Don't expect them to play nice in the same bowl for long. You've got two clumpers and two columnars, and if they like where they are they'll be competing for room pretty quickly. The bowl itself can be used if you hide a separate pot for each cactus inside it, and it'll make separating them easier as well. What sort of potting mix do you have? Most of the stuff off the shelf is not good for cacti, though the ones you have are pretty tolerant as long as they're not overwatered. Nice little starter pack you've got there though. Here's hoping you keep the four of them going throughout the rest of your collecting career.

Barb...both happy and sad....Happy he is moving forward with his life. Knowing he will go far as long as he stays focused on his studies, and learns to quit being so wasteful. Sad because he is moving on and we will be seeing very little of him in the next 4 years or so. We havent made any new life adventures yet. House needs some TLC. I suppose first we will get used to having a home with just us and the critters and go from there. Chell I used to be a dog and cat groomer. I loved it too. But my employer was a deedeedee. Never had the money to pay me each week and always "owed" me. And she never gave me my tips either.Then at the end of the year she reported more earnings for me than what I had really made.Fortunitly I kept records and proved my case and won, so make sure you don't let the same happen to you. I have kept my clippers, blades and accessories and still will do a neighbors dog or two once in awhile to keep my skills up.....but don't miss the hair stuck in places I did'nt know existed....lol. Love all the pictures the everyone post. Always enjoy seeing ya'lls babies. Regina

Hi Mel, I'm new to Northern NSW and new to rose growing here (or anywhere!) as well. I've been growing roses (in pots) here now for about 3 years. Not only do I live just south of the border (Byron area), where it's humid, but i'm also smack-bang on the beach. So have some coastal carry-on to deal with - which is the main reason I grow in pots - wouldnt care to plant my dahhlings in the sand here.. When I first mentioned my plan to grow roses in this area, I got all sorts of well-meaning (but WAY BORING) warnings against trying to grow roses in this area (people didnt think growing in pots would make any difference), but to be honest, I reckon I've done well. I've got 14 roses growing fairly well (some thriving, some just cruising) now and I've never tried to select roses good or not good for humidity/coastal conditions - I just buy them on 'prettiness" and "fragrance strength". Last year, Treloar threw in a few freebies so those ones were a wildcard obviously - and not selected for prettiness or fragrance strenght... Anyway, I'll give you a rundown of what i've got bc i've had mixed results (all are alive and doing well - but some are absolutely thriving and some are just cruising along with their various issues (blackspot wotnot) as i say). Jude The Obscure (fragrance lychee, apricot, lemonade). Adores it here. (good bc i adore it right back!). Barely even gets blackspot can you believe? Me either. no other diseases. I've nicknamed it St Jude bc it really does have saintly behaviour! Sacred Heart (fragrance meringue). same. Spirit of Peace (fragrance not sure yet, can't nail an analogy yet). likes it here also.. Mon Petit Chou (no analogy for fragrance yet). same. Alister Clark Blueboy (fragrance damask with heavy cinnamon - spicy!). same, but a bit more suseptible to blackspot. Duchesse De Brabant (fragrance musky-peppery...). I would marry this rose. it gets some blackspot occasionally but i dont care. it's sooo pretty and such a delightful, strong fragrance that basically it's my favourite-in-the-garden and can behave however it wants. Best Friend. Up and down. who knows what it's problem is (not me YET!) - sometimes it's thriving, sometimes it hates my guts (not your typical best friend, eh?). Neptune. He's newish. I dont think he's loving it up here. he keeps putting out STUNNING sized (and fragrance-strong) blooms, but he seems to be struggling with leaf deformities and stuff. maybe mosaic but i dont see those telltale patterns...so yeh, dunno about him yet. wouldnt give you the nod on this one at this point. Stanwell Perpetual. this rose..oh god, i really love it, but goodlord, what a handful it's been to work out how it likes to be treated! it is THE THIRSTIEST rose known to man... i give it a drink every single day (other roses just every second day) and still it cries (wilts and sags). for a while it was getting leaf tip burn, not sure how i remedied that...and then it got really...

If you want to look at natives (and who doesn't) you might consider Diploglottis australis which has large, felty compound leaves and tasty fruit, or castanospermum australe, the Moreton Bay chestnut, which has very colourful flowers. Also consider firewheel (Stenocarpus)or tree waratahs (alloxylon) which have nice big red flowers. Tony