I'm wondering about the container size too. If this plant is basically the property of your cat, I would not want the container to have too much exposed potting mix which the cat begins to use as an alternate litter box. If so, then large pebbles over the exposed surface would be called for. If your plant goes from a south facing balcony a few feet inside the window also facing south, little change of its environment, unless there is a heating vent blowing on it. I've never kept one indoors in a container, but grasses are pretty hardy plants and even look good planted in a bird bath to simulate a water feature....which requires regular watering. However, mine planted that way died, so I'm no help telling you how to keep one alive!

Thanks for the feedback! I live in the bay area as well, Santa Clara. It very rarely freezes, but does occasionally, I think last winter was a rare one in which some people had things dying off they hadn't planed. :( I was really hoping the purple fountain grass would be a perienal, so I guess I should definately wait until spring to do anything to make sure it survives the winter. I do love how it floats about in the wind. lesdvs9, you're right! I definately wasn't planning on doing in in August! I should have been more clear, I was kinda debating on fall as in Sept/Oct versus next year in spring or even next fall. But good idea on cutting it down a bit, I hadn't really thought of that either. Calfornia has such a wide range of microclimates, it really is a learning curve for my own individual one, huh? Makes it seem a bit overwhelming... Thanks again.

I would think you'd be seeing basal growth right now. If not, you may have lost them. They could still push growth, but not as much as you'd like. If you want to change the landscape anyway, I'd give them another week, then dig them up and start over. How about some contrasting perennial color around them? I like yellows with rubrum myself...like a yellow coreopsis.

I love puple grass.