Leaving freshly sown seed to provide its own water usually does not work, start over when you can be around. Al

Geez, and I thought Ceropegia pollenation tricky! Really, if my plants did not grow and bloom outside, I think it would be most difficult. For pollenators, I have Sphinx moths, many, MANY humming birds, ants, and butterflies of all makes and models. One of the Weird Things is that it can be dead winter, and all of sudden a pod forms, MONTHS after active blooms have left off. So, the plant has a time delay mechanism that allows pollenation and storage to ensure a good time line for seed ripening, and warmer, spring weather. I've hatched out seeds, but I have a mostly organic garden, and when caterpillars abound, things get chomped to the soil line. Therefore, no more kerrii seedlings...:( They are very short lived as far as successful germination. And when you can spend a few dollars trading through the mail, well... Guess which method will be more successful, and more popular??? Good luck with your endeavors!

Well, I partially buried them in the ground on the east side of the house, gave the ground a throrough soaking (our soil is really dry this year), and got out an old screen and placed it slanted fashion against the house so they won't get too much morning sun, especially when it gets hot if they make it that far. Now I'm just going to hope for the best. It will be tricky not to overwater the cups they're planted in and keeping the soil moist that surrounds them. I stuck in a couple of dog stakes, had one, bought another one and screwed them in the ground so I won't ruin my flower bed when I drag the hose around there. One has to improvise no matter how much information one gathers on the net.

What a thread- oldie, but goodie. My take is a bit of a compromise: All of our friends understand my 9 year old sweet Beagle Max. He was abandoned by breeders when he was 6 weeks old, due to their loss of lease on a property. We adopted him, brought him home and did our best. But this way-too-young-to-be-away-from-his pack was needy. We gave him all the love he needed. He's very smart and observant, and so simply started emulating his pack. That includes hugging when people enter our home, since this is the behavior he's always seen. He hugs, too. That's really all he asks, from a visitor. A hug, and maybe a sweet kiss- no tongue, he just puts his face on your neck. Funny doggie! It can get a bit "rambunctious" as people enter. But our friends get it, hug him like he's our furry two year old, and then Max calms down. Not everybody loves it, and we know the friends where we just need to remove him for a bit, until he gets less excited for company. Now, if children enter? Another story. He's not allowed to do that. He LOVES kids, but I can't have Max bowling toddlers over. So we keep that in check, and wait to see if the child is interested. Then we introduce them, let the child pet him (silkiest hair, ears you've ever felt), and he's gentle. Max is, like most hounds, also driven by his nose and stomach. He's not allowed around guests as they eat- he knows where to sit. If he get's invasive, then he has to go to his "room". He hates that, since he's social and just wants to be around people, so it's rare that he won't comply. Now- when a stranger comes to the door? We let them have the "full effect". Aggressive barks- and loud- until and unless we signal that it's safe. And we put his 'good dog leash" on, if this is (for example) a repair person, there to do a job. But if you're not invited? You're not invited, and he sounds like the Gates of Hell are opening, until he's told "ok". A compromise that works for us and our friends. My sweet pup, in his first month at my house. He just wanted to be ok. Grew up to be fairly mellow Still thinks he's a person.