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Sempervivum Tectorum [ sem - per - VEE - vum , tek - TOR - um ] is a floweringSempervivum plantspecies from the kinfolk Crassulaceae .
While the plant is native to southern Europe , it is tame in the total continent due to its unique appearance and traditional belief attached to it .
Photo Credit: Instagram @theearlybirder
For representative , in the Roman tradition , the plant life is believe to protect buildings from lightning strikes – many of the works ’s rough-cut names mull over this impression .
Known to human being for grand of years , Sempervivum Tectorum go by many plant names , the most famous and wide used of which is Common Houseleek .
William Thomas Fernie , the generator of Herbal Simples O.K. for Modern Uses of Cure , shares a fib to describe the hardiness of houseleek .
In his Good Book , he tell :
“ A plant scientist tried to dry out a houseleek plant for his herbarium for eighteen months but failed .
He then replanted the houseleek to its original land site where it start growing again as if there had been no incumbrance in its steady biography . ”
Sempervivum is also Latin for ‘ experience forever . ’
Other Sempervivum Tectorum common epithet are :
Sempervivum Tectorum Care
Size & Growth
Houseleek is an evergreen , perennial , and low grow succulent works forming thick and large rosette of green leaves , which sometimes have empurpled - colored tips .
The plant is gentle - to - get , fearless , and long - permanent .
Flowering and Fragrance
The mother rosette of ceiling houseleek grow about a invertebrate foot long , upright leafy stalks over which the cyme of cerise - imperial flush petal .
Light & Temperature
Sempervivum Tectorum flourish in full sun at a temperate temperature but provide promiscuous subtlety for the industrial plant in extreme heat .
While temperature fluctuations do not damage the plant , it goes into a semi - dormant state when the temperature rear above 75 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 24 ° C ) or come down below 65 ° degrees Fahrenheit ( 18 ° 100 ) .
USDA hardiness zona 3 – 11 .
Watering and Feeding
Since hen & chicks is a succulent plant , it does n’t need to be watered every day .
The best agency to water hen and chicks ( or irrigate any succulent flora ) is to water it generously once , so much so the ground is completely hock and the water start to come out of the drainage hole ( in type of a potted works ) .
Then leave the plant on its own and do not water again until the soil has completely dry out ( it may take a week or even two depending on the climate ) .
As a worldwide principle , remember water requirements of succulent plants are highest in spring and summertime when they are actively growing , and step by step reduce as the weather changes , reducing to a minimum in winter .
While sempervivum tectorum can grow well even without fertilizing , expert suggest feed it once with a controlled - discharge fertiliser at the start of every time of year .
A liquid fertiliser , however , would need to be applied once a week , in diluted form .
Use a plant food with depressed nitrogen absorption on young works and balanced fertiliser , at 1/4th strength , to feed the mature houseleek plants .
Sempervivum Tectorum Soil & Transplanting
Homewort require lightness and well - draining gravelly dirt or asucculent dirt mixwith a neutral pH for right growth .
Transplantation of offsets should preferably be done in quick weather .
Before taking a untested plant out , make certain the soil is whole dry .
take out damage , rotten , or deadened stem and treat any wound or gash with a suitable antifungal agent before planting in the unexampled pot or at the new site .
Do not water the works for about a calendar week after transplanting as it could cause root bunkum .
Grooming and Maintenance
Since St. Patrick ’s cabbage is evergreen and hardy plant , it does not have much maintenance requirements aside from ensuring the proper drainage of the grunge .
Waterlogged soil can damage or even kill the houseleek .
Other Popular Sempervivums
How To Propagate Houseleek
rough-cut houseleek plant is call hen and doll because of its born growth habit .
The original or mother rosette ( a biddy ) readily produces offset ( chicks ) during the growing season from horizontal base or underground roots , in all directions .
The offsets cluster around the mother rosette just like doll gather around the mother biddy .
The flora can easy be diffuse by fraction these course produced showtime .
Sengreen also propagates from seeds and seedling .
Here are a few tips you should recollect and abide by for successful extension of this plant :
Houseleek Pest or Diseases
A few diverseness of houseleek plants can develop Endophyllum rust fungus , a type of fungal disease . The industrial plant can develop crown rot .
However , both these problems developdue to overwateringor poorly run out soil .
It is well keep by growing the industrial plant in wry conditions .
It is deer resistant .
Question : Are biddy and chicks poisonous ?
Sempervivum Tectorum Uses
While these beautiful succulents rise slowly in top , it readily spreads to about 3 ’ feet horizontally , making it a unspoilt pick as a ground cover .
The works is also grow in many areas for certain medicinal purposes and traditional beliefs . exercise include discussion of auricle inflammation , ulcer handling ,
Sempervivum Tectorum is considered alpine or rock garden plants , because of their boldness and for being drouth tolerant .
pucker them into rock crevices and drape over walls for added privacy or beauty .
The succus from the plant is used as an astringent and the edible leaves are used for sore throats .
