It is in their nature to do this and you can't stop them. I imagine (but do not know) that a low phosphate feed would slow it down but would risk a detrimental effect on the health of the plant. Perhaps you should to choose those spp that are less generous with their off-setting, offset from within ...

Yes, of course a UK-centric book is what I am intending. There are a gazillion books on growing succulents in the USA (and other summer dry regions of the world) but nothing notable for us Brits. Nowhere in the UK has anything much in common with any of the US climate zones. Even the milder parts of...

Interesting that you bring this up. I intend to write a book on gardening with succulents. I have approached the Society 'powers that be' about publishing it as I also think it is a much neglected aspect of our hobby and one for which there is nothing sensible or comprehensive in print at the moment...

Thank you! It is online, as it happens - http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/24/gardens-hardy-exotic-plants-essex I think Jim did a cracking job on the words - gave a very balanced overview of what has happened here. The common names they must have researched after the event as I didn't...

Can I also ask about A. montana ? Since this grows at even higher elevations than A. gentryi , does this species also delay flowering in this way? If A. montana behaves differently to A. gentryi , then maybe elevation isn't a significant factor in delaying flowering. Hi Colin Sorry for the delay, I...

Clearly this is normal behaviour for this species, i.e. starting to flower in the autumn, then stopping over winter. As a biologist, I'm wondering what the adaptive value of this strategy is? Nothing comes immediately to mind. :shock: It seems like a risky strategy, because the developing infloresc...

Thanks for explaining - it sounds eye-catching!

I hope to be there.

Not all of us 'do' social media - please enlighten us further.

Gerrit must have a big greenhouse if he can buy collections, Massive. Glasshouses are relatively cheap to rent in the north of Holland as there are so many - the system might not work quite as well over here as rental prices are higher. But going to visit is very much like entering an Aladdin's Cav...

In Holland there is very neat solution. A guy called Gerrit buys collections from people - either relatives of the recently deceased or older people who cannot maintain their collections. Saves people the worry of what to do as he comes along and buys the whole lot - within the society there he is w...