Best not to leave plastics in the sun in the greenhouse as they denature due to UV radiation after a time. I always leave my sprayer under the greenhouse bench out of the sun and have had it about ten years now. Also liquids do not compress unless under extreme pressure, but air does. Therefore don'...

Hi Habanerocat Not yet got around to reconditioning mine with the replacement washer kit but the grease just looks like ordinary car grease. I presume its just used on the inside of the pump cylinder and the steel rod of the pump? Can't see there is much else to grease, don't think it applies to the...

As to a Tesco cat litter replacement I bought a bag of the Safety Tread Paul in Essex recommended on page 1 of this thread. You may also find it on EBAY. With these garage products of course you need to make sure they are the red clay since they all may be suitable for soaking up oil but some not fo...

I have had a Hoselock sprayer for many years. I believe they originally took over ASL Killerspray which was the main brand in the 1970's. I have a replacement washers pack including grease for the pump, but not got around to fitting them yet. However that should put ii back to new condition through ...

It must be 40 years ago since I last used a smoke bomb in the greenhouse! To really be effective you need a fairly airtight greenhouse with the vents and door closed. It is advisable to tell your neighbours what you are doing as the greenhouse will be full of smoke. One of our old members used one i...

Move them outdoors would be best. This recent hot weather has set back a few of my plants on the top shelf of the greenhouse and that has four vents in the roof unlike most conservatories. I have even bought some shade cloth for the greenhouse not needing it in the past. We have not been used to hot...

As long as you put "rare" or "choice" on any plant on EBAY no matter how common it will sell for a stupid price. However a plant that size has taken a few years to grow, but not £437 worth. I like then adding postage is extra at £5.50p. The main attraction of the C. cinerea group...

As I understand it the correct way to restock habitat is as with the Kew Millennium Seed Bank. Collected seed is stored and never germinated until needed to refresh their original habitat. After germination the plants are returned to the habitat the seed was originally collected from. Not further pr...

The problem is always the source and whether you have collected plants or seed material direct from habitat. Or are the seed and plants under those numbers second or third generation obtained from nurserymen? If so you can never be sure enough precautions have been taken to prevent open pollination ...

Hi Paul, Sounds like a case of dominant and recessive genes regarding flower colour. I don't know the flower colour variation in the S. breviflora population, but as a matter of interest this was originally an offset years ago from a genuine Cardenas specimen and its very shy offsetting. It was give...