Greybird, unfortunately, it doesn't rain all the time. It's just humid all the time (which I like). This summer we had a lot more rain than in the recent past - often 2 or 3 times a week. I would water so that they'd be watered every other day, one way or the other. Apparently, that was not enough by the looks of my plants now. There's really no comparison. The rain pretty much stopped in mid-October, and we'll get maybe 2 - 3 inches per month on average until late June. Sometimes we get a few months worth in one month, and then it's real dry for long stretches. When I got home from work, I stuck my fingers in the ground in a couple of places. The top 3" weren't even damp but not quite dry, so I watered again. It is becoming very apparent that the roses need it. It is making a huge difference. Jean Bach Sisley is no longer a see-thru bush, and they're all leafing out like I haven't seen except for early spring. I'm just amazed. I water each plant by counting one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two up to 15 or 20. That should be putting at least a gallon (maybe more; I need to measure it in a bucket) daily. Even the potted roses are doing better (they were leafless sticks for the last several months watered every other day). Roses growing in my garden definitely need daily watering - and it's only in the mid-80s during the day and down in the 50s at night. And still they dry out too much to keep the roses satisfied. I have read many times that water, water, water is the main thing with roses, especially in Florida, but I had no idea they required it daily. You folks with clay need to count your blessings, because you are definitely blessed. Which is not to say that we here are not blessed. We have other blessings that need to be counted, too, but moisture-holding clay is not one of them. I guess all that sunshine accounts for a lot of our blessings :)) Sherry

Dave--(or anyone else?): I am really confused by these "weeping" Norway spruce cultivars. You show one picture of a 'Reflexa' that was not staked but is growing erect, then another picture of the same kind of tree that had to be staked. So, does this tree grow erect sometimes, and not all the time? As for the P. abies 'Frohburg' I find confusing statements. You say it needs to be staked or it will grow prostrate. Iseli nursery, and a couple of other places on-line, says it is an upright grower. Elsewhere I see a cultivar name P. abies 'Frohburg Prostrata,' with the 'Prostrata' sugggesting a flopping tree. So what am I supposed to think? Now in the Gotelli collection at the National Arboretum in DC they have two P. abies 'Inversa' trees. Both of these have picturesque irregular habits, but they are definately not prostrate. One, or I think both, have multiple erect trunks growing upright with severely pendulous side branches. I would like to grow one of these, but several sources say they will not grow upright. I have also seen another P. abies 'Inversa,' or so it is labelled, in the courtyard of the Winterthur museum in Delaware. This tree is also growing upright without any staking. And there is another similar tree growing prominently in the National Memorial Park in Fairfax, VA, but this tree has no label at all. I don't know if you have seen my postings in the trees forum under the topic "Large Willow" where I comment on the rampant confusion about golden weeping willows, but I may be even more confused and frustrated in trying to get information about the growth habit of these so-called weeping varieties of NS. I want to grow one or more, but what do I buy? And from whom? Are those I saw labelled 'Inversa' actually something that I can buy as 'Inversa," or is that an incorrect name? And this 'Frohburg' thing? Is there a 'Frohburg' that grows erect, and then another that is 'Frohburg Prostrata' that must always be staked--or which is more properly meant to grow along the ground. Of course, I assume that any of these that are potentially erect growers probably must be staked for a time, but from what I have seen with my own eyes (at the Nat Arb, and at Winterthur, and at the Nat Mem Park), at least one, and maybe more than one of these cultivars, can grow on their own after a period of time being staked, in at least some irregular erect fashion. So, is 'Inversa' one of these? Or 'Frohburg' or what? I have seen them, want one, but what one, or ones is/are it/they?? H E L P!! this is driving me nuts!! --Spruce

"Northern Sea oats out the wazoo." That must be painful, but it's better than having them coming out of your ears. They'll form multi-stemmed clumps in no time. While they're single-seed plants, look closely to see if there are any displaying unusual characteristics. Bigger leaves, smaller leaves, different color, more or less upright, etc.. It isn't likely with Chasmanthium, but it's possible you could find a 'sport' with unusual and desirable characteristics. With those which are normal, it's perfectly acceptable to speed up the clumping process by potting two or more single seedlings together. Simply wash off the old soil, cluster the root systems together, and pot them up.

Brian If nothing else, you should get perlite very easily (sold even in Wallmart, HD, Lowe's). It would probably help if you sift it thru kitchen sieve (get one very cheep in dollar store) since there will be some very small particles/dust (you may want to use mask). I usually rinse it too, and then mix at least 50% of total volume with your C&S soil (you can use more perlite). Use this mix, it will have better drainage. In the meantime, you can look for some grit or other ingredients. I buy chicken grit from farm supply store, in 50lb bags. You may not need that much. Just about all of my succulents are in mix without any soil. With the lights, you should keep them quite close and directed at the plants. Just to be on safe side (I don't know what your grow light is like), lower them gradually. They could be as close as few inches, but just like exposing plants to full sun - you may want to do it in steps. I leave supplemental lights on from 10 to 14hrs, depending on how much natural light they get. I am in z5, Ontario, Canada. I believe your winters are quite cold - and dark? - too (there is young member from Albany on this forum and he comments about cold in Albany). Rina edited to add: here is interesting thread about using supplemental lights; ewwmayo has posted Excellent photos and description (and some calculations) of his set-up; he is in Ont, Canada too (little warmer than me:) - -winter set-up for succulents-