Hens and chicks (Echeveria secunda)
Care, watering, light and tips for Hens and chicks on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Crassulaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 15 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
About Hens and chicks
Echeveria secunda, also known as Tememetla, is an attractive succulent from the Crassulaceae family that forms compact rosettes of fleshy, blue-green leaves, often with reddish tips. Its leaves have a distinctive concave shape, giving it a very ornamental appearance. It is ideal for rock gardens, individual pots, or as part of succulent arrangements, adding a touch of color and texture.
Native range
Mexico
Care tips
It requires full sun or bright partial shade to maintain its vibrant coloration and compact growth. Watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings to prevent root rot. Use a well-draining substrate specifically for succulents. A common mistake is overwatering, especially in winter, which can be fatal for the plant.
How to save a dying Hens and chicks
- Warning signs
- Soft, wrinkled, or translucent leaves (overwatering). Dry, crispy, or withered leaves (underwatering/sun). Black stem (rot).
- First aid
- For rot, cut healthy stem, let callus, then replant. For water issues, check drainage, space waterings. For sun, move to partial shade.
- What kills it
- Overwatering is the number one killer. Also, insufficient light or poorly draining soil.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes! They are very resilient. If the stem isn't completely rotted, a cutting or leaf can start new life.