Hens and Chicks
Dear Ivy,
How often do I water my hen and chick plant?
-Mothering Myrtle
Dear Myrtle,
In a few words… Not often! These plants, known as hens and chicks, because of the way they grow (the “mother hen” sends off little buds exactly like little versions of herself), or, also known as “Semper Vivum” (”always alive”), are a true [...]
One of My Favorite Places, Part 2
The weather here has been rainy and drab for ohh, about two months now. This has really pushed back the timing of planting my garden. Normally around this time of year, my tropical indoor plants would have been out enjoying the sun for a few weeks, but the rain has kept temperatures low, so they [...]
Drooping Hens
Dear Ivy,
What does it mean when the leaves on my hen droop?
-Ms. Dangle
Dear Dangle,
I believe you might be referring to Hens and Chicks, more formally known as Sempervivum Tectorum. I’m pretty sure sempervivum means always alive, which is apt for this plant. It’s one of the very rare plants where you can set it and [...]
Autumn is Upon Us!
The last day of summer has passed, but fall is finally here!
Beautiful foliage, pumpkin picking, mums in full bloom. Every gardener delights in the harvest season. Since the warm weather is coming to an end, the next few weeks Ask Ivy will concentrate on how to winterize your plants. I will be sharing steps to [...]
Keeping Your Zanzibar Gem Zesty
Question: Why are leaves of zanzibar gem going yellow after transplanting?
Answer: There could be several reasons for this. My guess is that you may have over watered when you re-potted it. The Zanzibar Gem, also known as a ZZ plant, Latin name Zamioculcas Zamiifola, is a succulent that doesn’t appreciate being soaked. Most plants like [...]
Reader Mail: Hens and Chicks
Q: How often should I water my Mother Hen plant?
A: Rarely! This plant, also known as Hens and Chicks, is a desert succulent. It’s like to store water in it’s fleshy leaves, and let its roots dry out completely. The plant is so called because it sends off little round baby plants that look jut [...]
More Reader Mail!
Q: What is the watering schedule for succulents?
A: This is a good question, reader, but one that is hard to quantify. Succulents are plants, often from the desert, that store water in specially evolved organs. These organs can be in the roots, stems, leaves, or in special potato-like growths that expand and contract.
These plants like [...]