactus/alpine mix. Use a sharply drained blend, such as roughly one part loam-based compost to one part horticultural grit, sharp sand or perlite. It tolerates poor, sandy or gravelly soils and even dry-stone wall crevices. Always plant in a pot with drainage holes and avoid moisture-retentive, peaty composts. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting hens and chicks — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot hens and chicks?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for hens and chicks. Repot hens and chicks every 2–3 years into a snug pot of gritty, free-draining cactus/alpine mix, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does hens and chicks need?

When is the best time of year to repot hens and chicks?

Should you water hens and chicks after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot hens and chicks into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise hens and chicks after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting hens and chicks. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.