I don't even know where to begin because the PJIC-itis set in so bad this year that I am STILL trying to pot stuff up. LOL With all of the stuff out there, I would say my biggest success was trying a goldflame honeysuckle for the first time, and not only having it bloom all summer with each segment of new growth (there is a bloom out there right now), but having it actually ATTRACT a hummingbird. And we're talking about up on the 18th floor. I haven't seen the hummer in weeks though and I was never quick enough to get the camera out to get a pic of it, but for that week or so when it apparently found my spot was just unbelieveable. I still haven't recovered and have all sorts of plans for next year for any hummers who are interested. I have already grown natural attractants for years out there (weigelas, etc), mainly because I liked those plants. But the honeysuckle hit pay dirt!! Here's what the blooms look like: The parts of the vine that had grown to the ceiling and bloomed are what the hummer apparently spotted from who knows where. LOL The other pat on the back success was getting my Sarah Bernhardt peony bought last year, to bloom this year in a container. Of course, as we container gardeners are often told - it's "impossible" and other nonsense. But my little plant (that had 3 buds last year that never opened while still in the original pot) sprouted this spring and produced 5 big blooms after living in its new home: A closeup of the first flower: I didn't have a peony hoop when I needed it. LOL But I have one now for next year. As for disasters, I would say bugs and powdery mildew. Usually I get swamped by aphids but was ready for them early on with some ladybugs that one of my sisters ordered and gave some to me. But aside from not seeing any early aphids this year (nor did I see ants this year - even on my peonies), it was the whiteflies on my tomato plants (first time in my life) and the spider mites on them and on my beautyberry (been there done that with mites but this year was the worst I've ever seen), and of late, mealey bugs - on one hoya and on a gardenia (ARRRGGGG!!). Yeah, I would say the bugs were disasterous this year. Interesting that the spiders were more numerous and I have 2 biggies at each end of the balcony who have spun enormous webs between shrubs and the balcony ceiling and they are cleaning up on the "food gathering" (literally...lol). And with the PM - gosh, the poor honeysuckle, my peony, and crape myrtle bore the brunt by late summer. The whole peony is now frosty white and the honeysuckle had pretty much defoliated, but is putting out new leaves continually and with those new vinelettes come a flower! I sprayed all sorts of different PM remedies on all of them but just couldn't keep up with it because of the bizarre weather this year. I mean, the temps were very mild as opposed to frying as they can usually get, but the humidity and lack of breezes every once in awhile just made it perfect for PM. Well, back to planning in what to pot the recent acquisitions and figuring out where to put them. LOL

Hi all Crazy weather this year, esp along the Northern NSW/SE Queelnsland coast where many of us live - Jack, Kerry, Ross and some I haven't yet met I don't think. Very few plants rotted, and no Alcantareas died despite the cms of mud impregnated into the bottom of the pots. Unfortunately I lost plants of some N carcharodons, some Hohenbergias esp castellanosii clumps and a few large Vr fosteriana forms. Even the T tectorums among the rocks in full sun (rain at the time!) are fine. It rained for months and I've recorded over 2.5 metres for the year so far. Now it's getting dry with no rain for 42 days and temps starting to get well over 25C with over 30 forecast in the next few days - very warm for August but the nights are mostly cool/cold still so not much grows. We don't usually get the freezes like in the States, though a couple of yrs ago was another crazy year, not with rain but severe frost as Kerry sure knows. Lisa, the Navias like arida and ignesicola can't take the months of cold nights I get, mostly well below 10C. They are low altitude species but the ones from the tops of the tepuis are even trickier I gather but should take the cold. Cheers, Pedro

Sounds like the selection called 'Zanzibarensis' is what you grew. Plain green, but MUCH taller & bigger growing than most other castor beans. When I grew them they reached at least 15 feet tall in a single growing season. The dark-leafed varieties all seem to be selected for smaller size but try 'Impala', which has very nice foliage and can make it to about 10 feet or more with plenty of water and fertilizer. Also, for best growth start the seeds directly in the ground. The seedlings send out a very long taproot almost immediately upon germination and starting them in pots nearly always stunts them.

Should be OK if you got it repaired. It will either grow back together or heal. If neither stem is wilting then it is fine.