I saw this forum a while back and my wife and I did like hen and chicks so I throught what the hay. Bought over $100 worth of them and the pictures on the web site looked so nice. Pictures below was when I first purchased them. They turned all green shortly. Well, Looking what i purchased is dissapointing. To me, all look alike. Just minor difference in leaves. All look green, some with just a hint of purple. Am I looking at wrong time of year? Do they need more sun to get their colors? Anyway, I got them and I'm stuck with them. My wife thinks I'm a fool.
Helpless Fool, Stush

Yup, this is absolutely the wrong time of year.
You have some great varieties there. Some will be absolutely brilliant next spring, early summer. Look at some of those varieties in the database. We're trying to put pictures of what they look like throughout the seasons. There are some that hold their color year round, so you might want to get a few for some late fall variation - don't buy them, we've got extras. I bet I'll have some Legolas extra next year and it's dark purple right now.
You've got some good variation in size there. I'd suggest getting some fuzzy arachnoid types too for variation. Again, don't buy them. I and others will have extras for the price of shipping.

Tabby,
Thanks, I throught that they may stay green. Hope it wasn't something I was doing wrong. My bed that I plan to put them in is not going to be ready till spring. I was going to keep them in those window boxes on my outside front porch. I think they should be ok?? I'm in the Pittsburgh Pa. area, zone 6. If not i can winter them over in my dark celler. I'm out of window space. One more plant i bring home and me and my plants are going out. (That's what my wife says)

I don't know enough about your area to say whether they will be ok or not, but they'll do better outside than in a dark cellar.
I have some of mine outside in pots and they survive -20 F.

My spouse doesn't give me too much grief about bringing home more plants since it's pretty cheap as far as hobbies go. He thinks semps are far less trouble than roses, which I have too many of.

Stush, Put your plants outside immediately, if they are planted in loose soil that will drain well. You will love to see what they do after the snow melts in February/March. I think you are more likely in zone 5 most winters for plant planning purposes. Note that if they get too much shade in your area, they will be greenish for most of the year, but too much sun will make it harder to grow them but give great colors.

They need to be outside. If inside, do not water them and keep them cool/cold.

Hi Stush, glad you came back and posted your great photos.
I agree with twit. Outside is the best place for them. They love a good snow cover for winter protection and dormant time.
I am finding I get the best color from my semps in full sun, but twit would know better about that in your area of the country. Maybe protection from the sun in the hottest part of the day?

We look forward to seeing your photos as they grow, mature and go through the amazing color changes you will see. I am so excited for you, you won't be disappointed.

Here is a link to the Sempervivum part of the All Things Plants database that Tabby referred to. http://garden.org/plants/brows...

Hi Stush, welcome and nice to have you here. I agree with everybody, you'll be very happy with your plants come Spring. You've got some nice ones there. In Spring when the trading starts we'll be happy to help you add to your collection too.

Thanks all, nice to feel welcomed.

Stush have you had a chance to go through the database? You can see what they will be looking like come spring time and next summer. http://garden.org/plants/brows...

Lynn,
Yes I have. I panicked when all my semps turned green. I know how to enhance photos to show more colors than that is really there. I do trust you guys, but suspicious of nurseries. Thanks for setting me back on course
Stush.
PS next year I'll be a expert on Semps.

That is why we are building the database. Each one will color a little differently for each of us, depending on our soil, amount of sunlight and moisture. It will be interesting to see how yours color up. Seems you would get similar results to twitchers. He live in Pennsylvania.

Welcome Stush. I'm so glad I'm not alone in the Semp learning process. I am beginning to see the changes now where at one time they all looked alike to me too. Stick to it and these dear ladies will share and teach, I know this for a fact. Don't I Lynn? Love you lady.

Soon Stush will see each little nuance of the cultivars and he will be helping others.

Faye, I can't wait to see your plants in the spring.

And I'm eager to show them Lynn. I am so hooked, never a day goes by without me looking at the sweet little things.

I just finished replanting my DIL semps, moved them from pots into the ground along the front of a flower border she has.

I am so excited. Lynn, look at the last babies you sent me:
Jungle Fire

Fuego

Legolas
Thank you, thank you, thank you. All the others are looking happy too but I wanted you to see the color change. I'm loving it!

They are looking great Faye.
Legolas is one of my favorites in the winter, because of it color.

Update on photos.



When purchased they looked ok, Then during winter they all looked alike, green and small. But now. I love them. Can't wait to get them in the ground where they belong.
Stush

Wow, just look at all that interesting variety you have going there Stush.

Yep. I love them. Still not as nice as what I have seen that you got. but for a beginner, I'm very pleased.