Alexa, A local nursery handles all their b&b trees that have rootballs in clay exactly how you have handled this tree. That is, except for the fact that they usually do not get in such small b&b trees. Too bad your replacement tree was not shipped while it was still dormant. I have heard that beech trees do not like to be transplanted, so maybe that is why the supplier shipped yours leafed out with a rootball in clay, which keeps the roots disturbed as little as possible. For the size of your rootball, and the tree's height, two inches on the sides is enough for your well draining potting soil. Hopefully you put stones or broken pot pieces, or packing peanuts in the bottom four to five inches of your pot and then covered that with the potting soil prior to installing the tree and back filling the sides of the pot with potting soil. If not I would be a little concerned about mold setting up in in the bottom of yout tall pot. The nursery I mentioned which pots up their b&b trees like you potted yours uses a pot which is not much deeper than the root ball. I find it of concern that your pot is so deep. Am I wrong, though, was your tree's clay rootball nearly as deep as your pot with only a few inches left in the bottom for you to first fill with potting soil? Other than those concerns, I think keeping the new tree in full day, dappled shade is nearly perfect conditons for helping this new tree to prosper, until it is large enough for transplanting. At that time, you are going to transplant it just prior to it breaking dormancy, aren't you? Only other thing, Depending on if your pot-fill drains as well as a good quality potting soil, then you should pour 5 gallons of water through the pot at each watering session. If not the roots will not have enough moisture exposure to hold the moistness they need. A Nursery attendant has told me that the perfect way to kill a potted shrub or tree, is to water it daily, but run only a gallon or two of water through the pot each watering session. He said that the root ball need the time it takes to run five gallons of water through the pot, to be conditioned for absorbing the amount of water that the tree or shrub needs. Only thing with running that much water through your pot each time you water, it will wash away the ferilizer. So, you must instead use a slow-release, non-burning food that is appropriate for your tree's needs. If the tree could have been planted in the ground I would not suggest feeding it. But since it is in dappled shade, and in a pot which you must run five gallons of water through daily, I think it does need to be fed as I just described.

Hey A! I'm not experienced with cacti but I think springtime is best for sowing many varieties. You can sow Faucaria in late Spring also if you can keep it cool and semi-shaded during the Summer, otherwise late August/early September is a good time to sow Mesembs depending on when the cold sets in. The best time to sow your Huernia is probably after the hottest part of summer and make sure to use a slightly grittier soil mix. They like bright light and heat but not full, direct sun. They are very prone to damp off. I don't know your zone but I grow in a climate that doesn't freeze or get extremely hot.

LOL! Greenpurplegirl, that's exactly what it's like -- Trick or Treat for adults! (gardeners) LOL! So many of the seeds I got last year, and this year too, were of things that I thought, 'Yuck!', or 'What's that?'. I must say that my very favorite, VERY favorite things this year were things I couldn't imagine ever growing from seed: Dahlias, Lantanas and Snapdragons. Why would you bother when you can get them from the garden center? And how many years would it take to get them from seed to flower, anyway? Wellll, I must say that those bloomed the same year, and were the most fan-tab-u-lous flowers in my garden and the reason you grow them instead of buy them (besides cost) is because they really aren't the same as you get from the garden center...not at all. You can buy that short squatty Red Salvia, and it's ok. You can get 'Lady in Red' or 'Yvonne's Salvia' from the CG swap, and all of a sudden, Salvia is a whole other plant! It just seemed to me that EVERYTHING I sowed and grew on was a whole other plant that what I could ever buy, and ever afford, in the quantity I wanted and could sow from a pack of seeds. (I did see Lady in Red Sallvia at the store, but it's always the $4.99 plants in the 4" pots. ) Thanks you again, Tracy, Lime

Carol, I'm sure you knew I wasn't rushing you to get the packages mailed. Whether they arrive this week, next week or anytime thereafter really doesn't matter to me. I just wanted to share how excited I am about all the goodies to come. Reminds me of being a kid at Christmas. Remember how fun it was to count down how many days were left before Santa came to visit? You always knew the exact number and were beside yourself in anticipation. Since this is my first seed swap with the group and knowing how generous everyone can be, there is just no way to anticipate what's to come other than tons of seeds! Makes me salivate like Pavlov's pooch. Don't worry about balancing out the packets for me. I don't expect to get back the same amount I sent. I had extras, we had newbies so I sent plenty to go around. Thanks for all the effort you put into the swap. I know you work very hard to make wish lists a reality. Lynn