I would be willing to guess that most people actually did read your entire first post. However, no matter how excellent your writing skills, you just can't convey as much information as with a picture. No one wants to offer advice without having all the information possible. The lesson is, if you or anyone else wants a response to your questions, include pictures! Honestly, there is no problem with your Aloe. The tip of that leaf probably got damaged, and now the plant is recovering as much water as it can from it before it sheds it. As it pulls water out, the leaf will slowly die back, turning brown as it does. Like Norma said, once the leaf is truly dead and shriveled, it will pluck right off the stuff without much effort. Trimming it won't stop the progression, and trying to pull it off right is a bit extreme, and may injure the stem. Your plan of action for the other plants sounds good to me. Again, to be totally honest, commercial cactus mix is still way, way to rich in organic material. You'd be much better off mixing one or two parts drainage material (pumice, perlite, pea gravel, etc) with one part commercial cactus and succulent mix. It will just make things easier as far as watering goes. The other thing to keep in mind, is that these plants want as much sun as you can provide. You should slowly acclimate them to full sun over the course of a couple weeks to prevent sunburn. I know providing natural light can be very challenging as far north as you are, but the plants will be much happier. You'll find plenty more advice around here, on the internet, and in books. There are lots of different approaches, so you just need to find one that makes you happy. Norma's post is very dense with information, and if you researched each individual topic a little bit, you will immidiately leap from being a "begginer" to being a "novice." ;-) Last but not least, WELCOME!!!

Katy: It is my understanding that most of the ornamental grasses are well-behaved clumpers, and if, over time, they seem to get too massive, they can be divided in late winter like most perennials - although some of the bigger grasses (6' and over) can be a REAL challenge to divide. . .in my own garden, I have never done it except when I specifically wanted more plants. There IS one exception to the clumpers, however, as I learned when I gave a division to a friend and it nearly overwhelmed her garden in barely two years - Phalaris arundicacea picta. . .It's a shame, because when it's properly contained (mine was in a designated 4'x4' area with landscaping timbers on all four sides) it's a quite lovely, cream-and-green leaved beauty, about 18-24" tall - if it starts looking a little brown and tatty in mid-August, you shear it to the ground, and lush new growth appears with alacrity, handsome until frost. So, IF you can contain it securely, it's worth a try. In my response the other day, I failed to mention another favorite, shorter grass - Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats) - stands about 2'-3'high, with dangling oat-like seed heads atop slender stems. It likes moisture (heavy mulch helps AND it can take at least half-shade; this one does seed somewhat, but never so heavily that you can't weed out the seedlings - although I find it a particularly labor-free way to get new plants ! This grass, because it is so upright, blends beautifully with shorter perennials in a mixed bed. Track down a copy of Piet Oudolf's "Gardening With Grasses" if you can; this Dutch master recently completed a public garden, using primarily grasses, at Battery Park in New York City, that simply takes your breath away. . . Carl

I'm a little curious to know how your plant #4 is doing, M_Medina, as my friend is having similar problems with his fuzzy plant (leaves getting yellow and falling)... What did you repot your plant in? Is it better now? I would have liked to help with you questions regarding the roots, but I am too new to plants for that; I'd say they look okay although they do seem short... and too compact? Actually, it looks like a cutting that is growing roots... but someone else might know better!

HU.....36 Just to point out this is 2yrs old thread. I have not seen Sugi (Grace) around for some time - maybe she will post again... Are you in Australia? The name Purple Delight is supposedly used there for a plant that is G. 'Snow White'. Leaves are supposedly green, but very pruinose and that is why name is Snow Queen. I also have superbum, and agree with you that it is quite flat.