Veimar.. Sing, talk, heck dance with your plants..whichever method works is all that matters. I'd love to attend a group or university where plant studies are done. Are you familiar with Calatheas? Leaves move suddenly like their cousin, Maranta, 'Prayer Plant.' I had one Calathea with large leaves that jerked suddenly and fiercely, one leaf would occasionally knock down a smaller, neighboring plant. I don't know why it didn't happen before. Many mysteries in this old world. Please don't get me started about people who buy plants or BIRDS to match furniture. Laura, I'm okay, thank you. It's too bad your work hours are so long. Or maybe not. Don't you love people who know their minds? lol. Laura, you're joking, but I knew a few people who's s/o's were jealous of everything including inanimate objects. Rodden, can't say I blame you. 5-months of winter! Summer 2013 through winter was the worse, coldest. I think we had 2-weeks in the 90's then back to cool. I thought OK was dry??? Low humidity? I can deal with heat, but when temps rise over 100F, I need more than a fan and open windows. Don't like a/c though. Plants are on stand-still when temps get too hot. Since you have rocky soil, you'd definitely need to amend. What about succulents grown in-ground? Agave, Optuntia? My niece lives in Lake Zurich, but she has artificial plants. lol. Sorry about your mom. I imagine your winters are nicer than our spring...warm enough for potted plants to be outside. What type of plants interest you? Laura, VA got hit with 13" of snow? Unbelievable! Is 2014 a record? Toni

I heard that aloe variegata was a winter grower but it likes it kinda dry all the time. It does rot easily especially right after blooming. I have lost the roots then 2 years running and had to take them out and callous them and replant them. Agave bracetosa is tough as nails. They have lived through winter dampness and 12 degree F night time temps 4 days running. I would say that they could take some winter moisture. They can take moisture at any time of the year or that is my understanding. They have lived through 59" of rain and 5" of rain per anum. They are not growing with the 5" amount. They live in the northeast of Mexico and can deal easily with humidity. Remember that I live in Central texas so what I consider humidity is different than what you might consider. They are slow growers.

Yes I wanted more opinions from others in So Cal and mediteranian climates as to their specific experiences were with PIG plants. I've had good experiences with Aloe during the winter just planted directly into the ground from cuttings. Also a lot of jade crasula plants straight PIG I haven't had much experience with echeveria, aeoniums, or agaves PIG. I'd assume the echeveria and agaves I should wait til late spring to plant? Aeoniums are winter growers I think. Couldn't I just plant them directly in the ground now? Has anyone had personal experience in a mediterranian climte with aeoniums? More specific is better, as I have a limitted amount of cuttings and not enough plants. I would be devastated if I just tested it myself by planting a bunch of the aeoniums I've been growing and then the cuttings just die Yes that was me before, I turned my mom's yard into a succulent garden. I'm also now working on a rental house of mine and I'm just trying to plant cuttings PIG in ground just so theirs a ground cover that's low maintenence, especially in areas without a lot of sprinklers

A quick google search shows that it is indeed good for bonsai. Very pretty plant. I do not have any personal experience with this particular plant - may be others will chime in. Does not sound like a difficult plant. It is a zone 8 plant so it will need good winter protection depending on where you live. But here is a short care guide from dallasbonsai: https://www.dallasbonsai.com/care-guides/fringe-flower.html. There are many other sources of info including you tube. I presume you have already know about those.