Hello Tom T, and the rest of the forum members- Have been lurking, and very busy with Life over the last few years. But now, back to growing fat plants. Bought me some Pachy discolor seed (always the optimist ) from Mesa Garden. I'll sow them in a gritty mix and grow these seedlings (if, the seeds sprout) throughout the winter months in a plastic storage container, community-pot style, exposed to bright sun, until warmer weather next spring. Then, the seedlings will go outside into full sun, planted into individual pots. I plan to grow these plants like I grow Cyphostemma juttae, Operculicarya pachypus, Bursera fagaroides, and Fockea edulis, i.e. smallish pots, gritty mix, little water/fertilizers, (water is mostly from rain)....almost no water/misting, during dormancy periods (just enough moisture to prevent root dehydration). These plants begin to go dormant around mid/late October (Zone- 7/New York City). All these plants are grown hard, in a full sun exposure. Plants seem to be doing well, and the trunks are fattening up from year to year. The Operc. and Bursera are fast growers. I have read that the Pachycormus growth is very slow when grown under the same cultural conditions. Should I grow the seedlings with more moisture, and fertilize more often, just to force a more upright growth pattern ...then grow harder after plants attain the desired height/size, and, to also fatten up the trunks? When, (at what development stage), should I start thinking about pruning back branches, and nipping back new growth? The Pachys in the posted photos, look like they have been pruned back, and are sprouting new growth from the dormant buds. Honestly, they look like they are just barely surviving, and hanging on for dear life. Is this the kind of "hard" culture that's needed to produce a fatter/shorter trunk? Never grew a Pachy d. from seeds...so any cultural suggestions would be very helpful, and very appreciated. Growing fat-plants in New York City ain't easy. Frank

Haworthia are growing and start to show flower stems. The bulbs are starting to show leaves, and they will be great in March. So will the Apple blossoms, Faucaria are in flower and open in the afternoon on sunny days, all of my citrus are getting ready to come off the trees. Rhipsalis are in flower and some are setting seeds. I have been repotting everything, and it jump starts them. The Kalanchoe look great some coming into flower, Tylecoden, and Cotyledon are in growth, but so is the parsley and lettuce. Even the bush oxalis are growing and I just put in the cuttings last month. The Tricodiadema the orange, and the white one are doing well. The only problem with this species is that it spread seed all over the place. I found an old one hidden in the old stawberry pot, the strawberry plant was pushed out of the pocket, this plant had a nice caudex forming, about the size of my thumb, had a heck of a time getting it out. It was perfect for a bonzi pot. Merry Christmas to all of you, Norma

Pagan - yeah that's what got him noticed on youtube a few years ago and the rest is history as they say - he also does a nice version while my guitar gently weeps too amongst a load of others :) Well what a performance last night frigging insane, what a talent and what a genuinely nice person too. He played bohemian rhapsody last night too aswell as a selection of tracks from his new album 'Travels' which comes out next month but is on sale at his gigs now. I'll be there, the cover of the Jackson's song, is a lovely piece too. He stayed behind to sign stuff but I didn't wait in the line, I kinda get star struck asking for a picture etc so bought the CD and went - so if you guys get chance to see him live he's a must if your into ukulele music to lift the soul. Fingers crossed he comes back to the UK next year, legend!!

Not sure how wet it may have got there for you but the operculicarya pachypus may have enjoyed some of that moisture, The the temps you mentioned are in an area that it would have enjoyed some of the rain fall but as it sounds like yours is close to dormant maybe not to much. IME( being that's mine is kept inside for very cold winter months) it benefits from occasional infrequent light misting though out the dormancy time. If worried about it's inner pot areas getting rot I'd suggest to keep a monitory eye on it over the next few days. Also keep in mind they can handle lower temps than you mentioned.