You are crazy, go and cut the spikes off, so long as you push them down into the soil they will root no trouble. Leave the roots & the bag behind. I took a broken yucca stem off Freecycle and planted it in my neighbours garden, its coming into flower now! Someone else on here is bound to want so...

Kristen wrote:Indeed, caveat emptor, but there are folk on eBay who sell lots of Brugs - more chance of getting what you expect from them I reckon (than from someone who just sells the odd one).

Or don't buy on Ebay, buy from the plant breeders, there isn't much difference in price........

Sounds an ideal scenario, sheltered environment, no feeding, no tap water and only rain if they are lucky.
Do they ever flower?

Kristen wrote: I reckon named plants on eBay will be around 6 quid ... .

What I have seen sold as named plants on Ebay haven't always been 100% correct, in fact I wouldn't rely on the name bit at all.

I have had several Proteas and tried to grow from seed. Seed is a non starter, have managed germination, kept the seedlings going for quite a while but none to a successful outcome. Gave up on that. Plants, I have bought several over the years and have just one left, a Cynaroides. Its now survived i...

Dave Brown wrote:I just de-leaf them and stick in a glass of water.

So have I, often as not get 100% failure rate.
Tried Clonex & straight into compost, using 1litre squash bottles.
Some aren't dead yet!

I'm sure I get better results when the plants are in active leaf growth.

Its frustrating.

miketropic wrote:tried several cuttings this year only the yellow brug took. the parent yellow and variegated are growing away nicely right now ready for spring

That's the way it goes, you lose more than you make.
Try again when the plant is in growth.

Snap. All green and growing.

Don't you worry about getting burgled for a plant like that?

I would have it out, if the roots fill the pot, big white tubers, remove at least 50% and then back into the same pot.

The Cyatheas are like poles, they have their fronds tied up in the conservatory but that's not stopping them pushing new ones out.
If the strings snap they'll knock over lots of other stuff.

I think we need to accept Robs garden is a lot colder than ours, and what he may think necessary in his Antartic patch in Sheffield is irrelevant to us, lush southerners we may be or even most. It also means his advice is a bit OTT. My Dicksonia antarctica are all OK, unprotected so far this year, I...

Nice purchases Mark. I see you finally got your gibbum! Are they all from the same place, I quite fancy a Brasiliense icon_thumright Not really the place to discuss what happens below the bikini line :shock: Bikini line? Make that underpants it doesn't have to be a lady thing, men just whimper loud...

Question that should be asked is how many people have had problems with there tree ferns due to protecting them all winter? Does getting mice in the straw count? Kept the cats amused for a while but there were far too many for my liking. My opinion on this subject is, that no one person can be the ...

Mine has never needed protection of any kind but then it is exceptionally well sheltered. There has been slow movement with this all winter. My potted Cyathea medullaris is still sitting next to his chum Dicky and there is a race on to see whose crozier is unfurling more quickly. (So far, Cyathea i...