Thanks for the advice. I guess I won't know until I try, but I'm still very new to this. I guess my real concern here is keeping the humidity around the plant up as this Blc. should prefer a bit higher base level of humidity than my paphs and phals do. I do what I can in the winter to maintain comfortable humidity in my apartment, less for the plants and more for myself. I recently purchased a hygrometer and while the humidity during the day stays pretty much between 50% and 60% near the leaves, by morning the humidity can drop to nearly 40%. Add to that the fact that the brightest light situation in my apartment is entirely too close to a radiator and I begin to think I'm biting off more than I can chew (perhaps it's just having been told for so long that it's hard to keep orchids alive). As far as the conditions it's been growing in. I'd basically be moving it from the greenhouse (not a showroom attached to it) to my house, so it would be stepping down a notch in comfort no matter what. This makes me think that moving it in late April might be wiser as it will spend less time so close to a radiator that's on while it adjusts to its new home.

It is confusing. The correlation of water with light is good general cultural practice (less light = less energy = less growth = less water). But that is during the growing period, and NOT to be confused with watering practice during a cattleya's rest period. It just happens that at our latitude (longitude?) winter coincides with low light. But for most catts in native habitat, winter (the rest period) is dry and BRIGHT. I tell you this because, with your MH light, your setup will mimic native conditions in this respect more closely than a windowsill or greenhouse grower in temperate North America. Many but not all catts are hard-wired for an annual rest period - mostly the spring bloomers. Just observe the plant. I've got two resting cattleyas right now, and an actively growing one in exactly the same conditions (MH+HPS). So the plants know what they're doing. I try to observe the behavior and support whatever it is. I don't completely withhold water from the resting catts; I'm more careful with them, though, and certainly no fertilizer. Even though they're getting water on a regular basis, they're still resting away. Some ARE very touchy about water during rest, though. C. dowiana particularly. HTH, John

NHL, thank you. Grey bird referred to a Sagae that was planted "several years ago" so I interpreted "several" as mature. Based on that premise, the division should have a goodly amount of roots with which to grow on. Ken's points are key. Again, many hostas react to being divided. Some don't. It's a crap shoot at best. All you can do is wait it out till the following year to see if you beat the odds, and with which hosta. Yes, the hostas I've divided were mature...I don't think I've divided anything under five years of age. The youngest of those listed above have been growing here for five-six years, the oldest ten-eleven years. I have split large plants newly purchased from the get go too. That is definitely the easiest way to multiply your stock or share with someone else. Your conclusions certainly make sense to me....and it's a personal preference. Some people divide only when the tell-tale fairy ring appears and that usually takes several years. I've had a couple of those....around the eight-year mark. Most people wait impatiently for their hostas to mature (me included). There are certain ones I would grow longer because they are magnificent specimens at maturity...and I don't divide unless family or close friends request it...even then I decide which is going to be split. They've had to wait three years for a couple, lol :-) I don't think anyone can guarantee that a division from a mature hosta will or will not display mature characteristics the following year. Generally speaking, most have some degree of set-back....all the variables come into play. I am adventurous...sometimes taking a chance pays off. It all depends on your goals I guess. :-)

Great garden tour/childbirth analogy, Mel. So true, and what memories it brings back! Our garden has been on tours several years, and this year I get to recruit tour hosts. I will be honest with them and give them the good with the bad. There is much more good. One issue is a closing time for the garden. Gardeners love to talk, and some will hang around until midnight if you let them, even with posted hours. At all times, you need at least 2 adults hosting. Be prepared for children who must use your bathroom. Very frail or overweight people sometimes insist they can move a barrier and walk across a pond gangplank. Overly helpful gardeners will insist on deadheading your daylilies that you are hybridyzing. People will argue that coins in water never hurt a fish (aaarg!) Guests will bring children who will feel free to cross over to your neighbors' play equipment. Last year, we built a waterfall from a tree into our pond, and people not only stuck their heads under it, but some drank it! I had to point out that it was recirculated pond water--ewwww! You'll endure comments like "wow, you must have lots of time on your hands or a full time gardener" No...I just don't park in front of the tv every night...then I do some quick lessons on composting and soaker hoses versus mowing and weeding. In addition to labeling unusual plants, you might want to print up a list of plants and sources. I used to do quite a bit of trading on the gardenweb exchange forum, so my yard is full of plants not available (and not hardy) in this area. I potted up seedlings and divisions ahead of time to give away, and had a trade list available to selectively hand out. some of the big hits were heirloom plants and the very new. We had a photo album showing the progress of the yard in the 4 years we've been here, because it looks very established. A complaint many tourists had was some yards looked like they were planted last week. Had to laugh...some were! The homeowners got insecure about what they had and tried to "buy" an instant garden, and it showed. I would suggest you don't put in anything new in the month before the tour. Have potted plants ready to move in empty spaces. Neighborhood boys searching for a baseball flattened some of my perennials the day before tour started last year, and I had to fill in with large planters set into the flower bed, and no one knew the difference there. Our tourists appreciated the igloo full of iced tea. One igloo was enough for the 250+ people we had each day. Every year, I get a few thank you cards in the mail in the weeks afterwards, and once, a lady brought me a new plant I didn't have as a thank you gift. All in all, it is tremendous fun if you are prepared for it. Make a plan to finish last minute work 2 days before so you can go into it well-rested. I still run into people at various places who remember me and my garden, because I took the time to talk to them. It really gives you a boost! Cindi