Sempervivum (Sempervivum tectorum), the common houseleek, is one of the toughest succulents there is: tight rosettes of fleshy leaves, often tipped in red or purple, that spread into a mat by producing offsets — the 'chicks' around the 'hen'. It has been grown on rooftops for centuries, and it is almost impossible to kill with neglect.
Indoors, it is a little trickier than outdoors, because it wants very bright light and very dry air — a stuffy, dim room will make it stretch and rot. Given a sunny windowsill and a gritty mix, though, it is a plant you can all but forget. It is non-toxic to cats and dogs. This guide covers light, watering, humidity, temperature, soil, repotting, feeding, propagation and the common problems that show up when something is off.
Sempervivum at a glance
| Care factor | What this plant needs |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Sempervivum tectorum |
| Light | bright direct |
| Water | every 2–3 weeks; let soil dry fully |
| Humidity | low |
| Temperature | 60–80°F (16–27°C) |
| Repotting | every 2–3 years |
| Pet safety | non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Light
Give your Sempervivum bright direct light. A spot near an east- or west-facing window is usually ideal, or a metre or so back from a bright south-facing window. In the right light the plant grows steadily and keeps its colour; in too little light growth turns weak and stretched, and the plant loses the look that makes it worth growing. Our grow-light calculator can help work out whether your spot is bright enough.
Give it bright direct sun — the sunniest windowsill you have. Sunlight keeps the rosettes tight and brings out the red and purple tips; in low light the rosettes stretch open, turn green, and the plant weakens. A south-facing window is ideal, and it also grows well outdoors in summer.
Watering
Water: every 2–3 weeks; let soil dry fully. The golden rule is to check the soil before you water rather than watering on a fixed day — push a finger into the mix and water thoroughly only when it has dried to the depth the plant prefers, letting the excess run out of the drainage holes. Then empty the saucer so the plant never sits in standing water. Our watering calculator gives a starting point for your pot size, and the watering schedule generator can help you build a routine around it.
Water only when the soil has dried out completely — every 2–3 weeks is usually right, and even less in winter. Water the soil, not the rosette: water sitting in the centre of a rosette causes rot. Let the pot drain completely, and never let it sit in water.
Humidity and temperature
Sempervivum needs low humidity and temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C). Humidity is the care factor most homes get wrong: heated indoor air in winter is far drier than most houseplants like, and the first sign is usually brown, crispy leaf edges. Grouping plants together, a pebble tray under the pot, or a small humidifier near the plant all help; a humidifier is the only method that reliably lifts humidity enough. Misting does very little — the water evaporates in minutes. Our humidity and temperature checker can tell you whether your room suits this plant.
Low humidity suits it — sempervivum comes from dry, rocky, mountain habitats and hates damp air. Do not mist it, and keep it away from steamy bathrooms. Good airflow is more important than humidity for this plant.
Soil and potting
Indoors, Sempervivum needs a rich but free-draining potting mix. Standard potting soil on its own can hold too much water and compact over time, so mix it with perlite and orchid bark to keep air around the roots while still holding some moisture. A pot with drainage holes is not optional; without one, water has nowhere to go and root rot follows. Our potting-mix calculator can work out the parts for a homemade mix for your pot size.
Use a very free-draining, gritty mix — cactus soil with extra perlite, coarse sand or fine gravel. The mix should dry out within days of watering, and the pot must have drainage holes. A shallow, wide pot suits the spreading rosettes better than a deep one.
Repotting
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size — a pot that is too big holds wet soil the roots cannot use, and that is a fast route to rot. Our repotting calculator can help you work out the next pot size and how much fresh mix you will need.
Repot every 2–3 years in spring, moving up only one size, or simply divide the clump and replant the offsets. Handle the rosettes gently — the leaves snap off easily — and let any damaged leaves dry before watering.
Feeding
Feed during the growing season, in spring and summer, with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half the strength on the label, roughly once a month while the plant is actively growing. Do not feed in autumn and winter when growth slows. Always follow the directions on the label — more fertiliser is not better, and excess salts build up in the soil and burn the roots, which often shows up as brown leaf edges. If you have been feeding heavily, flush the soil with plain water occasionally to wash the salts out. Our fertiliser calculator can help you get the dose right.
Feed very lightly, if at all: once or twice a year at half strength in spring is plenty. Sempervivum grows in poor, rocky soil in nature, and too much fertiliser gives soft, stretched growth that rots easily.
Propagation
Sempervivum propagates itself: the mother rosette — the 'hen' — produces offsets — the 'chicks' — around its base. When a chick is a few centimetres across and has roots of its own, gently pull or cut it away and pot it in gritty succulent mix.
The mother rosette dies after flowering, which is normal — the chicks carry on. A single plant can become a whole colony within a couple of years.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Brown leaf tips | Low humidity | Trim brown tips; raise humidity; use filtered water if tap water is hard. |
| Slow growth | Too little light or pot-bound | Give more bright light; repot if pot-bound. |
| Pests | Check undersides of leaves regularly | Inspect leaf undersides weekly; isolate and wipe or shower the plant. |
Brown leaf tips
Likely cause: low humidity. Trim the brown tips with clean scissors, following the leaf's shape, and raise the humidity around the plant — a pebble tray or humidifier helps more than misting. If your tap water is hard, switch to filtered or rainwater, since salts can also crisp the edges. Check the humidity with our humidity and temperature checker and move the plant away from radiators and hot, dry draughts.
Slow growth
Likely cause: too little light or pot-bound. First check the light: move the plant a little closer to a bright window and see whether new growth picks up over the next month. Then check whether it is pot-bound — roots circling the drainage holes mean it is time to repot into a pot one size larger with fresh mix. Do not try to force growth with extra fertiliser; a plant that is short of light or root room will not use it, and the salts can burn the roots.
Pests
Likely cause: check undersides of leaves regularly. Inspect the undersides of the leaves every week, especially in warm weather, and isolate the plant at the first sign of trouble so pests do not spread to neighbours. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or give the plant a gentle shower, and repeat weekly until the pests are gone. Our pest identifier helper can help you work out what you are dealing with before you treat it.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Sempervivum?
Every 2–3 weeks; let soil dry fully. Check the soil with your finger before watering rather than watering on a fixed day — pots dry out at different rates depending on light, pot size and the season.
How much light does Sempervivum need?
It needs bright direct light. Too little light gives weak, stretched growth, while harsh direct sun can scorch the leaves, so a bright spot out of direct midday sun suits most plants in this guide.
Is Sempervivum safe for cats and dogs?
According to the data used for this guide, this plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants, and if a pet eats any of it, contact your vet.
When should I repot Sempervivum?
Repot every 2–3 years, in spring, or sooner if roots are circling the drainage holes. Move up only one pot size so the fresh mix does not stay wet for too long.
Why is my sempervivum stretching and turning green?
It needs more light. Move it to the sunniest windowsill you have — a south-facing window is ideal — and the new growth should stay tight and colourful. Stretched rosettes rarely tighten up again, but offsets grown in bright light will be compact.