Hey Everyone,

I have a bunch of Sempervivum 'Bronco' that I up-potted from 1.5" plugs into 2" pots in a greenhouse. When I did that, the plants began growing strangely tall. The light is excellent for lots of other Semps in that very same greenhouse so I don't think they're etiolating. I didn't use any fertilizers or hormones.

Could they be blooming? The middle of the rosette doesn't look like how how I've seen other Semps bloom... I'm not sure. I'd greatly appreciate some wisdom! What is causing these S. 'Bronco' plants to grow so darn tall?

Hi ValleyHerb,
That really is strange. I agree with you, does not look like a blooming stage. I am wondering if it just needs more sun, even though your greenhouse is bright enough for other plants.
I do see in our database a photo that looks like it might be doing the same thing later in the growing season. Are they planted in the same soil mix?


It will be interesting to watch these to see how they develop in the coming months.

Hey valleylynn,
I suppose it's possible that they could use more light compared to other Semps, though I'm not seeing the telltale signs of etiolation, mainly lengthening internodes, leaf paling and leaf drooping. Maybe I'll put them outside and see if that helps.

All of them are planted in coco coir with rice hulls mixed in for drainage. I don't LOVE that mix, but it seems to get the job done.

Thank you!

It will be interesting to see if the one on the right does end up blooming. Can you show me a photo of some of your other semps grown in your coco coir/rice hull mix?
Where do you live? Just curious why you would grow them in a green house.

I live in a zone 8a area, but I grow them in a greenhouse for production (we were zone 7b but were recently reclassified by the USDA). I work for a nursery that does a lot of Semps so we're really trying to crank these things out this time of year (I don't want give anymore away than that online, but bonus points if you can guess were I work ). The two S. 'Bronco' in my previous photos were brought to my attention by my boss and I was at a loss to explain what was going on to him.

Here's some other photos of Semps in the same part of the greenhouse. Sempervivum 'Black', Sempervivum 'Fuzzy Wuzzy' and Sempervivum 'Oddity'. The former is doing a similar thing to S. 'Bronco' while the latter two are nice and compact like normal.

Hmm, maybe those two are thinking about blooming. Please keep us updated on their progress.

Do you ever get fasciated offsets from your 'Fuzzy Wuzzy'? It is very common in this sempervivum.


If you look close at your 'Fuzzy Wuzzy' photo, it looks like one of them is starting to do the same things as the two 'Bronco' plants. What do you think.

I think I know where you are. I did not realize your growing zone was that warm. For some reason I thought you got much colder.

I'll keep an eye on those and others that are doing similar things. I actually noticed some fuzzy wuzzy that was growing tall as well.

I haven't noticed any cresting fuzzy wuzzy but we only grow it in 2" pots. We may have had some in our display beds but we recently... lost access to those. I always see pictures of cresting fuzzy wuzzy though!

I've lived here my whole life and we mostly operate as a zone 8a area but it does get lower sometimes. When it snows, and fog collects in the valley, it gets crazy cold. I've even been out in -11°F here before.

I have never been there during your cold season, but did feel that it could get pretty cold in that valley. Sure is a fun place to visit.