Herts Mike wrote: ↑Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:12 am Clutching and straws comes to mind....

Or - optimism?! Out walking this morning I passed a house where, in the front garden, there were daffodils in full bloom... All very strange.

Five plants in bud or flower this week, including this one.

Thanks all for the input, much appreciated. I Googled the book mentioned by Ralph, and as best I recall it is the only time I have ever done such a search and received no results whatsoever! So I think you were lucky to get a copy ianstrutt, well done! I doubt a letter to Santa is going to help me ...

Thanks all for the input, much appreciated. I Googled the book mentioned by Ralph, and as best I recall it is the only time I have ever done such a search and received no results whatsoever! So I think you were lucky to get a copy ianstrutt, well done! I doubt a letter to Santa is going to help me ...

Thanks all for the input, much appreciated. I Googled the book mentioned by Ralph, and as best I recall it is the only time I have ever done such a search and received no results whatsoever! So I think you were lucky to get a copy ianstrutt, well done! I doubt a letter to Santa is going to help me w...

Please forgive another rookie question. I'm aware of the usual rule of thumb regarding watering, nowt from October through March (in the UK), but what about "Winter growers", does the same rule still apply or is it a case of reversing the usual rule of thumb? And, if so, is there a reliabl...

Thanks for details of the oral irrigator - do you think it is safe to use on the growing point of soft plants like Rebutias and Fraileas - I'm worried that area may be more easily damaged than the base of the plant. Hmmm... Sorry but I'm not sure how to answer than one. I couldn't really see the lo...

I've used an oral irrigator Can you tell us which one? I'd hate to get one that was too powerful and damages the plants... The one I got is a Panasonic EW-EJ10A "portable oral irrigator". It is battery powered, and has two switchable settings for the strength of spray. The higher setting ...

Has anybody ever used an air-compressor to blow off insects from plants? Sounds like a plan, but where do you blow them off to? Does this work in practice or just help to spread them around? I think I've mentioned before on here I've used an oral irrigator before now, and because it produces a narr...

Hmmm... Got to say I'm envious! I molly coddle my plants, lavish them with loads of attention, yet this year out of my small collection of sixty or so plants I have at least ten and probably more that seem to be rushing headlong towards death's door... Yours looks great to me. Guess there's a lesson...