Couldn't agree with you more. In your case, you really have nothing to lose - you have the space, you get cool plants for free, minimal effort. It's just a waiting game. Let's face it, waiting for gratification has become a lost art so-to-speak. I know, I know we've had this conversation countless times before on this forum BS vs. smaller plants or parts of plants and to each his own, but I'm with you. I love the process and the process makes the reward all that much sweeter. I do the some thing with my garden plants. Last year I did a seed trade with a guy in England for some martagon lilies. Planted the seedling out last spring and now I only have about 7 years to wait for the first flowers. Love it! Kevin

JD what probably got you confused is that even a zone 5 tree rose still has to be overwintered in the garage. A zone 7 tree rose tends to get very sick even while overwintered in the garage, because it cannot tolerate being stuck in the garage for as long as our winters last (several months of winter) That's why wheeling tree roses in and out of the garage is very important as soon as you get a warm break out of the weather. On the other hand a zone 5 tree rose can withstand the dark garage a little longer than a zone 7 tree rose can. Again, don't get discouraged. The more you practice the better you'll get at it. Also don't blame yourself either about canker. One thing that people do not realize is that constant rains on one's tree rose, no matter how well you care for it will cause canker. There are certain things which can't be helped. We've been real, real unlucky weather-wise in Kansas City. So even if you keep pruning and keep the leaves clean, canker is inevitable if you keep getting non-stop rains. To me it's impossible to think that next year is gonna be as bad as this year was. It's GOT TO BE BETTER NEXT YEAR! that's what I keep telling myself, lol! JD, here is an image of a properly pruned tree rose. There is still one more essential diagram that I need to find, but can't for the life of me! So frustating! The fantastic diagram shows how to make the cuts along the branches of the tree rose. Maybe someone here knows where the original link is! I tried googling but to no avail. I can't find the diagram except for this, but it's a bit blurry and hard to see. The only thing wrong with the diagram is that you can't plant tree roses in the ground in our zone, JD. That's just a tree rose in a place like California, lol! It is crucial to have air-flow with tree roses or disease will set in. For organics growers, tree roses are the most difficult for us because the bud unions are constantly exposed to rains and freezing temperatures and both weaken the rose with this exposure. Also a tree rose requires constant shaping throughout the growing season. However, you have to be very careful to never ever prune when there is moisture. You can only prune when it's bone dry. That's what's so frustrating about our constant rains. It leaves very little dry time to do our pruning.

The last photo you posted of the growing plantlets looks fine to me. They look like they will survive without problem. Their leaves looks wavy due to the loss of water, but they look "shine" (so to speak) indicating they will survive this But here is my suggestion based on my experience when plants were accidentally let to dry out. Once by me, twice by other people I ask to take care of my plants. If what I see is correct, seems the stem of your nep looks strong, often well established plants with good roots will survive a bone dry pot. This is what I have done to salvage the plant. I cut the leaves that are dead, those that are still green I live alone. Cutting those that eventually die. I've seen that older leaves, the lower ones will likely die, but recent leaves will likely survive. But any pitcher or developing pitcher will die. Once the growing tip began to shoot out new leaves, you probably won't be seeing new pitchers, or the pitchers will developed malformed for some time until it recovers from the shock.

Yeah I think that member was from Sweden. The photos are under orchid growing areas in the Gallery section and they are the last set on the first page, a set of four terrariums side by side. The enclosures are not very large once you know the scale although some members have huge orchidariums. I just can't believe how professional the cylinder type terrariums came out and from such simple materials anyone can get at a Home Depot! I am going to leave this project for the fall or winter but I am seriously considering building something that can be automated with misters etc. for times when I am away, mounted plants don't like vacations. :( If you build it yourself it costs much less, had a medium sized one years ago but did not keep it when I moved because it was built too heavy and bulky and was not properly sealed to be water tight. Mike