Common Houseleek

• 📖 Botanical Name: Sempervivum tectorum
• 🌍 Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrop family)
• 🏡 Common Names: Common Houseleek, Live-Forever, Hen and Chicks, Roof Houseleek

🌿 Care & Medicinal Uses

The common houseleek is not just a beautiful succulent—it has been used in traditThe common houseleek is not only a beautiful succulent; it has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Here’s a detailed care guide along with its medicinal properties.

---

🪴 Growing & Caring for Houseleek

🌞 Light Requirements

🔆 Full sun (6+ hours daily) for best growth.
🌤 Can tolerate partial shade, but growth may slow.
🏡 Indoors: Place near a south- or west-facing window.

---

🌱 Soil & Potting

🪴 Well-draining soil – Use cactus/succulent mix or sandy soil.
⚱️ Best pots: Terracotta or unglazed clay pots with drainage holes.
❌ Avoid dense or water-retentive soil (can cause root rot).

---

💧 Watering

🚰 Water sparingly – Let soil dry completely before watering.
🌵 Drought-tolerant; water once every 2–3 weeks in summer.
❄️ In winter, reduce watering to once a month or less.
⚠️ Overwatering = root rot! Always check soil dryness before watering.

---

🌡️ Temperature & Humidity

🌡️ Ideal: 60–80°F (15–27°C)
❄️ Frost-hardy – Survives as low as -30°F (-34°C)!
💨 Prefers dry air – Avoid humid environments like bathrooms.

---

🌿 Fertilizing

💡 Not required, but for extra growth:
🌱 Use diluted liquid succulent fertilizer in early spring.
⚠️ Fertilize only once or twice per year to avoid leggy growth.

---

🌼 Propagation

👶 Produces offsets (“chicks”) around the mother plant (“hen”).
✂️ Detach and replant in dry, well-draining soil.
📅 Best time: Spring or early summer.

---

🪄 Pruning & Maintenance

✂️ Remove dead leaves and spent rosettes to keep the plant tidy.
🌸 After flowering, the main rosette dies, but offsets keep growing.

---

🐞 Pests & Problems

🐜 Generally pest-resistant, but watch for:

• 🦠 Mealybugs – Treat with alcohol on a cotton swab.
• 🪰 Aphids – Rinse off with water or use neem oil.
  🚱 Overwatering = root rot – Ensure proper drainage.

---

🌿 Medicinal Uses of Houseleek

Traditionally, houseleek has been used as a natural remedy for various ailments. Its cooling, anti-inflammatory, and astringent properties make it valuable for skin conditions and minor health issues.

✅ 1. Soothing Burns & Sunburn

🔥 The cooling gel-like sap (similar to aloe vera) can be applied to burns, sunburn, and scalds for relief.

✅ 2. Wound Healing & Cuts

🩹 The antiseptic and astringent properties help heal small wounds, insect bites, and cuts. The sap reduces swelling and protects against infection.

✅ 3. Earache Relief

👂 In folk medicine, warm houseleek juice was used as ear drops to soothe ear pain and infections.

✅ 4. Skin Irritations & Eczema

🌿 Applied to rashes, insect stings, and eczema, houseleek sap helps reduce redness, itching, and irritation.

✅ 5. Anti-Inflammatory Effects

💧 The juice has been used internally (in small amounts) as a mild anti-inflammatory for gastric issues. However, this should be done cautiously.

---

⭐ Quick Tips for Success

✔️ Full sun & well-draining soil = Happy plant!
✔️ Less water is better than too much.
✔️ Use the cooling sap for minor burns, cuts, or bites.
✔️ If growing indoors, keep in a bright, dry spot.

🌿 How to Use Common Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum) Medicinally

The common houseleek has been used in folk medicine for centuries due to its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. It works similarly to aloe vera and is particularly useful for skin conditions, burns, wounds, and minor infections.

---

🛠️ How to Prepare & Use Houseleek

✅ 1. For Burns, Sunburn, and Skin Irritations

🔥 Use: The cooling gel inside the leaves soothes burns, sunburn, insect bites, and rashes.
📝 How to apply:

1. Cut a fresh leaf and squeeze out the gel-like sap.
2. Apply the gel directly to the affected area.
3. Leave it on for 15–20 minutes, then rinse (optional).
4. Repeat 2–3 times daily for best results.

---

✅ 2. For Wound Healing & Cuts

🩹 Use: Houseleek sap has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, helping small wounds, scratches, and blisters heal faster.
📝 How to apply:

1. Clean the wound with water.
2. Cut a leaf and extract the sap.
3. Dab the sap onto the wound gently with a cotton pad.
4. Cover with a clean bandage (optional).
5. Reapply twice a day until healed.

1. .

---

✅ 3. For Earaches & Infections

👂 Use: In folk medicine, houseleek juice was used as a natural earache remedy.
⚠️ Caution: Only use if the eardrum is intact (no perforation or rupture).
📝 How to apply:

1. Warm a fresh houseleek leaf slightly.
2. Squeeze out a few drops of the juice.
3. Use 1–2 drops in the affected ear.
4. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes, then drain out.
5. Repeat once a day if needed.

---

✅ 4. For Skin Rashes, Eczema & Insect Bites

🐝 Use: Houseleek reduces redness, itching, and inflammation.
📝 How to apply:

1. Squeeze out the fresh juice from a leaf.
2. Apply it to itchy, irritated, or inflamed skin.
3. Let it dry naturally.
4. Use twice daily until symptoms improve.

---

✅ 5. For Sore Throat & Mouth Ulcers

🗣️ Use: Houseleek has mild astringent and soothing effects for oral discomfort.
📝 How to use:

1. Crush fresh leaves to extract juice.
2. Mix 1 teaspoon of juice with warm water.
3. Gargle for 30 seconds, then spit it out.
4. Repeat twice a day for relief.

---

✅ 6. As an Anti-Inflammatory Drink (Traditional Use)

🥤 Use: Some herbal traditions used small amounts of houseleek juice internally for digestive issues and inflammation.
⚠️ Caution: Use sparingly and consult a professional before ingesting.
📝 How to prepare:

1. Extract a few drops of juice from fresh leaves.
2. Mix with honey or water to reduce bitterness.
3. Drink only a few drops at a time, no more than once daily.

---

🚨 Precautions & Warnings

⚠️ External use is generally safe, but do a patch test first to check for skin sensitivity.
⚠️ Avoid ingesting in large amounts—it may cause stomach irritation.
⚠️ Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without consulting a doctor.
⚠️ Do not use in the ear if there is an ear infection with pus or a ruptured eardrum.

---

🌟 Final Tips

✔ Always use fresh leaves for best results.
✔ Store extracted juice in the fridge for up to 2 days.
✔ Combine with honey or aloe vera for extra healing power.

🌿 How to Use Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum) Powder in Skin Care Products

Houseleek powder is made by drying and grinding houseleek leaves into a fine powder, preserving its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and astringent properties. This powder can be used in DIY skincare products like face masks, creams, scrubs, and lotions for hydration, healing, and skin protection.

---

🌿 How to Make Houseleek Powder

1. Harvest fresh leaves and wash them thoroughly.
2. Dry them completely (air-dry or use a dehydrator at low heat).
3. Grind into a fine powder using a blender, mortar and pestle, or spice grinder.
4. Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place.

---

💆‍♀️ How to Use Houseleek Powder in Skincare

✅ 1. Houseleek Face Mask (For Hydration & Glow)

🌟 Best for: Dry, sensitive, or irritated skin.
📝 Ingredients:

• 1 tsp houseleek powder
• 1 tbsp yogurt (for hydration)
• 1 tsp honey (for antibacterial properties)
• A few drops rose water (optional)

🔹 How to use:

1. Mix all ingredients into a smooth paste.
2. Apply evenly to the face and let sit for 15–20 minutes.
3. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.
4. Use 1–2 times per week.