A friend got poked in the eye by a Christmas tree needle once and had to go to hospital. That's hardly a reason to ban the sale of Christmas trees is it? If they ban that cactus they won't stop there they will ban all of them. We'll all end up living in padded cells with all the sharp objects taken...

Maybe the sickly slow-growing things aren't Carpobrotus? Or maybe they aren't happy in a pot ;) Try them in a bathtub full of sand :mrgreen: They definitely are! And the potting mix is mostly mineral. I just think that some plants get a bad rep and it depends on the conditions - Carpobrotus may be ...

And on the subject of Carpobrotus, Steven Hammer writes in his "masterly" article (CSSA Journal 67(4) p.219): "Cultivating carpobrotus in a pot would be about the same as raising a shark in a bath tub" So how come BCSS seed list a few years ago included a yellow flowering variet...

A plant that can colonise acres of cliff face by totally excluding all other forms of life is not a good candidate for gardens, in my book. Plus you get one flower per 3 sq m :shock: Having seen this in full flower on the cliffs at Port Logan (SW Scotland) I think you do it a disservice, the flower...

Thanks for the information, should I keep watering once a month whilst it tries to flower? It is being kept in a West facing window, at a minimum of 15 degC. I know I ought to know all these things, I used to know but the grey cells are on strike at the moment.

Hi Heather, I remember you from Crawley branch I believe, doesn't time fly when you're enjoying yourself! You are always welcome to rejoin, its a little dearer than when you stopped, but I reckon still good value at £10 for the year. Regards, Suzanne Mace Thanks for that, Suzanne, I remember you to...

reading this made me realise how long ago I started reading the MSG Bulletin - I have not subscribed in about twenty years (children happened)! congratulations on your Silver anniversary

Hi I have a Fenestaria plant which I bought this summer from a garden centre, in bog standard compost as far as I can tell, which flowered back in September and has now produced another bud which started to open today! My question is what is the normal flowering time for this plant and does anyone h...

A great garden in general is Yorkgate, a private garden managed by Perrenial, which is the new name for the Royal Gardeners Benevolent Society York Gate Address Back Church Lane, Adel Leeds LS16 8DW Entrance times and conditions at http://www.perennial.org.uk/york_gate_information/york_gate_informat...

I have a photograph of the Princess of Wales cactus house at just the same angle from 1987!! I will find it and post it soon!