Good display this year

[iann]

Mammillaria senilis enjoyed the Bank Holiday sun

[rodsmith]

A fine display, Ian. The hot weather is certainly working wonders for our plants.

[sechjoh]

Wow, that's a beautiful display

[ralphrmartin]

Is yours really that colour? Mine's scarlet.

[iann]

The colour tends to burn out in photos, especially in the sun. Here is one taken with more care that is a pretty good match, on my monitor at least.

[iann]

I took a look at these flowers in the sun today and it isn't just the camera burning out the colour. They are definitely somewhat pink and somewhat paler towards the centre. I wonder if it is the unseasonable heat or strong sun?

[ralphrmartin]

The picture above is much more like what I would expect...

[Ivan]

Just out of curiosity, do you leave all your plants in the greenhouse all winter? Also do use a heater in there as well?

[iann]

Just out of curiosity, do you leave all your plants in the greenhouse all winter? Also do use a heater in there as well?

Probably three quarters of my plants stay in the greenhouse over winter. It isn't heated. I do have a heater for emergencies, unexpected cold snaps with tender plants still out or record-breaking freezes that might be too much. Don't think I used it this winter. Temperatures generally don't drop below -7C here over winter, very occasionally to perhaps -15C. Most nights it won't even go below freezing, just dank and humid.