Hello richardol, Yes it's just the one newest leaf and pulled straight out from the core. It had jammed in the vase and foolishly I yanked it by the new leaf and out it came cleanly and completely. I am mortified. I do hope it comes good as I have only grown the vandas for about 18 months and they flower for me quite happily in the vases and I dunk them twice a week in the sink and spray them too. Can't believe I did it. Will it grow a new crown? Thanks Hazel.

Crikey Hazel, is there any room left for Jim's fishing equipment?? lol!! The plants certainly look healthy. Lets hope we get some modicum of a summer this year and then all our plants can go outside...and get bigger still... hehe! In our living room at the moment I have 5 orchids, 2 trays of plumie seedlings, 4 bigger plumies, a stephanotis, a 5ft Date palm, 4 2ft Washingtonia palms, the Desert Rose propagator (all 5 are doing fantastic in there (it's just on overnight)and have hardened up and put on new growth), a clivia, oh yes, and the 6 ft Dracaena. The g/h is full and other plants are scattered around the rest of the house, as one does! We have horizontal rain and sleet a the moment. Bring on the warmer weather...please! cheers, Gill.

Hello Toni, Thank you so much for your reply. I will take on board all you have said as I'm totally in the dark with them. The three seedlings arrived but I'm afraid they were a little bruised they are around 1inch high with long roots. I'm hoping they will survive. I potted them at once into 3" pots with moist multi purpose compost and placed each individually into open plastic bags to help with humidity. Two of them seem to have the centre tiny leaf growth shrivelled,do you think they will send up another or will they die as so far they haven't keeled over? Thanks Hazel.

Cagary, those pics are stunning, your front border looks amazing, the palm is so unusual, what type is it?? congrats! Also, found it so encouraging for us Brits to see your plants in bloom, just hope Hazel and I can replicate your good growng. Is that REALLY possible over here??? lol! Hazel...this is so spooky! I to have been trying to get similar plants to grow. I have at the moment a couple of Royal Poincianas, from memory, think mine are the red/yellow type without searching for the packet. They are this years seedlings as I lost my last years 2 over the winter. Do yours hang onto the leaves come winter? Last years didn't, but the stems were still alive come spring despite the g'h episode, but then died off. Hopefuly things will be better this year. The larger one is around 12 inches I would guess at the moment. Never imagined they would flower at such a small size as from what I've read they need to be RATHER large. Believe the caesalpinias flower at much smaler size? Saw some lovely pink/yellow ones on eBayUk but missed out on them. Like to hear from you about how you look after yours, etc etc....here's a pic mine so far with Celadine, Mr Mango and the Desert Rose... ...and if you want a laugh....heres what they started off like when I forgot I'd placed them in the airing cupboard to germinate! OOPS! Gill.