Yood, yes, cultivating the Narcissus (US-Daffodil) is considered a high skill hobby among the Vietnamese. Mostly are done in water and not in soil. It is a difficult technique as I was told by my parents. It's considered to be a hobby among the prestige. You're right about how to force Hoa Mai to bloom. Since in south VN, it is the main decorated plant for the Lunar New Year, most of the time we force it to bloom in time for the New Year. Lucky you that it only takes 2 weeks in your area to force it blooms. For us here in the US, it takes 6-7 weeks for it to bloom. Then again, it could be due to a different hybrid than the one you have. Daai_Tau_Lam, I didn't mean Hong Kong to be cold such as freezing temperature but isn't the climate is subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall? This is almost the same as of North Viet Nam. South VN is very tropical. There is no cool weather at any time of the year with the exception of Da Lat because it's in higher altitude. Let's put it this way, we have rain forests in the south. I guess when it comes to plants, there is a big different between tropical and subtropical climate. Plants are very picky, aren't they? Hoa Mai may be one of them. It may not grow easily under Hong Kong climate. Maybe, that's why you don't see them? Or, is it perhaps, because there's not enough demand for it so nursery don't bother to grow it? Hey, but like you said, if you're able to provide the perfect condition for the plant, you can grow it. Heck, there're plants that are grown in space and in moon soil even. Personally, I want to grow so much more than I have place and physical strength for. Aren't we all?!? I have burst of interest of a certain kind of plant every season. Then if it doen't work out, my burst of interest change. Last year, it was orchids; this year, it's roses. Love our discussions :) It's so interesting since we live in 3 different parts of the world. Well, I need to visit the Rose forum now and learn some more :) Ciao, til later!

In the planter around the sides and back of our little Koi pool I've planted several different types of ferns the neat thing is little ferns are now popping up everywhere on there own. I guess it's just the right environment for the spores to take hold and grow. One of my favorite ferns is our native maidenhair I keep dividing them and planting them whereever I find an appropriate spot. In the fall there's a type of mushroom/ fungus that grows out of the wood in the planter itself, kind of neat looking and we now have a type of moss growing on the stone in the little spillway. Old mother nature has taken over in this area of my garden and I couldn't be happier. Annette

if this is dicksonia antartica unless really cold weather is thretened(hard frosts) i wouldnt bother protecting the crown you can do more harm than good if wet straw sits on the new fronds. once established they will shrug -10C off no probs fronds should only be cut off if they get fried, mine have taken about -5C with no damage. is it in a pot or in the ground?

No, Vanessa was right to choose orchid mix; unlike terrestrial ferns, Blue Star is an epiphyte, growing in trees as orchids do. Vanessa, can you update? (Wondering if this plant perked up after acclimating to it's fresh potting situation?)