Gee, thanks, Lumpy! ;-) I'll be sure to keep all my cold weather gear handy! Honestly, I wouldn't have minded a decent snow cover this winter, which would have helped insulate the gardens, and we have tons of roses, but I would not be happy about a blizzard this late in the season! Although... it would sure beat the heck out of tornadoes, and we live awfully close to tornado alley, as we call it, where everything is flat... and occasionally, you can hear that freight train rumble off in the distance during a bad storm, indicating that one is touching down or swirling nearby. We've been really lucky so far, knock on wood. Mike, you have no idea how often I dream of living in the Caribbean, where the weather is warmer and more humid, and I can hear the surf hitting the beach... I know it would be a lot better for my body, considering, but the husband would never go for it... he hates hot weather and loves winter, and would never want to move that far away from the kids. So, the most I can ever hope for is a vacation someday! I wouldn't really want to move far from the kids, either, though... the grandkids are just way too great, and as grandparents, it's now payback time! ;-) But seriously... Mike, those are some awesome plants! I'm so glad you shared them! They really brightened my morning! I was thinking of taking my few orchids out to the greenhouse this spring, once weather allows, and see if I can get them into better shape. They're doing ok, but it's just so dry up here, and I haven't had time yet to isolate them into a little plastic cover to help with humidity. I've been busy putting a business plan together, and getting inventory done, and a lot of other stuff, so my plants get a bit neglected. The one thing I am religious about is taking my vitamins and doing the protein thing every morning. I'm starting to feel a little better already! Gosh, how great would that be to have so many thriving orchids of different kinds growing around you that you actually thought of them as weeds! Oh, would I be in heaven! :-) Your skills show up every time you post a picture, Mike... you're doing fine... better than fine! You're doing great! Your plants always look so healthy, and so happy! Don't over guess yourself... you'll drive yourself nuts. You've got the fundamentals down, you know the science, the physics, and it just comes down to learning what each type of plant you have requires, culturally speaking. If you're unsure a plant needs watering, wait a day. I don't have the luxury of chasing the sun... I have 3 windows indoors... east, south, and north. The east window is loaded with plants. I keep some in the south window, but it's in a stairwell and partially blocked by large sycamore trees. I also keep a few plants in the north window, and believe it or not, they do ok. They're mostly Amaryllids, and one Ponytail Palm. I have to bring in anything that can't tolerate freezing, because we cannot afford to heat the greenhouse. It's too exposed in location. It would cost a small fortune. So... anything that does come in for winter gets jammed in with everything else, or propped up on shelves as close to the windows as I can get. I do have supplemental lighting, just a couple of shop type fixtures with one cool and one warm bulb in each, but they don't really do that much. Even so, any help is better than none. I must say, though... yes, I was highly surprised! I'm just drooling over those white flowers, Dens, I'm guessing... and the "coconut" orchid is definitely one I'm trying this spring. I'm saving up to make a stop at Oak Hill Gardens next time we go north to visit the kids... I need some bark, and of course I'll have to walk around the greenhouses... and in the process, I'm certain that a few small starter plants will beg me to take them home, and how can you say "no" to such cute little things, I ask ya? :-) I was told at one point that a Bl or Bc (can't remember which) "Yellowbird" would do rather well in my home conditions, so I've got that one in mind, too. When I see something I think matches to the environment I have, I write it down. The list is growing! Again, Mike, thank you for sharing those pictures... I bow to your growing skills... you're really doing an excellent job. Honestly, everything is just beautiful! Well... I need some rest... it's been a very long day for me. Lumpy, nice to make your acquaintance, and please... try to keep that blizzard on lock down for now! ;-) As for everyone else, have a lovely evening, and Happy Growing! And, as always, my best to you and Mom, Mike! :-)

Same here, 4"-6" total, probably 7 or 8 leaves. Mine was about that size (2"-2.5" total, 2-3 leaves) when I got it as a small seedling from OHG in the spring of 2009. It got it's first spike last spring/summer. So far mine hasn't had the inclination to keike yet, but I do have 2 spikes currently. Very standard phal conditions for mine, under flouros in the winter and outside in the shade in the summer. Good luck, Bob

Gosh a mighty...it's Kitty! What a great surprise. You have been missed here too. I always visualize you on one of your tractors. You are an amazing woman. It's so good to know that you are happy and well. No apologies needed. Time makes us all run to stand still, and many of us (me included) have a lot of catching up to do. Big hugs, Blanca

AFAIK, the only pitcher plant that could use water in their pitchers are what is called Sarracenia purpurea. That's an American pitcher plant. Yours is a Nepenthes, which is an Asian pitcher plant. I think your salesperson may be mistaken in this area, but direct sunlight could easily "fry" her. That happened to my Neps last summer, and I was living in PA at the time. I wouldn't put water in the pitchers. Misting is what many Nepenthes growers do, though. It is not at all unusual for older or existing pitchers to dry or die out. Either their time was up or they might have been in shock, with the change of environment. Nepenthes could several weeks to adjust. With some variation (highland vs. lowland), Nepenthes naturally grow in warm, humid environments, from near the equator. Texas may be a tad too hot and dry come summer. Nepenthes also do well by window sills, in hanging baskets, which is what I do. Many people also put them in terrariums. I think your sunlight is adequate and as long as your plantis producing new pitchers, it seems to be adjusted and doing fine. When CP's lose old leaves but are producing healthy new ones, don't worry about the old ones. Always look at your new growth as an indicator of how things are going. It is not unusual for other critters to take up residence at the mouth of a pitcher plant - as long as we're not talking about spider mites or aphids. Seems like everybody using this discussion forum has Nepenthes and orchids! Below is an example of a Nep in a hanging basket: