I have noticed that with new plantings the semps almost 'tell' you if something is wrong. Making my bank feral semp rescues to my containers, semps that like where you plant them almost seem to 'snuggle' into the soil when happy, almost like they adjust themselves, and seem to pull or push the base into or out of the planting...when they look like they have settled in it shows that it was a good planting. I have moved quite a few chicks of the blue-green standard variety to give the packed colonies space and try to spread the semps, and they almost tell you if they liked the move or not in a day or two...if they look droopy or unhappy, pull and put em in a different spot and they seem to immediately tighten back up and look happy.

Has anyone else noticed this?

I will have to pay more attention. I do know when I plant a new group of plants some take right off and others struggle. All are planted in the same area, under the same conditions.

Yes, as varied as semps are in shape and form, they seem to be as varied in how easily they take to a new home. I wouldn't say I know enough of a particular group to be able to predict how they will behave. If noticing a newly planted semp not doing well, I am more inclined to think it needs a longer time to acclimate than to think that I need to move them. That's just me.