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Materials Needed
- Newspaper
- Clam Shells or Something Similar
- Potting Soil
- Hen and Chicks
- Drill
- Sphagnum Moss
Putting It All Together
First, start by laying your newspaper (to make clean up easy) and drilling holes for drainage in your shell... adults only! Turn the shells upside down and drill at least two holes, maybe even three. If you do not provide drainage, your hen and chicks will get root rot, which is not good! After the holes are drilled, dampen the sphagnum moss, making sure to wring out any excess water. Take a small amount of the damp moss and press it into the shell. The moss serves a dual purpose: letting excess water out while keeping the potting soil in.
Next, add some potting soil to your shell and lightly pat it down. Be sure to use a soil with a slow release fertilizer; if your soil does not have a fertilizer, add a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote. Slowly add water to the soil so that it is damp, being careful not to push the dry soil out of the shell. Next, remove the hen and chicks from their container and gently pull them apart. The hens are the large rosettes and the chicks are usually connected to a hen by a rope-like shoot. If a chick is connected by one of these rope-like shoots, simply cut the shoot off at the base of the chick. When selecting which portions of the plant to use, make certain not to use any flowering hens as they will die after flowering. Gently press your hen and chicks into the potting soil and place your new arrangement in full sun and enjoy!
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