Hanging hens and chicks can have a variety of causes and the vast majority have to do with how you take care of them.
Hens and chicks, house leeks, sempervivum or whatever you call them, are fairly easy to care for once you know what to do and what to avoid.
So if you find a hanging problem or the hens and chicks are wilting, it’s time to take a closer look at why.
Here are some of the most common causes and what you can do today for a drooping hen and chick.
insufficient watering
The main cause of hanging hens and chicks is improper watering.
This can take the form of flooding, overwatering, or using soil that doesn’t drain well enough.
Submarine
Hanging or wilting is often a sign of flooding. If the leaves of the plant dry out, they lose their ability to stand upright.
There is a common mistake that people often fall into and that is spraying succulents.
While misting succulents may be fine, it should not replace watering your hens and chicks.
Hens and chicks like to receive deep water every time until the water comes out of the drain hole of their container.
At the very least, doing less than that can certainly lead to leaf drop or wilting, as well as stunted growth and other issues.
excess water
Another common mistake when watering hens and chicks is overwatering.
Overwatering can cause symptoms similar to flooding, as overwatering can eventually damage your succulents and prevent them from functioning properly.
This means that less water and nutrients are distributed to the rest of the plant, resulting in weak or unhealthy leaves on your homemade leek.
Some very possible signs that you have overwatered are as follows.
- Fallen or withered leaves
- rolled up leaves
- yellowing of leaves
- brown leaves or tips
- Underdeveloped or slow growth
- soggy ground
Unfortunately, it’s very easy to accidentally overwater, as it can happen if you water too often, or if the soil clumps or doesn’t drain properly.
Solution
If you think you have flooded your hens and chicks, simply water your plant more often and wait for the leaves to return to normal.
If you think you’ve overwatered, look at how often you water or what type of soil you’re using.
Hens and chicks like to water well every time, so every time you water be sure to soak the plant well.
Give him a nice drink.
But after watering, wait until the soil dries completely before watering again.
The time frame for this can vary depending on several factors, such as the climate and where you are growing.
So you can water once or twice a week, or even a few times a month.
it just depends
The most important thing to remember is to make sure the soil is completely dry every time you water your hens and chicks.
Speaking of soil, be sure to use soil that drains well.
Although hens and chicks aren’t too picky about soil type, as long as it’s well-drained, you should get the best results with a mix of succulents and cacti.
You can also add things like perlite to the mix for maximum drainage.
In general, however, a flooded chicken and chick plant is easier to repair than an overwatered plant.
If you think you’ve overwatered, always check the roots to make sure they haven’t rotted.
harmful
Another major cause of leaf drop in chickens and chicks can be attributed to pests or insects.
Aphids, scale insects, and spider mites are a few types of pests you may encounter when growing these succulents.
Pests usually only attach to plants when they are under some form of stress, but they can also appear randomly.
Unfortunately, these pests feed on the leaves of your homemade leek, causing all sorts of damage and leaving behind honeydew that turns into sooty mold.
Once they feed on leaf sap, it leads to loss of water and nutrients, so you may end up with droopy or wilting leaves if you wonder why.
In general, pests can definitely be a nuisance if you’re just trying to cool and grow your succulents and they seem to pop up randomly.
Solution
Some proven methods for getting rid of pests on plants include a few different methods.
A cotton swab soaked in alcohol is used which is then used to clean the leaves or remove pests by hand.
It works pretty well, but it might take a bit of time.
Another effective method is to spray your plant with neem oil once or twice to get rid of the pests and keep them from coming back.
You can also use insecticidal soap for a similar result.
In either case, once the pests are gone, prune any damaged areas of the succulent back to give it fresh, healthy growth.
So you don’t have to worry about hanging sheets!
lack of light
Hens and chicks need plenty of light throughout the day to look good and grow.
Generally, they prefer at least 6 hours of full sun per day, but can get by with partial sun.
That being said, if your hens and chicks aren’t getting enough light, you can expect leaf drop, especially in low light conditions.
It can even happen overnight, temporarily of course.
Too little light can also cause chlorosis which can cause leaves to turn yellow and grow poorly if you really neglect your plant, by the way.
Solution
If you find that your hens and chicks are not getting enough light outdoors, make sure there is nothing above the light blocking the light, or move to a new, well-located area. sunny.
If you’re growing indoors, try placing your home near a south-facing window for optimal sunlight, or consider getting an indoor grow light if that’s not possible for you.
transplant shock
Transplant stress or transplant stress can affect all kinds of plants and your hens and chicks can be affected as well.
This happens when planting in a new location, disturbing the roots, or trying different soils.
All of these things can stress your plant and cause your hens and chicks to drop leaves more than normal.
If you don’t see your hens and chicks wilt or wilt soon after you transplant them, and not before, transplant shock is likely the cause.
Solution
When it comes to drooping from transplant shock, there’s not much you can do but wait, as most plants recover on their own over time.
In the worst case, it can take several weeks to several months.
Just be patient and keep caring for it and the leaves should stop falling soon enough.
Here are some tips to prevent or reduce transplant shock in hens and chicks.
- Keep the roots intact
- Only upload one pot size per transplant
- Use the same soil as before unless it’s the wrong type
- Don’t tamp the soil too much.
Last words
I am convinced that one or more of the causes listed above are causing your hens and chicks to hang up.
That being said, wilt is most likely a watering issue, so it’s best to look into that first and go from there.
Once you find the source and the solution, your hens and chicks should be back to normal!