I still have (3) fairly viable Flowering Almond Shrubs. I've always loved the spring bloom, and the shrub usually doesn't look too bad the rest of the year either. Two years ago, after 5 years or so of growth and flowering, I began to experience wilting on my shrubs right after blooming. At first, it wasn't too bad, but as the years have gone by, the effect is becoming worse and worse. I did some googling, and it appears that there is a fungal disease that is common to these shrubs that is commonly called "brown-off". What I found in prior years directed me to prune off the affected branches (to avoid infection of healthy branches) and to let the plants rejuvenate over the summer, which they did. But, as I said, each year my plants would look worse. This year, I found that this disease actually enters the shrubs via the blooms (which makes a lot of sense). Anyway, I've trimmed them back again, (thankfully, I do have some healthy growth and foliage) ... and I've given them a dose of Bayer's All-in-One Rose systemic treatment. Next year, I'm going to try and remember to give my plants a fungal treatment in the weeks BEFORE they bloom. Hopefully, this might stave off the infection.

I lurk around this forum as I love it, I can't wait to see you back to your project!! I'm sure you'll attack it full steam ahead. So glad you got great news!! Take it easy a few days tho & get rested up as you are both emotional wrecks, I'm sure. Need a little time to recover from the strain!! Wishing you a very happy New Year!! Jan

Grity mix provides nearly ideal airation for roots it's able to retain moisture evenly though out's the pourus surface. Grits also allow for watering to bedone with more volume when the user of grits waters. A slight down side to heavy watering statement is an idication that a fatser draining soil ( grity mix) also dries out faster. Watering with use of grits while cultivating succulents in grits takes a bit of practice but becomes second nature to those who may have made some modifications of the mix for the need of both plant and user. Why a growing in grits plants may need watering more often and/or with more volume of water 1)Pots are small, smaller areas do dry faster 2) Stronger outside moving air is dryer than slower inside air 3) Warmer sun heat and UV rays will dry out any type of soil fatser than cooler 4) A growing plant often reqiures more water than a resting plant. Your inside plants might not have been outside for a while I would suggest they get a two- three week transitioning for inside to outside start in well lite brighter shaded area out side moving them gradually and stoping them in the stronger UV & full sun that they can handle.

This is a Sempervivum so not really a houseplant at all :-) This can be grown outside (winter hardy to zone 3) in any freely draining soil. Does not even require a C&S soil. If you look at online images, the coloring on this plant should be much more vibrant.....more of a tawny, yellow-gold and with some reddish highlights. You will never get this coloring indoors. Either plant in the ground or leave outside full time. Start off with a bit of shade but then gradually increase to full sun. Requires minimal watering indoors or out. I rarely ever water my collection of semps and we can go weeks without rainfall in summer.