Actually I did not think about planting them in a special pattern (although I could have...). I just always bought them in batches of 3 to 5 different types at a time until now and planted each batch in one plate. Having round plates and a certain number of semps I just cut the cake in "even" pieces (thirds, quarters,....) I found this the easiest way to grow them in compact carpetlike groups (I don't like clumps where offsets finally suppress the mother plant ) and to fit all types purchased in the plate. As the availability of rosettes in different types varies a lot the pieces have become a bit uneven...
Growing them in groups allows me to just take a foto from above, stick a small round adhesive marker close to each group on the foto and write the plant identification number on the marker (I made my own markers by using a hole puncher for paper and some bigger white adhesive labels). Then I store this "identification map" of the plate in my sempervivum folder and do not have to worry that next time I check my plates I will not remember what type they are. With spirals or other patterns that you could easily do with sempervivum this would not be possible...
Once I have a real garden I will give organized patterns or semp pictures a try...
Paddy's right, actually I was planning to stop collecting at this point and keep the remaining space for F1...next year there will be far more sempervivum plates than hot pepper plants on my balcony
