Outdoors in summer

[IainS]

A few of our Echeverias, which have been flowering for weeks and still going strong:

Echeverias outdoors.gif (235.07 KiB) Viewed 1331 times

[Tina]

Ian s
those eckeveria look lovely.

Mike
does the Fockea like it outside, do you get good growth on it ? I know they like more water than they often get but wonder about the loss of heat.

I have recently put my pachycormus bicolor & idria columnaris out as they were struggling to leaf out- they all have new shoots & are looking much better, although I'm a bit nervous about how long they will stay out I would hate to lose them,

[Herts Mike]

Tina,

I always put the Fockea out all summer and it loves it! My front garden is very hot and I water it most days when I water everything else. You can't see them in the picture but there's a dozen tomato plants further along the wall.

[IainS]

So the consensus of opinion/experience suggests that outdoors is a good thing.

Mike (Herts): I really like your four-sided tall green pot, which shows off the caudex plant very nicely.

[Herts Mike]

Thanks Ian!

[Herts Mike]

Here's a better picture of it -

[IainS]

Thank you, Mike. It illustrates the point really well and simply that a good plant and a good pot add up to more than just a good plant.

We've yet to visit a National Show, but nevertheless have marvelled at photographs of some amazing plants on the display tables - but often in mediocre or actually unattractive pots. Yes, Americans can sometimes dress their plants up too much in flamboyant pots that probably distract from the wonderment of the all-important plant - but they seem to more often get the balance right.

[Herts Mike]

Very much with you on that Iain.

[Tina]

Hi Mike
That's a very nice plant n pot, I have to admit to buying something similar & a few other bonsai pots but they are expensive.

[Herts Mike]

They certainly are Tina.

I sometimes get the trainer pots which are a lot cheaper but still look good.