That's a lovely looking grow room you have. Do you have any thoughts on lining the box with reflective material? This 'dodgy' site claims that using a material such as mylar increases the light back onto the plant by up to 30%. Space blankets would also help to keep the temperature up as well I woul...

Lolly stick it is then .......

Many thanks to everyone for the numerous, interesting and thoughtful replies. If I do poke then I need to poke carefully and in the same place at the edge of the pot - a wooden lolly stick might be a good 'moisture meter'. And of course, there are indeed electronic devices that do the same thing ......

Oooop North! Ooop North! It's a grand place! Should you follow migrants like myself .... Arium garden centre (run by Leeds City Council) just off the A64, on the north side of the city, has good offers on pots, composts and dressings like granite. But don't attempt to visit during Leeds Festival we...

Thanks, everybody for your replies will do a bit of googling today to see suppliers and prices. I like the quartz/granite approach for that extra 'touch of class' - but they will, of course, make for heavy toppings. When we move oop North in a couple of years my dream is to have a big conservatory ...

None, mainly because I want to see the state of the compost. Even more important for winter-growing plants because grit on top the compost reduces the rate at which water can evaporate from the compost and it could stay too wet during cool weather. However, It does make plants look temporarily nice...

Thanks, everybody for your replies will do a bit of googling today to see suppliers and prices. I like the quartz/granite approach for that extra 'touch of class' - but they will, of course, make for heavy toppings. When we move oop North in a couple of years my dream is to have a big conservatory a...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnocalycium_baldianum

Thanks Diane and eltel I'm sure you're right. Very easy to grow and very hardy it would appear so obviously a good one for beginners. The only one of my young collection to flower so far as well.

Hi Ian I use Vitax horticultural potting grit for topping small pots ( up to 7cm ) and in my potting compost mixes and Vitax horticultural coarse grit for topping larger pots and compost mixes for larger pots. Thanks Ray I like the look of that once I've decided which I like best it would be good t...

Many thanks, Dave for the reply will look into those. I do like to put my finger into the soil to test it's dryness as my finger in the wind as to when to water.