Dead or Alive?

[Paul T]

maybe not freely but twice a week, or so, and every time I water my Pelargoniums

Mark,

One thing I learned a while back is that my plants don't read books (I've carefully kept them illiterate!  ).  If twice a week has your plant thriving, then don't change anything.  A few years ago I put my collection of Primula auricula out into the ground as I was told they would do much better for me there (they were doing OK in pots, but I accepted the advice).  Within 2 months every one of them was dead.  If something works for you in your own conditions then don't mess with whatever you're doing.  If it aint broke then don't try to fix it.

Now, if your plant were struggling under your current regime then I'd be making changes, but if it is happy then leave it that way. 

[johnw]

john--are your plants in the house or greenhouse?
for sure you have to be careful with water when its cool, but the issue isnt just what the lows are, but whether it warms up in the daytime..

here, i wouldnt even bother putting tender plants outside--we often have single digit night temps even in mid-summer; this year, there were frosts or warnings in every month! and rainy weather is commonly quite chilly, not a good combo for really tender c+s..

i havent tried conos yet, but really hoping to..of course that's a whole different cycle, winter growing; apparently they can be handled in low light midwinters by watering mainly fall and spring;
 i have a lot of haworthia, which i water year round, with a partial break in mid-winter and mid-summer, i probably do about the same with the few adros i have..

Cohan - They're in the greenhouse.  Warming up is also a problem outdoors here, damp and 10-15c is exactly cactus weather for weeks on end.   In this climate we can put the Fan palms (Chinese and Meds), Phormiums, Pitts, Hebes and Madennias out in mid April and leave them out till late November or early December - they don't mind the cool damp weather.  One year the Palms were out till the pots froze to the patio at Xmas time, -7c and they didn't bat an eyelash.

Haworthia retusa, one of my favourites, also looked fine after that long bout of neglect.

johnw

[Rodger Whitlock]

It may amuse you to hear that at one of the shows of the Victoria Horticultural Society, many years ago, the judges of the houseplant category pointed out that one cactus entered was in fact as dead as a doornail.

It was one of those species that's wrapped up in white hair.

[Lesley Cox]

And was it Harold Esslemont who showed a dead Raoulia eximia regularly for many years?
Even if yours is dead John, I'd get out a paint brush and some dull green paint. You could perk it up no end.

[johnw]

And was it Harold Esslemont who showed a dead Raoulia eximia regularly for many years?
Even if yours is dead John, I'd get out a paint brush and some dull green paint. You could perk it up no end.

You've got me thinking about that can of green spray paint in the garage. Could save me $100.

Did Harold take any ribbons with the Raoulia?

johnw

[cohan]

It may amuse you to hear that at one of the shows of the Victoria Horticultural Society, many years ago, the judges of the houseplant category pointed out that one cactus entered was in fact as dead as a doornail.
It was one of those species that's wrapped up in white hair.

nice at least that the judges could tell

[Maggi Young]

And was it Harold Esslemont who showed a dead Raoulia eximia regularly for many years?
Even if yours is dead John, I'd get out a paint brush and some dull green paint. You could perk it up no end.

 Harold did once show a Raoulia (that had been flown in from NZ in the days when that was acceptable) that was dead... he twigged pretty quickly ( well,after it hadn't changed in six months, in the period when it should have been growing!) and it was never shown again!

We have known other exhibitors who would not be convinced that their Raoulia was very much in the past tense   Very difficult when the owner denies absolutely there is a problem!! Usually takes being confronted by a live specimen to finally bring them round to a right way of thinking!

[Lesley Cox]

I must apologise to the memory of the late HE then Maggi. Got my facts wrong again. The living Raoulia eximia is - as Ian will know well - a beautiful, almost turquoise blue, with a fine velvet pelt. Dead, it is dull grey/brown. (I should know. )