Makes it easier to decide what works, and what doesn't work in NC.

I have a ton of the common all green. I think I'll pot some of those up and put them in the same place with the same care. Then try different types of fertilizer and maybe fritted trace elements. I've got a few crazy ideas I could try and just see what works best. Thanks Lynn!

webesemps said: ... I saw good results for my situation: more offsets to start a "colony look" and more growth of the small-med. rosettes...

I want to add that with more offsets appearing, one does see which cultivars give offsets on long stolons, which can be quite a mess appearing in 2-4 inch pots grouped closely together in flats.

Good point Bev. I find it messy looking even in a big bed.

Daniel, what I worry about is creating growth that is too fast and more susceptible to disease, rot, and insect damage. Especially in your summer weather. I really look forward to seeing the results of your experiment.

Bev,

I'm glad you paid attention to all my comments on TOO LONG STOLONS during the Semp Clinic. I think that makes them hideous not to mention a mess in the beds.

I'm teaching a class on proper proportions in bearded irises and there we came up with a formula where the best proportion is achieved. I'm betting we could figure out a ratio between rosette size and length of stolon that is optimal.

Kevin

Kevin

Kevin, I can't bet for anything other than an ice cream cone but I have to say that any additional offset hanging off of anything of any of any length is Ok in my collection But it does means that I have to take note of the origin of the stolon to keep track of the ID of any offset that has made a new home in the neighbor's "yard" several pots away...

I can see the look on your face, Bev when you find a stray.

Speaking of stray semps I found a random baby semp in a random flower bed. I had no semps even near it?!

oh no, the semps are evolving. they're spreading too fast and too efficiently, we gotta terminate them before they take over our garden beds. their destructive capabilities and counterintelligence are superior to ours already, we must act quickly. *brandishes herbicide*

If anyone is near Kevin it will be an awesome stop!! I love plant people! Most are so caring. In Clearwater this week any places I shouldn't miss?

That would be nice to visit OR and meet all of the semp folks!

Teresa, where is Clearwater? Kentucky?

Daniel, I would love for you to come visit. And I'm sure the semp people here would love to meet you in person.
We could tour some nurseries and have a gathering here at my house.

That would be awesome!!

Let me know.

JebobaTea said: oh no, the semps are evolving. they're spreading too fast and too efficiently, we gotta terminate them before they take over our garden beds. their destructive capabilities and counterintelligence are superior to ours already, we must act quickly. *brandishes herbicide*

No herbicide brandishing here in this townhouse location: The runaways are caught and have to appear at community events, the overproducers are put into bigger garden suites, the "too-efficients" are touted as shining examples to the slow growers and the more intelligent cultivars are hooked up to electrodes to give up the secret of "ratio between rosette size and length of stolon that is optimal."
Worse comes to worse they go into the NO-Id work program...

webesemps said: No herbicide brandishing here in this townhouse location: The runaways are caught and have to appear at community events, the overproducers are put into bigger garden suites, the "too-efficients" are touted as shining examples to the slow growers and the more intelligent cultivars are hooked up to electrodes to give up the secret of "ratio between rosette size and length of stolon that is optimal."
Worse comes to worse they go into the NO-Id work program...

woah, the sempervivum lore just got a lot deeper

I'm having a time trying to find composted forest bark or even a peat free compost. Would top soil work? Or any ideas?

Are you checking with your local landscape supply? They usually have all kinds of mixes to choose from. Don't do top soil.