Victoria Haemanthus albiflos is one of my favourite bulbs, I am tempted to dig my one out from under the bench now and pop it in the garden to feed the overflies too. Does anyone know if it is self-fertile? Mine set seed one year (2009??) but not the following year; only 1 plant, so seems possibly s...

Thanks, Dave & Werewolf I suspect mine was a bit too dry then, but also appears that overwatering can be a problem. It's in fairly well drained compost, which seems to be a general recommendation. I probably need to water "little and often". At least the base seems fine and is sending ...

I have tried and failed with Schlumbergera opuntioides some years ago, but recently acquired a new plant. Lots of new stems growing seemed to prove I now had the skills needed to grow this plant. The sudden shedding of all those stems might suggest otherwise. What am I doing wrong? The basal stem is...

Interesting Chris. I've noticed stamens reacting to touch on some opuntias/Pterocactus, never spotted it in Notocacti. Wonder how many others there might be?

Look a bit large for Parodia chrysacanthion, unless very magnified. What's the actual size, Phil?
Is a Rebutia a possibility?

I really can't see much point in growing these plants if you're not prepared to make the commitment to give them some ' T ender L oving C are'. We know the temperatures they need to survive, so where's the thrill in going out to the greenhouse every winter day in order to find out whether the gambl...

Just to add some thoughts from my perspective in Central West Scotland. One question Mike... As you have not used any method of heating in your greenhouse why did you go to the expense of installing bubble wrap. Would it not have been more prudent to spend the money on horticultural fleece? Clean t...

Simon, Gymno gibbosum is worth a try . Chris R has (had?) one which survived planted out in his Sheffield garden over the 2009-2010 winter. How's it doing now Chris?
See http://www.bcss.org.uk/foruma/viewtopic ... um#p150669

Vic, I've also lost a few garden plants that I wouldn't expect to lose. Cordylines seem to have suffered badly in Sheffield, dead ones all over in gardens and in civic plantings. Noticed lots of dead cordylines on recent trips to Nottingham and Birmingham as well. I think you're right about the prol...

View in the old days.. PS the photo resizing seems to be reducing actual size not just number of pixels -I'll try to sort this and re-load the pics