OK, I was back over there today(2 days after posting this thread) and its generally been in the low 80's for the last few days, but only 70 today. However, the recently warmer weather has seemingly caused them to start growing. They appeared to be at least 2 inches taller than 2 days earlier, and they appear to be a bit wider, meaning that I believe their primary leaves are growing larger finally. I had grown standard Burpee burpless cuke plants in 2011 from market packs bought at Home depot, and they were small when planted, and with them I bought a single pack that had like 6 separate cuke plants all close together in that standard store market pack, so I carefully separated them, and planted them. But it took like 2 weeks before I noticed any significant growth from them at that time, even though I planted those plants in early June in one of the hottest summers om record. But once they finally started growing, they really took off!

Ok, maybe I just need to feed it more often. I will get right on it after this heat passes. I really am pleased with the flowers when they arrive.

Hi there, Coll! First, I am sorry you lost a lot of your potted hosta. (At last count I lost 13 different potted cultivars.) The winter was really harsh and that could account for the slooooow progression. Also, isn't most of your garden relatively sheltered by large trees? Wouldn't that shade slow the growth rate at the beginning? Do you leave the hypertufas in place all winter? If yes, how does the cold affect the potted hosta within? Is it slower to heat up in the spring? So many questions, do forgive me. As far as the remaining potted shrinky dinks are concerned, if it was me I would bring them all into full sunlight for awhile to invigorate them. I have not yet started fertilizing but slated to start in a week...although at least a third of the hundred or so are in leaf already and could be fertilized. I want to start all at the same time...easier to remember if all get treated the same!:-) I will leave the direct fertilizer question to the experts of the potted hosta! Do take heart, Coll. You know the rest of your beauties will be okay, so try not to worry. I say that knowing that I too, worried and checked each day, waiting for certain ones to appear...I still do check every day for added growth, progression in general because that is what I do, but I have to remind myself that the losses are nothing compared to what I actually have left to enjoy! :-) Jo

Thanks so much...Debra, these temps are only for 2 or 3 days, then 80s againMantis, I have decided there is no typical beginning. We are actually a week or so later with beginning than last year, and I have never gotten a bad bloom on Marseilles Watercolor which consistently reblooms here. Julia, as much as I love Betty Ford, it always gives me bad blooms before the good. one begin, but it has a lot of scapes so that is good....and I always wonder, whe we have a cool snap and the blooms won't open well, just how you in cooler climes manage to get beautiful opening blooms.