Sounds to me like you have a handle on the situation as it is now. I personally would never have tried to discipline my steps, not my job.

I'm in the Toronto area and happy to trade some leaves/cuttings/plantlets in the spring. Too cold to ship plants now, even with the unseasonably warm weather. =) Edit: Lately I like to grow small and interesting looking plants!

Agreed. Set and forget 8D I also put my leaves, business end down into potting medium as described above. I use C&S or bark fines mixed with perlite, however, I never water them. The most convenient thing I've found, is those teeny little seed starter trays with multiple cells. I like them, because they get to grow undisturbed until they are a good reliable size. One or a few leaves per cell. I check once a week and if and when one leaf shrivels, rots or does not appear viable for some reason, I pull and & toss. I keep it outside in a bright shady spot & as long as the leaves still look plump and as if they are still on the plant, I don't water. It only draws my attention when leaves start to look dessicated, upon closer inspection, I'll see teeny plantlets, at that point, I may water. It's kind of a game of numbers. Propagate more than you plan to keep, that way you forget about the failures and only focus on successes. Out of 2 dozen leaves, 16 may become plantlets, of that 16, 11 may actually continue on to become more than just a wee little rosette or flourish of leaves 8D I propagated all the sunburned leaves =D

Normally I direct sow, but maybe starting in containers outside could work. I would have to think of a place that gets enough sun, but not so much sun or the hatched seedlings will dry out for sure. I don't leave until 2nd week of Oct and normally things I have direct sowed are popping up within that 1st week, but I am trying some new stuff I never did before and this is fall not spring so maybe fall seedlings take longer. If I get my butt in fast enough gear I could divide the packets into 3rds and do an experiment direct sow, containers and the last 3rd when we get back home. Ohh to be so organized. Damn this working for a living, it so gets in the way! Lol.