Sempervivum chocolate kiss is a plant which you should not miss out on in your succulent collection. They are that special in terms of their appearance and in their color.
These are rosette forming plants and would be great additions for your rock gardens, wall plantings, borders as well as for your ground covers too.
One of the common names you can use for these plants is Sempervivum ‘Pacific Devil’s Food’ (Gossett). These are drought tolerant plants.
In fact you can skip watering them for sometime as their leaves can conserve water for extended periods.
You could consider them to grow in patio planters as well. Chocolate kiss are an evergreen perennial set of plants just like the rest of the plants belong to sempervivum.
Anybody can consider growing the Chocolate kiss plants be it a fresher in gardening or an experienced Gardner.
That is simply because growing them is a simple task. This article is a comprehensive guide on how to look after these plants well and the special care tips you need to follow to avoid the diseases they may come across.
How do I identify sempervivum chocolate kisses?
You can easily identify the sempervivum chocolate kiss plants from their big foliage.
Sempervivum chocolate kiss rosette would be burgundy or brown in color. You could spot them carrying their rosettes all year long.
Besides, you could spot them forming many offsets in hot pink particularly during spring. They could rise up to a maximum height of 2-3 inches. On the other hand, their maximum width would be 12 inches.
Besides these factors, sempervivum chocolate kiss plants produce pink flowers during summer. These are monocarpic plants which literally mean they would die right after they produce flowers.
One look care guide
| Botanical Name | Sempervivum ‘chocolate kiss’ |
| Common Name | Sempervivum ‘Pacific Devil’s Food’ |
| Plant Type | Succulent |
| Mature Size | Maximum height of 2-3 inches Maximum width would be 12 inches |
| Sun Exposure | Full sunlight to partial shade |
| Soil Type | Well-draining, gritty |
| Soil pH | Neutral |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Flower Color | Pink |
| Hardiness Zones | USDA hardiness zone 5 |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
| Average price | $ 8 |
How do you take care of a sempervivum chocolate kiss?
Light Requirement
Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants have high demands of sunlight. Literally, they need to have 6 hours of full sunlight in the morning and partial shade for another six more hours.
It is important that you fulfill their sunlight requirement since only then they can maintain the tight rosette form and continue to grow in the vibrant colors.
Temperature and humidity.
Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants can grow well if they get temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Hence most of their growth would take place during spring and summer.
These are frost hardy plants too Besides they can even withstand the frost condition if you cover them with frost cloth.
Is it cold hardy?
USDA Hardiness Zone
Sempervivum chocolate kiss hardy plants in USDA hardiness zone 5.
Watering Requirement
Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants have minimal requirements when it comes to water. In fact, they can thrive and grow as usual even if you forget to water them once or twice.
What you need to make sure is to let their soil dry between two watering sessions. Further when you water, you need to water them deeply as well.
Ideally it needs to reach all the nooks and corners in the pot and excess water should drain away from the draining holes. Ensure that you allow them to absorb water for a few minutes.
You can water them once every 10 days during summer and spring. That is because the temperature levels during spring and summer are high.
On the other hand, you can reduce watering during autumn and fall since they will be in their dormancy during winter.
Soil Requirement / pH.
A porous well-draining soil mix is a must to grow them in. It is important that you grow them in a soil mix which does not create waterlogged, soggy and damp conditions in the pot.
If you grow them in a garden bed, the soil there should not be a dense one.. You can consider adding substances such as coarse sand, pumice or gypsum and amend the soil to make it more optimal for them.
Pot size Potting and Repotting.
A terracotta pot, concrete cement pots would go well with the Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants.
Besides, you can use them for rock crevices, metal containers, succulents’ wreaths, roof singles as well.
Where to Plant
To plant the Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants you need to select a spot where they can gain plenty of sunlight. As aforesaid Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants would be great picks for ground covers as well.
Fertilizer and time of year
I encourage you to feed them with a controlled release fertilizer at the start of their growing period. Besides, you can feed them with a diluted liquid balanced fertilizer of 20-20-20 once a week.
However, you need to dilute it to quarter strength and then apply. When you have to feed the immature Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants, you can go ahead with a fertilizer which has a minor amount of Nitrogen.
Dormancy.
Toxicity
Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants are pets safe plants.
Common bugs and illnesses.
Over watering is what causes many problems with the Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants.
If you supply them with excess water, it could result in root rot and will make the plants more vulnerable towards the pest infestations as well. Pests such as mealybugs could invade them at any given time if you water the plants in excess.
Furthermore, ensure that you conduct regular check ups on the plants occasionally so that you could see if there are any upcoming diseases of the plants.
If you find any in advance, it will help you to treat them then and there and to minimize the damage it does to the plants.
To treat the pest infestations, you can use systemic insecticide and apply them. Alternatively, you may apply neem oil as well.
Besides, you may also use isopropyl alcohol too. Moreover, you may use rubbing alcohol and wipe the affected leaves to treat mealy bug pest infestation.
How to propagate sempervivum chocolate kiss
The propagation of Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants is very simple. Sempervivum chocolate kiss plants develop shoots, and they will later on become smaller plants.
When they grow in the wild, they will naturally detach and start to develop roots wherever they find a suitable place to grow.
However, if you wish to propagate them, you can simply remove the plantlets and plant them as individual plants.
Besides, you can use their stem cuttings to propagate them too. All you need to do is to obtain the small cuttings and let them wither for about one week’s time.
Sempervivum chocolate kiss plant benefits
Further you can keep them as ornamental plants too. You may even gift these plants to your friends who are freshers in gardening.
Conclusion
These are hardy plants, and you cannot easily kill them also. All you need to ensure is that you do not over water them and avoid exposing them to moist environments.
If you manage to provide the right growing conditions for them, they will grow to their fullest and may even start producing flowers also.
They are such pleasant looking plants, and everybody would fall in love with them.
Read Next : Sempervivum Tectorum Oddity | An Unusual Succulent With Curled Leaves | “Rainforest Cactus”, Is it A Myth Or Real Deal ? Disocactus Ramulosus | Pendant Shaped Succulent |
