Lynn: I live in Tucson, Arid-zona. I'm pretty sure that's Zone 9. We get down in the low 20's and occasionally lower in winter, and , well, derned hot in the summer. Summer is almost upon us now. We've either broken the 100 ° mark or come close a few times already.

Greg: The you-tube videos were awesome, thanks for posting them! Desertkoigal comes from my past avocation/ backyard business. I used to be a koi breeder here in Tucson. In case you're not familiar, koi are those big, streamlined Japanese goldfish that you see in people's ponds and Japanese gardens. I still have a small watergarden but I don't raise koi babies anymore. I've stuck with the name, tho.

I should probably start a new thread when I get some pics of my NOIDs to share, I feel like I've rudely hijacked this one....not my intent. Thanks again for the warm welcome!

I'm pretty sure there is a NOID 2013 thread for semps, or post on the Semp Chat 2013 thread...guess I'll see you on there Desertkoigal! (I used to have a large tank with young koi!)
Cheers

Here is your thread desertkoigal.
Can't wait to see your photos.

haha ! Oops , sorry, I just double-posted because I did not see that someone had kindly and appropriately started a new thread. Thanks ! ! Here is the first of my photos. Any help with ID'ing them is greatly appreciated.

and some more..These are just new unlabelled starts I bought from a guy & planted last week, so not yet established at all.

The first one kinda sorta looks like some sort of sempervivum calcareum to me.I would definitely keep semps out of the sun during the summer in Tucson, at least during mid day sun. I think I've explored almost every nursery in Tucson, but haven't seen a lot of sempervivum there. I have seen glorious echeveria there though.

DesertKoi, those are cool! I like the seedlings! You seem like you're taking very good care of them!
Tabby, totally agree with you, I love some of the echeveria, and Desertkoi, you can easily grow them in your zone 9!
Cheers

I agree with tabby. Filter light would be best for semps in your area, if you want to have the best chance at success.
Also, don't water in the heat of the day, water late at night or very early in the morning (2:00 a.m.). And let the soil dry out before watering again. Moisture and heat will cook them. When you water, water sparingly.

The photos are great koigirl. However, there is no way we can ID them for you, other than to say one is an arachnoideum type semp.

2:00 AM?????????????????????????/

Are you kidding me.

Ok Marilyn for you 1am - how about that!??
Right before you go to bed, or as soon as you get up in the a.m.

Now listen buddy, I go to bed between 9 and 11, sometimes I don't get to sleep until almost 2 or 3 but no way am I getting up then.

and I get up between 7 and 10, depending on how quickly I get to sleep the night before.

We old folks do not go out at 1 or 2 or even 3 am to water stuff. Who knows what evil lurks out there. (scared smiley)

Thanks All ! I am just getting started but had discovered previously that the midday sun might be for mad dogs, but not for little semps, but thanks for the advice because there is a lot I don't know.. I doooooooooo have about 3 or 4 echeveria (afraid if I posted pics here I'd get run out of town and I like it here ) and a single very dark aeonium. 2 of the echeveria are getting ready to bloom, so I will try to collect some seeds to share. I have fond memories of semps from my days growing up in Ohio and then later in Seattle, so I am willing to cater to their needs a bit more than some of the plants I have.

I laughed at your 2 am comment, CDsSister. I feel the same, but just about everything out here is on drip irrigators anyway so I guess I could set the timer for any time I want. I am going to set up my own separate irrigation system for these guys so I can make sure to not overwater them though.

Tabby: I think I may have bought the semps I had previously at Magic Garden Nursery here in Tucson, but you are right, they are not as plentiful as the more tender succulent varieties and I'm sure it's because of the sun tolerance. I also scored a violet plant there last year, almost unheard of in the desert SW, but it is thriving in the shade of my front entrance.

DKG, you writing about violets being "rare" is just so odd!! Since they're so common around here - oh yeah, guess where I live? Seattle That's funny! I have never seen Hens and chicks in any other city like I do here! Its just amazing!
Yes, I'm sure the timer is what Lynn meant! I was teasing Marilyn, who was probably teasing Lynn...at least I hope so??? If plants can't thrive with the care they get from me in my natural rhythms, then they just don't make it - sorry plants

gg5 said: If plants can't thrive with the care they get from me in my natural rhythms, then they just don't make it - sorry plants

That's funny, Greg, that's how I feel. Tough Love: pull yourself up by your semp bootstraps and LIVE, darn it!!

Bev, meanwhile I can't believe you have any that can't thrive with your care!!!

Hey, I have my bad moments too just like everybody else... Don't make me list the ones I lost recently...

Aw! Sorry...treemail me the list! Kidding...sorry

Koi, May I call you that?

I remember how hot that sun gets in Tucson,, When I lived there eons ago I remember getting the soles of my feet and the backs
of my legs fried from walking in thin shoes and sitting on hot car seats. But I did love the wonderful desert colors and especially the sunsets.

Even Lynn puts up sunshade in the PNW and I am thinking of getting a bitty umbrella so shade some of mine in the intense
afternoon sun here in the mile high city.

Tabby and Lynn can best advise you on the best way to have your semps prosper and I am beginning to really listen when they say "don't water too much" and "leave them alone until they break dormancy in the spring"

I however will not be getting up at 2 am to water, wish I had a watering system but it is just me with the hose.

Best of luck on your Semp hobby. We all have to learn to live with our micro climates and make adjustments as required.

You win a few and you lose a few. Ain't I profound today.


.

Marilyn so profound that you got a "thumbs up" from me