Hi containergirl and welcome (although I know you've been posting around for a little bit now)!! :-D Regarding some ideas - what I tend to do is think in terms of plants that I like and then I look up the cultural requirements and hardiness, and only then do I begin to assess what to do for container culture of the plant. I think many people forget that when they go to a nursery to buy plants for their gardens, about 9 out of 10 times they buy something already growing in a container. The final 1 out 10 purchase might be a balled & burlaped specimen if they choose to go with a more mature specimen. In any case, there is a scotoma regarding the fact that most plants that people buy are already containerized and they can't seem to get past the fact that this should mean that the plant CAN grow in a container. Sometimes it boggles my mind when they insist that you "can't" grow a lilac in a container or you "can't" grow a tree in a container. You "can't" do this or you "can't" do that. It's just silly... But anyway... ;-) Many of us end up doing spur-of-the-moment or what we dubbed as "PJIC" ("Plants Jump Into the Cart"...LOL) when we buy for our container gardens. Having the internet available makes it quite easy to look up the cultural requirements and find out the hardiness. Then what's left is to right-size the container for the plant (based on size, age, vigor - and this may mean successive potting up for a time), coming up with a planting mix that best matches our cultural practices (usually watering practices), becoming aware of the environment that the plant is living in (amount of sun, wind, heat, cold), and finally, going through alot of experimentation (including many losses amongst the successes) to see the plant through a cold-temperate winter - whether we might find the plant needs protection from actual cold or perhaps (more often than realized) - from excessive moisture during winter. There are a number of Zone 5 posters, although not all from your area, but consider that you can become a pioneer and inspiration for others just by even giving it a try and posting your results! I have seen container gardeners posting on other forums who don't even realize this or the Container Forum even exist, so there are many of us out there. One thing I do always recommend is that you check out the other GW or alternate gardening forums just to get some generic info and experiences from other gardeners about a myriad of plants - whether annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. That way you'll discover what's actually available and can then fall in love with something, and only then make an effort to grow that plant in a container in your growing space! I'd personally rather do it that way because when you tell people that you are container growing, most times they'll steer you to 99¢ annuals because they don't know better.

I see this is a very old post, but all your plants caught my attention.. lol. I was wondering if you would have any starters or slips left from any of them.. but I am in particularly interested in Christmas ,easter, thanksgiving cactus, heck, I just love all plants but only have 3 (yes you read that one right..lol.. 3!!! my spider, my norfork island pine and my fig.. I also am trying to start some C. cactus so down the road I would be able to trade you some if you would like, just let me know , if you have any left.. please reach me at meadowridge@granitewave.com..

Thank you everybody for sharing my excitement!!! This is just crazy...and bestlawn, I love your idea, how thoughtful is that? Another shock for her system~ I love it!!! Just a little background on my family. Our parents both died within several years of each other, in 1987-1990. I think the three of us were so devestated, that we all just kept on with our lives. Nobody really spoke about it. There are three of us. I am the middle kid.We live in three different states. Oregon, Washington, and me in Texas. I noticed that my brother and sister just were not talking, and had not for years. Some stupid personal tiff that neither wanted to back down on. Something stupid from the 70's. Ok, so here it is guys....mom and dad are dead, are we really going to not talk to each other for the rest of our lives? I am not going to let this happen. My lifes goal, if I did nothing else, would to get my brother and sister back together again. Whatever it took. I kid you not, I spent years sending them pictures of each other, and keeping each other up on their personal lives. I was determined as hell, and nothing worked. Then, sis was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a hint of them getting back together again. This situation screamed we would not live for ever, and you two knock it off!! They finally called each other, and my heart is at peace. It just took for one of us to have a brush with death to get everybody there. I know I have gone on too long about this, so I will keep it short, but, sister is coming to see me, and we will be calling brother when she gets here. What ever I can do to keep our family the way it was meant to be, I will do. This Texas trip is a huge, and, I do mean a huge, step in that direction. I will spoil sister with ever ounce of energy I have in me. This trip is an icon for us kids. Trin

Thanks. I have twelve plants in that small set (about 2 per cell). I have another 48 just sprouting. I found some old seeds(Rutgers), and bought some more I found locally(Black Krim). I have at least 24 varieties and planted a little extra to make sure I have enough. If I have too many, the neighbors have a new gardening interest, so I will share. I even planted extra sun golds and big beefs for them. That's a lot of seedlings there Kevin. Looks like at least 200. And they are looking good. Mine would like some sunshine, but I will need a warmer day than today. High of 45.