And it would be so helpful in pollinating.

I'm finding all these amazing web sites everyone probably already knows about -- the Europeans have a lot of technical information that most of us probably won't ever need, but I'm glad to see it's out there. For example: http://stalikez.info/fsm/semp/... and https://www.flickr.com/photos/... (lots of information as well as photos) -- interesting that he says he needs to keep his sheltered and under cover during the winter... Are there a lot more like this, or have I pretty much skimmed the cream off the google milk?

MotherRaphaela said:I'm finding all these amazing web sites everyone probably already knows about -- the Europeans have a lot of technical information that most of us probably won't ever need, but I'm glad to see it's out there. For example: http://stalikez.info/fsm/semp/... and https://www.flickr.com/photos/... (lots of information as well as photos) -- interesting that he says he needs to keep his sheltered and under cover during the winter... Are there a lot more like this, or have I pretty much skimmed the cream off the google milk?

Love that saying MR. "pretty much skimmed the cream off the google milk?".

You'll be happy to know there is so much more out there. Here are some more links for you. The thread "Sempervivum Reference Sites" in Sempervivum forum
I added the great site, 4mysempervivum to the list. I has such wonderful information. Thank you so much for suggesting it.

"sempervivophilia", another addition to our semp dictionary...

"google milk"

The sempervivophilia site is for the most part way too technical for me, except for his section "Problems," where he pretty much nails those buggers on the head...

Martha Stewart's step by step instructions on propagating succulents like sempervivum seem much more useful: She would have made a great 4-H leader!

http://www.marthastewart.com/9...

http://www.marthastewart.com/8...

http://www.themarthablog.com/2...

And this site from the new forum on photography. I'm tucking these away here so I know where to find them!

http://www.sempervivum.legtux....

Those are great links for information on starting tender succulents from cutting/leaves. This wouldn't apply to Sempervivum, they are not propagated in the same way.

Wonderful photos on the last link you posted. The links will be waiting here for you when you need them.

MR one thing I've noticed with my semps is that they like wind...I have some in a more protected area and they don't seem to do as well as the ones that are in more wind. And also ones that I have against a wall, where it is warmer - they don't seem to like that either, just some of my observations about growing these plants!

I think the wind keeps excess moisture off of the leaves? Good observation Greg.

I'll remember that about wind -- and too much warmth. I try to keep a fan going, even on regular houseplants, because they seem to like even plain movement. A friend told me once that I should brush my hands over seedlings (hard to do with stiff succulents) at least once a day, that the movement was important to them. I've done it when I've thought of it -- I can't prove that it makes a difference, but it certainly can't hurt unless you get so rough you uproot them...

Checking in this morning to procrastinate -- too much desk work to get done today! Decided to check out the home page here and noticed a "miniature gardening" forum. Not nearly as lively as this one, but it occurs to me from a brief glance that this might be a way to offload all those mini semp & jovi seedlings that don't want to grow up to be full-size garden plants. A thought. One of our sisters sometimes talks about miniature Penjing landscapes. I think I'll go down to the basement some day, find something suitable beat up to use as a container, and see what I can do.

Give us a link when you post a new thread in the Miniature Garden forum.
I look forward to seeing what you do with miniature gardening.
Here is a great link for miniature gardening. Lots of fun an imagination.
The thread ""Whats going on in David of DeLands containers?"" in Containers forum

MotherRafaela, I'm not sure how exactly it translates to semps, but long ago I too remember reading something about the importance of plant movement. As best as I can remember, when a plant moves/sways, it slightly stresses the stem and the stem then grows thicker and stronger as a result.

Taking the idea of plant movement a little further -- do you know if there are such things as time-lapse photos of semps? I've seen some of other plants and they look sometimes almost as if they are dancing. Semps seem more literally "stuck in the mud," rigid or maybe even static, but I wonder if they may have a secret life that would only show up with a time-lapse "movie?" Probably not really important -- just curiosity -- but then that's what got me into this forum in the first place!

Now that is an intriguing thought MR. Hmmm, wonder if a google search will bring something up?

I got one hit from google that was an actual time lapse photo. It says it's a sempervivum, but is not. What a bummer.

Taking the idea of plant movement a little further -- do you know if there are such things as time-lapse photos of semps? I've seen some of other plants and they look sometimes almost as if they are dancing. Semps seem more literally "stuck in the mud," rigid or maybe even static, but I wonder if they may have a secret life that would only show up with a time-lapse "movie?" Probably not really important -- just curiosity -- but then that's what got me into this forum in the first place!

Did you see this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

No semps, (Easter cactus are the only succulents) but maybe it will inspire someone to photograph some semps in the same way. It would be awesome to watch a flower stalk shoot up and bloom! Even to watch one send out stolons (is that the correct plural?) and chicks and form a clump . If someone had the time and the equipment, it could be an awesome project!

This seems to be the mother site for all time-lapse photography. Should I be posting this to the photography forum? Seems like coals to newcastle. Forgive me if I'm really not sure how these forums work!

http://plantsinmotion.bio.indi...

Bummer, Firefox won't let me look at the videos.
The Youtube ones works. Beautiful to watch.

Yes it is stolons. You have really been studying up.