On hen and chick plants do the chicks seperate themselves from the hen or do I need to pull them off?

Answer 1

This really depends on what types of Hen & Chicks you have. First there are two separate unrelated (well same family but different genus & different growing conditions) types of plants that have this common name.

The most common is Sempervivum or Jovibarba. The other type is Echeveria. If you look up either online you should be able to tell which you have. Echeverias are much more succulent than Semps or Jovibarbas.

Echeverias are only hardy in very warm areas, if it is these you have then break off the chicks & root them in some more soil, they will even root from broken off leaves.

For semps & Jovibarbas it is interesting. Most types will grow separate chicks that come off pretty much by themselves. Jovibarbas (which look pretty much identical to semps, unless you really know which you have it is hard to tell them apart & really does not matter too much) & a few semps tend to be more fused together. I usually just dig up a section of them & pull them apart & replant the whole section.

Which ever type of plant you have just try separating them & see how it goes. You are very unlikely to kill the 'hen' & eventually you will figure out what works best for your plants. All of them reproduce pretty easily.

I hope you have fun with them!

Answer 2

On the ones that I have they separate themselves. I am not a plant person, but this is one plant that I love, got two big pots with them all over. They remind me of my Grandmother and visiting her.

Answer 3

To make a long story short. As long as there is dirt underneath them they will separate themselves and live.