I'm not sure my postal code would make it through to get a reply! I imagine if you did get a zone to come up, that it would be wrong. The zone FAQ IS US orientated but then so is the forum so that's fair enough I was wondering about our bulb loving members across the big pond and wondering how it should be handled. Flora, you chose then to list your zone as a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) zone? I've always been curious about your zone8/9. vetivert, Have you also chosen to list your zone as a USDA zone? I've wondered about yours too, and deduced you are in a 'quite' warm zone, compared to mine. If either of you have a link to a zone map for your areas, I 'think' I can include it in the FAQ too...will have to have it verified before input. I was told that linking to informational sites was allowed. I 'think' it would be all right to link to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map What do you think about linking to similar sites for finding one's zone in NI, NZ, or UK? Needed? Would it be used? Do you know of similar sites? Want them included if it is all right? And a reference that takes account of altitude could be useful to those hardy gardeners in Colorado, Utah, and California perching high in the hills! Is that what one would refer to as micro-climates? Maybe touch on them a bit too, explaining that the zones are 'approximate' and could vary some depending upon one's location within the zone. One little nit-pick. 6. 'Gladiola'..... Gladiolus (singular) Gladioli (plural) Not nit-picking at all. I would like things to be as correct as possible, which includes terms, spelling, grammar and punctuation. So who wants to pull together the reply as it could be posted? I have read and read about the USDA zones and find myself then using 'their words' and sure don't want to get into any plagiarizing problems on down the line. btw...all members who contribute to the input will be mentioned and given credit, so I guess we can used each others input without it being an actual quote, right? Am I stressing and over thinking all this? This is just the first FAQ...sigh. (PS you might like to make #2 the one that covers 'I left my bulbs in a baggie and forgot to plant them. Now what?' ;-))) ) being a 'seasonal' question, I inserted it after #5. It will appear before folks start posting Help! My daffodils are emerging too early!

Hi Josh. Thanks for your response. I'm in NZ (Zone 8) Its autumn here at the moment and it still has some very slow growth. It might have stopped now actually !!! The reason i'm asking is i saw on a succulent info site http://www.highlandsucculents.com/culture_guide.htm that Portulacaria are actually dormant in summer. I am from SA and know them well in those conditions but over here they do grow much slower. I only noticed some growth at the start of autumn. I stay up in the mountain and the plants do grow slower up here,than down in the valley. I grow bonsai and use the gritty mix. I plan to repot it in a training pot with only pumice as a medium. Its in gritty mix at the moment. I plan to lift it and trim very little roots to fit in the smaller pot. Then bring it inside to recover over winter. I know they are very tough but still are reluctant to do it but i actually have to...... On the one hand I'm kinda itching and on the other i have to lighten it because its in a very big box that i built for it. I'm moving house over winter and that box is to big to move comfortably. I'm getting someone over to help me load photos because i am just to stupid :-)

Hi C. dealbata won't survive any prolonged frosts, in zone 6 it will die over winter. However it can make an attractive conservatory plant. Jon

There was no frost at all in January in Portland and then February had below 20* temps. I am still seeing Trachycarpus and Phormium around town. Not noticing death or damage. Just drove past three taller than 10' windmill palms yesterday. They looked fine and were in an open location. I had a early blooming Rhodie suffer frost bite on all buds and new leaf tips are damaged too. I am worried about a couple hardy fuchsias planted in the fall and not properly mulched. The rest are showing growth from the roots. My newly planted (late summer) Hebe 'Red Tip's all made it with no protection. I was actually in Seattle on business when the Arctic Blast hit. I am not one who pushes the climate envelope so my experiences aren't that useful to those who do but I was just mentally commenting on Phormiums and Trachycarpus yesterday after seeing healthy ones. I grew up and learned to garden in a warmer climate so I enjoy growing the typical Northwest plants here. Whenever I've pushed the climate envelope Escallonia, some Hebes, Pittosporum, they have failed. Eventually we get a really cold winter.