The only garden related item I got for Christmas was a book called "The Essential Garden" which appears to be not much more than an advertisement for various garden tools and equipment. So as a consolation, I treated myself to my first begonia (6" with orange blossoms, very elegant looking) and my first marginata dracaena, which is too big for the spot I was trying to fill. There are 4 plants in the pot, so as soon as I can purchase some more decorative pots, I will divide it. I'd like to put something else in the pot with it, that will spill over the side. What pairs well with the marginata dracaena? I have always had one type of plant per pot, but I want to create little indoor container gardens. I just want to be sure I pair up plants that have similar needs. Anyone have any suggestions?

Just40fun ---- [1] To answer Q1, I must relate how I got my ÂherdÂ. I did not buy them, so canÂt for sure identify the species - Eisenia foetida or Eisenia Andrei - But from what I pick up from the Vermicomposting forum, quite often when one buys one variety, you get the other or a mixture. But they are definitely composting worms. I harvested them from the earth below a pile of aged horse manure, and from my compost pile. I then put them in a Âpit with horse manure, compost, kitchen scraps, and paper shreds for food. And you canÂt believe how they have multiplied! You can harvest from a manure pile, buy online/locally, or even purchase bait worms ["red wrigglers"] // [2] Since my garden consists of smallish terraces, I have no room for trenches, so hesitate to prescribe for your situation. That video seemed to give a pretty good idea  and then you can alter for your situation. My sister Âsnaked a ditch through her perennial bed, filled mostly with horse manure and worms and covered with cardboard and topped with the mulch for the entire bed. She is 40 miles inland [hot,dry] and has clayish soil. She reports to me that she finds worms whenever she lifts the cardboard and the soil in her garden is improving. I believe the worms use the trench as a home base, and move into the soil, when conditions are moist enough. [3] Fill your trench with whatever is handy  manure, paper shreds, leaves. Hay will heat up as it composts and might make the worms unhappy, so donÂt fill entire trench with hay. After it has composted a bit, the worms will migrate into that material. But by all means cover the trench with a layer or slab of hay/straw to control moisture and temps. [4] CanÂt say how often you need to refill. Too many variables. [5] I would suggest starting small Â. One trench this season, and then if successful, add more each season. BTW - After 30 years of amending, my clay/DG-combo soil has morphed into lovely loose loam. In addition to double-digging, sheet composting, mini-worm ÂcondosÂ, IÂm a great believer in planting cover crops with deep, strong root systems, to bust the clay. And voila, an OVERNIGHT SUCCESS! Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenia_foetida http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenia_andrei Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Roots

I was originally planning to put the plants directly in the ground, because I though that would be easiest. I live near Glendale, so we got some of very cold weather last year - though not as bad as just a little further east like the Huntington Gardens. I also have a concrete driveway adjacent to this area, so it sounds like Sanseviera have the potential to do some real damage. I originally thought of using the common Sansevieria because they have an upright clean almost geometric shape. We have a 60's modern house and though they would work well for the area we were thinking of planting. I had also seen them used in and around number of modern houses quite effectively. But now that I think of it, the the Sans were almost always in large planters. I know this might not be the right forum, but does anyone have any suggestions for a clean shaped upright plant, that might not cause as many potential problems as the Sans? I am preferrably looking for plants with low water requirements and are not spiky like agave. Thanks. Naveen

Pardon me, but I'm still asking how are you assessing when to water, by feeling the top couple of inches of soil w/ your fingers? If so, that no indication of what's going on down below at the bottom of the pot. Here it's often suggested that one use some kind of wooden dowel, stick, stake, bamboo, wooden chopstick, even a pencil pushed all the way down to the bottom of the pot to check for moisture. When removed, if stick comes out dry & clean, one can water, If it comes out damp to your touch, or w/ soil on it, there's still moisture there, so wait another couple of days to water & then check again. Is your soil crumbly or hard to the touch? From your description of leaves laying down, I expected to see much worse. Had you removed all the old soil when you repotted? I keep asking these questions as these factors can each make the difference.