PixMe - Read up ALL posts & pics of Ralf's -- he's as good as they come with cold-hardy's in Germany!

Unfortunately, looks just like mine, Dave, only the rabbits are eating the biggest Semp heads! :( Silver-lining: 1) Will continue to add more & deepen the gravel & NAPA/Turface to ALL the beds; 2) most of the Agaves & Hesperaloes are doing well; 3) have GOBS of C-H seedlings to replace t...

Maja - Weather has warmed up just enough that I think I can safely bring out onto the porch some of the hardiest & biggest seedlings -- So I can start MORE (yah-huh-ha!) :roll: Here's "final" Group viewing of your Steno/Echinofoss. crispatus before they get put up in individual pots. :...

I guess I'm going to have to live to @ least 90 -- cuz even using limitations of Z6 Cold-Hardy, apparently "To Grow" list just got bigger!

And here's one example of a "dish" garden in east window of 50 - 55F bedroom!

Know what you mean @ drainage holes, Dave -- but one of 1st rules I learned in vet school: Never say never, & never say always :lol: Guess it was one of those experiments where I just didn't care! Didn't use any gravel @ bottom -- as best I remember -- probably because I only use @ 10 organics w...

Dave - really suprised E. viereckii ssp mori. made it! Both Dave's Garden & Cactipedia only have them rated to 30F! -- which is why I've haven't tried to grow it. Nice plant & blossoms, tho. The Titanopsis & Aloinopsis are "warty" leaved succulents. Blossoms sort of "daise...

Dave - I'll 2nd Sax's recommendation, because that's what I have a bunch of both in. If you stick with the cacti, I'd recommend using @ least casserole dishes, cuz they're deeper. But even Haworthia --if they had their "druthers" would druther be in something 3 - 4" -- when their root...

Good that you've realized there's a "next stage" -- which is far more critical! Always (relatively) easy to throw up pics of lots of little green globs. Getting them to @ least adulescents -- sh_t still happens... :roll: Anytime I see someone (& it ain't me yet!) get their 1st blossom ...

Those are some substantial spines on your C. retusa, Steve! -- right up there with G. spegazzini & a few others. Have of few Cory's started (this past Fall) d/t their cold-hardiness. They were pretty small & treated them cold & dry on the glass porch. Started lightly H20ing them a few we...

I did have that experience when I 1st started, but I was using @ 1/3 of cactus mixture as "leveler's" sand -- which is another name for what you have. It's not "beach" sand, but there's a lot of fine stuff in it. Silver-lining on a "bad" experience -- We had an unusual ...

Nice job, JC! You chose a nice blend of fast , slow & in-between. The Astro's "look" especially nice -- those & the Fero's will give you a good taste of success! The rest & everything from now on is a matter of "just keep growing" :D Nice to have the GH (which I don't...

If you can keep "your" growth rate to 20 plants/yr., your friends will consider your hobby a little "odd", but "cute"! I'm betting you can't... :lol: Like the plants, (once your roots get established) your growth will probably be logarithmic! But you'll have lots of sup...

Bronze is OK, "beet" red (as in veggie) - not!

Dean - I've got a couple of O. erinacea v. ursina plants (no location), but need to wait until end of May. We're still in Winter here, but Spring is getting close :roll: Send me PM with your address, and I'll send out. Am looking for a "true" santa-rita if you're got one (or can get). Othe...

Sort of had that "feeling", Dean (have "lived" on CF long enough), but figured I'd address the cold-hardiness of O. santa-rita!