How Do You Care For Sempervivum Calcareum?

How Do You Care For Sempervivum Calcareum?

Sempervivum Calcareum is easy to care for and requires low maintenance. Grow Sempervivum calcareum in full sun in well-drained soil, particularly in containers with extra horticultural grit to improve drainage.

Sempervivums do not require feeding, although they do benefit from being repotted each year into compost with a slow-release fertilizer.

Sempervivum calcareum can also be split; divide the mother plant along with a few babies every spring to keep it healthy and full. Sempervivum calcareum should be planted 2 inches deep, with the top of the tuber just below soil level.

Water when the soil is dry to the touch, and make sure to avoid getting water on adjacent walls or the roof of a house. The following are the factors to consider caring for Sempervivum Calcareum;

Sunlight:

Sempervivum Calcareum requires plenty of sunlight (preferably full sun) but may require some shade in excessive heat. If you grow your houseleeks in a glasshouse or conservatory, be especially mindful of light levels in the summer to avoid leaf burn. Seasonal partial shading can be achieved with slatted blinds, gauze, or shade-wash painted on the exterior of the window.

If you’re growing houseleek within your home, pay extra attention to the light levels, as most people’s homes aren’t bright enough to sustain growing them.

Sempervivum Calcareum will thrive in full sun though they do well under trees or shrubs that offer shade in the summer.  They are native to the limestone areas and rich in calcium and sandy soils around springs and streams, so they are very adaptable.

Soil:

Sempervivum Calcareum thrives on well-drained sand or loam soil with an acidic, neutral, or alkaline PH balance. They thrive in full light and are ideal for planting in pots or a rock garden. They do great in containers with horticultural grit to improve drainage.

Any container that has drainage holes can be used to plant Sempervivum Calcareum. They do well in containers with horticultural grit to improve drainage.

Watering:

Sempervivum Calcareum s drought tolerant and does not require frequent watering. Overwatering encourages fungal development and root damage. Water the plant again once the top of the soil has completely dried.

When watering, avoid directly wetting the rosettes.  They are hardy plants that like their soil to your most of the time and can go for long stretches without water.

Temperature:

Sempervivum Calcareum grows best in the spring and summer and will flourish with weekly watering and afternoon shade if temperatures are above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They are extremely frost resistant and can happily survive the winter under an insulating layer of snow.

In cold regions, they should be planted on the north side of a wall or in a rock garden with other hardy succulents. Sempervivum Calcareum is frost-sensitive and tolerates light freezes, but should not be left outside without protection when temperatures drop below 28 degrees F.  In cooler climates, Sempervivum Calcareum can do well if planted in full sun under deciduous trees or shrubs that lose their leaves in winter.

Humidity:

Sempervivum Calcareum is a very hardy and adaptable plant that can tolerate high levels of humidity. It is best to dry the soil out in the winter and keep the compost moist but not wet. Slight drying during the dormancy period is usually sufficient to avoid fungal diseases. Plants that are too wet at any time can develop rot and die.

Fertilizing:

Sempervivum Calcareum does not require fertilization, but many gardeners use slow-release fertilizers as a supplement to their potting soil.  It is not essential to add fertilizer to the substrate of Sempervivum calcareum; instead, apply some banana peel tea or worm humus once a year. If you wish to apply fertilizer to Sempervivum calcareum, we recommend this one, which we use on our succulents (Order it here).

Propagation:

Sempervivum Calcareum can be propagated by seeds or seedlings and offsets. They are also very easy to propagate by hand since they generate fresh offsets or “chicks” on stolons (horizontal stems). Remove a chick from the mother rosette by cutting or gently pulling it. Place the new offsets in well-draining soil in partial sun and water frequently until mature roots form.

Repotting:

Sempervivum calcareum requires repotting every 2 to 3 years during the spring into fresh, well-draining soil. Young plants are best left at the same depth; however, mature plants are best removed from their containers to prevent root rot. Extra compost can be layered on top of the plant if necessary. Make sure the top of the tuber is just below soil level.

Pruning:

Sempervivum Calcareum is self-limiting and won’t need to be pruned at all. However, they may require a bit of pruning if they get too overgrown or are damaged.  If the leaves of your Sempervivum calcareum are turning yellow, this means it needs more light; trim it back to ½ inch above a healthy rosette.

When pruning, remember that too much pruning may cause fungal diseases.  Cut away only the roots and not the stem, as this is vital to the production and growth of future new leaves.

Pests and Diseases:

Sempervivum calcareum rarely succumb to pests and diseases. However, spider mites often infest the leaves of Houseleeks.  Sempervivum calcareum are subject to crown and root rot, as well as Endophyllum rust, a fungal disease. All of these are caused by overwatering and may be avoided by growing your plants in free-draining soil and allowing them to dry out between watering. Top-dressing your soil with grit will keep your plant from resting on moist soil and will assist to prevent crown rot

How Do You Propagate Sempervivum Calcareum?

Sempervivum Calcareum is easy to propagate seeds or seedlings and offsets in the spring and summer. They are also very easy to propagate by hand since they generate fresh offsets or “chicks” on stolons. Remove a chick from the mother rosette by cutting or gently pulling it, then place the new offsets in well-draining soil in partial sun and water frequently until mature roots form.

When propagating Sempervivum calcareum by cuttings, they will form a rosette in 4 to 6 weeks, but growth is very slow. You should remove this rosette or wait for the roots to form and then remove them. The following are the steps to follow when propagating Sempervivum Calcareum:

Propagation from seeds or seedlings;

• Keep the seeds in the refrigerator for a month, because this will force germination.
• Collect some seeds, clean them and plant them in a light potting mix, or a mix of humus and sharp sand in small pots or plastic cups.
• Plant the seeds 2/5 – 2/5 inches deep in rows across the containers and cover them with a thin layer of soil or sand.
• Keep the soil moist at all times, but not wet.
• Once the seedlings are 2 inches tall, move them to half shade or full sun; keep them well-watered and feed them once a month with a diluted fertilizer (half-strength).
• Once they are 10 inches tall or when the leaves die back, carefully transplant them into their garden location.

Propagation by offsets;

• Gently remove a chick from the mother rosette by cutting or gently pulling it, then place the new offsets in well-draining soil in partial sun and water frequently until mature roots form. When propagating Sempervivum calcareum by cuttings, they will form a rosette in 4 to 6 weeks, but growth is very slow. You should remove this rosette or wait for the roots to form and then remove them.
• Plant the offsets or chicks about 2 inches deep and 8 inches apart. If a leaf falls off, do not throw it out, but plant it with the base of the leaf down, pointing toward the center.
• Keep them well-watered and feed them once a month with a diluted fertilizer (half-strength).
• Once they are 10 inches tall or when the leaves die back, carefully transplant them into their garden location.
• Watch your Sempervivum Calcareum grow and multiply year after year!

Is Sempervivum Calcareum A Succulent?

Sempervivum is a genus of succulent plants that come from the family Crassulaceae. These plants are often grown as houseplants, but they can also be found in the wild. Sempervivum plants are known for their distinctive rosettes of leaves, and many people consider them to be succulent. However, there is some debate about whether Sempervivum plants are succulent.

One of the main defining characteristics of succulents is that they have a thick stem. Sempervivum plants, on the other hand, have thin stems. Additionally, Sempervivum plants have a fleshy texture, which is different from most succulents.

Succulents are usually dry, but Sempervivum plants are usually wet. Finally, succulents have tiny, sharp needles on their leaves, but Sempervivum plants do not.

Sempervivum Calcareum is a popular plant for both indoor and outdoor use. It is a great choice for those who want a plant that will grow well in a variety of environments. Sempervivum Calcareum can be used as a floor plant, a planter, or an addition to a border.

If you are growing these plants in your garden, they can be used as a ground cover to help prevent soil erosion, or they can be used to add texture and variety to your succulent garden.

Another benefit of growing Sempervivum plants is that they require little care and maintenance. Susceptible to several types of fungal disease including leaf spots, rusts, and blights; also susceptible to slugs and snails which will devour all parts of the plant if left unchecked.