This is true! I'm looking forward, and now the project that I've been putting off...cleaning my apartment can happen today! (maybe if I don't stay on here all day!)

Alright guys- I've got another newbie question: what about fertilizer?? I've heard/read a few different things, but I'm pretty sure I'll be needing to start fertilizing once the spring rolls around...help!

Last year I think I used miracle grow soil as part of the mixture that I did for my raised beds, so I assumed it was in there...Its a good question, that I have seen addressed in one of the threads, but don't remember where...curious what others do, especially people growing in pots, where there is more "run off"

I never fertilize plants in the ground. They're tough little alpine plants. For the ones I have in pots I use a diluted Miracle Grow solution one or two times in the summer. But not the first year I put them in pots because the planting mix I use for pots includes Miracle Grow Potting Mix and that also has fertilizer in it. Too much fertilizer can cause them to etoliate.

Sorry if this post has bd typing but tiny otel rm they gave me hs bad ligting. Anyway I hnever buy soil with food in it i like to control my own feeding. i feed monthly during grwoing season with food that is organic bat guano or seaweek. Any other type of food I only use half of recomend dosage. Bat guao not available here so feed mostly w/seeweek that i mix in with my water. i have both semps in grd and in pots.

I don't fertilize at all, since I grow in raised beds. Might be why it takes mine a little longer to reach mature sizes and they also tend to have more intense color without the fertilizer.

Wow, which language is that Bev? Is that pure sugar in your system, the malted one in a bottle or Metmorfin required?
Lynn from how I have seen these Ferns, Sedums and Worts grow it seems they love leaf mulch and not prepared leaf mulch but drifts of dried leaves piled around them leaving their humic rich golden fluid to feed the plants.
Regards,
Arif.

Problem with that is keeping too much water in, but if you're in a dry area its a great idea!!

Like Lynn I also believe in raised beds. Have very tenacious clay, lot of limestone sand and limestone 1/8" crush worked in. Lime, because for some reason I have found these things loving it near faced limestone walls or quarries. Lynn might have an answer about the limey aspect as she has spent more time looking at these things. Lime tends to compact but acidic leaf mulch keeps it under control and open.
Regards,
Arif.

Sempervivum aren't much on acidic growing medium. They really do well here with our forest compost mixed with coarse sand and either chicken grit or 1/4"-10 crushed gravel. Seems to make them very happy.

I thought so. Never seen them growing in pure isolated leaf mulch, They love leaf mulch but not the acid part for that they grow near limestone deposits and lime neutralises the acid. Your chicken grit has to be lime for bone formation so should the gravel.
Regards,
Arif.

Yes, the chicken grit does provide the nutrients that semps love.

Interesting point Arif, so chicken grit is probably better than aquarium gravel?

Aquarium gravel has to be neutral. Tetras and Neon Tetras breed at a PH of 4.5, Cardinals at a PH of 5 to 5.5. Now Gouramis and Anabantids(surface breathers),(live breeder like Mollis, Guppies, etc need saline) like alkaline conditions.
Aquarium gravel under ideal conditions should be Quartz based gravel which is inert. Marble gravel/chips some put into aquariums but fish structure due to lime starts to fossilise. So which plants, Amazon or Cryptocrynes? Both acid lovers. Saggittaria, Vallessanaria, duck weed, water lettuce alkaline. If you want to propagate these plants then from submerged conditions take them to submersed.
Regards,
Arif.

Sounds like chicken grit it is! Now have to find someone to drive me out to a country store where I can buy some

The feed store sold this to me as chicken grit. Greg, I can get you a bag and bring it down on the 22. I think it was about 12.00 for 50 pounds. Bags not that big just heavy.

Lynn is this what you use?

It sure is sparkling! I think I'll hold off, I'm taking the bus down, and don't want to carry that home - but thank you! Spring, weren't you looking for "Oddity" ?? I could bring a couple (I have 5 small ones, but could bring 2) and then figure out some trade later, if you want
Cheers

That would be great. Thank you. Seems like you wanted something of mine a Primerose maybe?

Are any of your semps ready for sharing? (If I remember correctly they're all pretty new) if not then yes, primrose is always welcome here! I hadn't planted much of it until planting the one I have and its such a great plant for early spring late winter color!