Hi Karen, I'd love to trade for some of your liatris pycnostachya also. Take a look at my list to see if I have anything you like in exchange? Alice Here is a link that might be useful: ~~~My trade list~~~

plantomaniac08 Thank you yes it will be Lithops. DavidL.ca The 45lt Terrascape is "Air plants only" Lighting will be a twin Aquarium 4ft unit 1 plant and 1 daylight tube, that unit/combination grows aquarium plants very well. The Air plants are in an open tank misted every morning. The Lithops will be growing in 1-3 river stones about 10cm deep and will never be watered directly except a morning mist as required. The tank will have a glass lid with a 10cm opening back and front plus about the same at the ends, if required I can install a computer fan at each end but I doubt it would be required. I live in Victoria Australia which is considered more of a Mediterranean climate. All the watering is done from the bottom via a tube from the top via what is called a UGF Under Gravel Filter when used in a fish tank. The plate is about 2cm high, to check the moisture I use a standard garden Moisture Meter To stop the garden soil from clogging up the grates I will add a layer of 1-3mm river stones at least 3cm deep first

Unfortunately the time to cut Amaranthus is when it looks fabulous in the yard. The optimum time to cut is now, before any seeds develop and you lose that purple colour. In order to dry the Amaranthus, I find it best to strip all the leaves (the dried leaves are unsightly). Hang the plant upside down in a dark, warm, well ventilated area (I hang in my basement. The heads will dry intact and retain the purple colour - not as vibrant I guess, but definitely purple. I've found that Amaranthus will rehydrate - in humid conditions or if your home is quite humid then they will droop some. That heavy stem you see now becomes quite light (in weight, that is) after it's dried so it should hold itself up quite well. The stem, when dried, is very strong.

Good Lord, I'd need to journal extensively to keep up with the needs of all my plants! LOL tdog - I noticed your Growmore fert has a low middle #. Care to elaborate on that? I just read an article about the needs of phosphate in plumeria which suggested a lower # is important. Perhaps I shouldn't use the SuperBloom. I'm not even gonna ask Ryan what he pays for his organic fish emulsion. It cost me $6 for 18 oz of the plain ole stuff and I'll be through that in no time at all! I would look into making the home-made stuff but I have 5 cats. Imagine the horror. And speaking of fish emulsion and what you guys said about it creating long leggy growth.... the last couple of years I used mainly fish emulsion for all my plants, with a bit of MG now and then. Now I'm left wondering if fish emulsion is the reason for the long tall growth and no blooming. Makes me what to take the fish emulsion back but my bananas love the stuff. The reason I began with the epsom salts was because of yellowing in many of my plants that came out of the greenhouse. Don't believe I put any on the plumies though. I believe I'll forgo the epsoms on everything for awhile. Ryan - could you give me an idea how much coffee grounds you sprinkle around your plumies? It would be great to see that help some. My husband produces plenty of that! :) Also, concerning earthworms... I live along the coast with very sandy soil, but this year we have noticed an explosion of earthworms as well. Think this could possibly have anything to do with the addition of 2 more dogs? (Poop) We've lived here 18 years and this is the only thing different in the yard. LOL One last thing.... I wanted to tell you guys that I grew up in Panama. We lived on the second floor and had a huge plumeria with branches that rubbed my bedroom window. I can barely remember the tree, only the iguanas and parrots that used to be in it and a vague recollection that the flowers were pretty. When I have the time I want to go through photos and see if I can find any pictures with the tree in it. Unfortunately, I didn't appreciate such things in my youth.