So, I’ve been growing these little succulents called Hens and Chicks for a while now, and let me tell you, they’re pretty cool. They’re like the easy-going roommates of the plant world—low maintenance and don’t complain much. But, like any living thing, they do need a drink every now and then. So, I started this little experiment to figure out the best watering routine for them.
Getting Started
First, I grabbed a few Hens and Chicks plants and some pots. I used regular 5-inch pots because that’s what I had on hand. I made sure the pots had good drainage ’cause these plants hate sitting in water. For soil, I used a mix made for succulents and cacti – you know, the kind that doesn’t hold onto moisture for too long.
Setting Up the Experiment
I split my plants into three groups. One group was gonna get full sun, another partial shade, and the last one was gonna chill indoors where there wasn’t much direct sunlight. I wanted to see how sunlight affected their thirst.
Watering Routine
I started by giving each plant about 0.8 cups of water, just like what I read. I used a measuring cup because I wanted to be precise. Then, I made a note in my little gardening notebook. I decided I’d water them every 12 days, just to start somewhere.
Observations
- Week 1-2: Everyone seemed happy. The plants in full sun looked a bit dry by the end of the 12 days, but nothing too serious. The indoor ones still looked pretty moist.
- Week 3-4: Okay, the sun-loving plants were definitely thirsty sooner than the others. I could tell because their leaves started looking a bit shriveled. The indoor plants were still doing fine with the 12-day schedule.
- Week 5-6: I decided to adjust the watering for the sun group. I upped their water to every 8 days. The partial shade group was still doing okay with 12 days, and the indoor group, well, they seemed fine even with a little less frequent watering.
Tweaking Things
After a couple more weeks, I felt like I was getting the hang of it. I ended up watering the full sun plants about every 7-9 days, depending on how hot it was. The partial shade ones were good with about every 10-12 days, and the indoor plants thrived with water every 14-16 days or so. Also, I noticed that watering in the early morning was best. It gave them time to soak it up before the sun got too strong.
What I Learned
Hens and Chicks are pretty forgiving. They don’t need constant attention, which is great for someone like me who sometimes forgets to water. Sunlight really makes a difference. The more sun they get, the more often they need a drink. It’s okay to adjust. Every plant is a little different, so it’s cool to observe and change things up based on what they seem to need. Using a self-watering pot could be an option.
So, that’s my little watering adventure with Hens and Chicks. It’s been fun seeing how these little guys respond to different conditions. Gardening is all about learning and adapting, right?
