Sempervivum: My Favorite

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Posted by @perennialobsessions on
A plant genus that has minimal needs, thrives in some of the coldest climates and least hospitable conditions, yet provides interest throughout the year. Yet they do well in the rainy old Northwest. What more could you ask?

Thumb of 2014-10-06/dave/f541c6Part of the joy of being able to raise 100’s of varieties of Sempervivum at Perennial Obsessions is the chance to see all the variations that this genus has to offer. Amazing color, texture and form packed into a tough evergreen perennial, which provides year-round interest. I am continually fascinated how a rather nondescript green rosette might open up to reveal a striking band of orange or intricate water marks, or the green rosette turns red for a period of time. So you have all the variations amongst the species and then all the variations that a single specimen might go through, season by season. It’s pretty cool!

I love to use Sempervivum in containers, either by themselves or mixed with sedum. The container you use is only limited by your imagination (and the ability to provide good drainage.) Of course they’re also great in rock gardens, vertical gardens, and alpine troughs, tucked between pavers, cascading over a wall or mixed in a perennial border.

When planted in containers, they do better when they're protected from direct, hot afternoon sun, and in the winter, where it's wet like in Oregon, they'll do better under a covered porch or deck. Hardy succulents planted in containers do take more water than when they're planted in the ground. The depth of the soil and overall size of the pot will determine how often they get watered. Also, Sempervivum really don't do well with high humidity, so watering when the humidity is lower will help to keep the plants from melting.

Any good quality potting soil should work. The deeper the soil profile the more important it is to assure good drainage. I'll mix in a little perlite to improve drainage if needed. It is also worth noting that it's not a bad idea to fertilize a couple of times during the growing season...a fairly dilute solution, such as 50ppm of nitrogen.

I know @valleylynn loves the soil mix she uses, and I'd probably be remiss if I didn't mention the addition of some good silt loam to the mix. I don't do this for the containers I sell at the market, but that's just a consistency thing. I can see the benefit of adding to the soil life and free nutrients.

From our experience in the temperate Pacific Northwest, the containers haven't required any special winter protection. In harsher climates the protection of a snow cover is always good, or if it's a dry cold then the container may need to be wrapped or buried, or you can use some other method to protect the root zone.

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Untitled by donnabking Oct 11, 2014 12:29 PM 0
Sempervivum by valleylynn Oct 11, 2014 11:36 AM 3

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