This topic is not about growing cats and her litter of kittens, but rather about a succulent plant called Cats & Kittens. You might know them better as Hens & Chicks. But what’s so special about them, and why should you start taking care of this plant?
Cats & Kittens are low-maintenance, winter-hardy succulents that thrive on neglect and infrequent watering. Their common name derives from their ability to produce tiny, exact copies of the parent plant called offsets. This reproductive trait allows for infinite propagation with just one plant.
Have I sold you on getting one of these succulent babies? Then keep reading to find more about them and their essential needs:
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Table of contents
What is a Cats & Kittens Plant?
Cats & Kittens plant is Sempervivum Tectorum, a succulent species native to southern Europe. Fun fact: ‘Sempervivum’ is Latin for “always living”. As mentioned in the introduction, they are commonly known as Hens & Chicks, but other succulents share this name too due to their similar cloning properties. They also go by ‘House Leek’, which I find interesting. Supposedly, they are edible and are grown as vegetables on rooftops in Europe. I haven’t had the chance to try it, but generally, I would deter anyone from taking a tentative chomp of their succulent, even if it’s for culinary science.
Cats and Kittens grow as a singular succulent first, known as the Hen or Cat. Later on, it shoots out a trail of clones, i.e., offsets on a thin stem called a stolon. These are known as chicks or kittens. In 2-3 years, the mother plant will die off after flowering (monocarpic like the paddle plant), leaving several chicks/kittens. These succulent babies can be left to grow in the old pot after removing the parent plant.
But it’s more common practice to transfer them to other pots where they will produce their own set of babies.
Even while the Hen/Cat is still living, you can propagate the chicks/kittens provided they have developed large enough to survive without the parent plant. A good rule of thumb is to separate them when they are about 1/4 the size of the mother plant. You have the option of either gently pulling them off the stolon or using a sterilized sharp cutting tool to cut them off the main succulent.
What Do Cats & Kittens Plant Need to Grow Well?
1. Daily Exposure to 6 Hours (or more) of Full Sun
The more sun it gets, the better the succulent looks in overall color. It will also encourage more offsets, which means more chicks/kittens for you to propagate! Seriously, you don’t even have to go out and buy more once you have the one plant to create a colony of Cats and Kittens plants.
In summer, the afternoon sun may somewhat be a little too much for your Cats and Kittens. So, it’s advisable to give them a little shade for those living in hotter climates. When in doubt, scoot them away from the direct sun before lunchtime.
2. Provide Well-draining, Sandy Soil to Allow Quick Water Drainage
As a drought-tolerant plant, Cats and Kittens like it when their soil environment doesn’t hold on to too much water. That’s why most succulents have thick leaves because that’s where they store their water to get them through the dry periods. Sandy soil helps absorb water swiftly without retaining too much for the succulent’s liking. Additionally, planting them in a terracotta pot (Amazon link) will also be beneficial. These pots evaporate water faster by absorbing moisture from the soil and releasing it through its pores.
It’s worth noting that this succulent can thrive in anything, even poor, infertile ground or cracks in concrete. But when you have the means, give them quality soil for better growth. Although if you like to get experimental, try planting them in various potting media to see just how adaptable this lil’ plant can be. Feel free to share your experience down in the comments below! 😀
3. Weekly to Biweekly Watering Schedule
For my fellow busy (read: forgetful) plant owners out there, your Cats and Kittens won’t be too mad when you forget to water them. If anything, they prefer having drought periods in between watering sessions. Out in the wild, they’re used to having brief downpours in between long weeks of dryness. Imitating this is nothing but good for them.
If you have your succulent outdoors, ensure to bring them in during an extended string of rainy days. You do not want your succulents swimming in soupy soil. This mistake is the easiest way to let them rot and die, and that’s saying much because they are reasonably easy to grow, even for black thumbs.
4. Do Not Give Them Any Fertilizers
Seriously, you are more likely to stress the plant by giving them more fertilizers than they need. Given the nature of the succulent to thrive even in the poorest of soil quality, it can survive well without any fertilizers. The chances of causing fertilizer burn to your Cats & Kittens are higher than it dying of no nutrients. Think of it as a hyper toddler – never entertain the possibility of giving it coffee lest you want it to implode on itself.
Important note on winter hardiness: Most Cats & Kittens are hardy and can be left outside during winter. However, those with velvety leaf textures are remarkably delicate and won’t survive the frost. Be sure to check the type of Cats & Kittens succulent you have by a quick Google on whether they are winter hardy or not.
How Do You Propagate and Maintain your Cats & Kittens Plant?
For propagation, you can read this article I wrote on removing and planting offsets from a parent plant. The procedure is reasonably easy and straightforward, with no special remarks on Cats & Kittens specifically.
As for maintenance, there is really nothing else to be done apart from just giving your Cats and Kittens some sun and not flooding their soil. They don’t have problems with pests and diseases; you don’t have to repot them since they stay small; and you don’t also have to prune them. When all is said and done, they’ll keep flourishing in your home with the most minimal care you have to offer.
So, have I convinced you to jump onto the bandwagon yet?. Here’s to you, fellow gardeners, may we have more low-maintenance plants to enrich our daily lives with their fabulous presence.
References:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sempervivum-tectorum/
https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/pike/news/2016/copy_of_why_i_garden
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2005/jun/351403.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4hhbBNG6ew&ab_channel=TenneyPlants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKqeiekIv4&ab_channel=SucculentAddict
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTAbAH5jEcY&ab_channel=UniversityofIllinoisExtension
https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/plant/hens-and-chicks
https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/chiwonlee/plsc211/student%20papers/articles11/hbarrett/index.html
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