Pity you couldn't make it last weekend Darren. Would have been good to meet you.

I went down with the family and stayed the night at Trentham Gardens Premier Inn and paid a visit to the nearby Monkey Forest (140 Barbery Macaques living outdoors all year round in a 3qtr mile wooded enclosure). I also came back with some really nice plants :) I met Paul for the first time last yea...

saw a couple of very nice Dicksonias at my local B & Q on Sunday. The tallest at 42 inches and reduced from £115 to 49.99. I was very tempted but I know people who have lost these and I wouldn't want to spend £50 on a plant that may not survivie its first winter in my care. Is there a tried and ...

Looks very like hardy opuntias I have from seed distributed by the bcss some years ago. I've had them planted out for a few years. Leave it and see how it looks after winter. It will survive I'm sure.

I have a couple of aloes that have flowered and once they got to flowering age/size, they tend to flower every year. My A. striatula planted out flowered for the first time this year

Didn't know they were root hardy as well. May have to root some cuttings to try

I was quite surpised to see Aloe arborescens too. Could it have actually been A. mutabilis which is more cold hardy?

Useful to know they are easy from cuttings. My plant will be going in the greenhouse soon and will need cutting back a bit so I will have a go at rooting some:)

I've bought Agave and Cacti seed during Autumn/Winter the last few years. They germinate fine under normal T5 lights. I use a 125W CFL bulb in a propogator in my garage. Gives me something to do in the winter months.

I don't protect my Opuntias. Some don't make it though and even humifusa/compressa suffers damage some winters.

I have some planted out this year. Didn't think it might survive though. Are the variegated forms as tough as the plain green?

The Gregg Starr book has Harvardiana as hardy to -12C but I would try to provide shelter to keep it dry through the coldest months.

fern Rob wrote:

kata wrote:I just planted two weeks ago Fritillaria, orange I think.

I have planted them before but they don't grow well In my garden.

Same for me. Lily beatles destroy them

This thread reminds of a promising young palm I have called "Waggy X" from seed sent to me by Red Squirrel

Not hardy at all so best to bring it in if you can. Not sure about top cutting. Personally I wouldn't risk it.