Wahoo! Great....I've been going through the database looking at everything.

Start making your list Linda.

How did I miss this?? My goodness. Beautiful plants.

I have started a database of the semps and sedum I buy. I thought it would be best to start it now, when I only have a few, instead of waiting and forgetting what I have. It's seems with age ....CRS is becoming a problem....

You have a link to it,Linda???
Tell me how to do it. Hust show what I have this year?
What if something dies. Do we write deceased On it? So much to learn.

You can make it anyway you want Charleen. Just add columns for the info you want to keep track of.
Deceased is good, that way you know you don't have it anymore, you can put the date you noticed it dead and why if you know why.
Great idea Linda to start it while there are relatively few entries, then just keep it up as you acquire new ones.
What info will you be keeping in the database Linda? What info is important to you Charleen. It might help us all to discuss this topic, it could lead to valuable info for all of us.

Who I got it from
When I got it
where it is from
Sun or shade
dry or moist
Pots or ground

I'm using Microsoft Excel to create a spreadsheet for the info. It would be a great topic to discuss. I'd love to hear what others are doing.

I also use a spreadsheet, but a little differently. Each spring, I take a folding chair outside and write down each pot, the pot size, shape & contents, and name of the plants, Also include where it came from, a count of hens, a count of chicks, a comment if needed and living or dying. I add new aquisitons to this list all summer long. As I'm creating the list, I type it into an Excel spreadsheet, so I have a spreadsheet for each spring of my plant collections.

For those of you that are comfortable with Excel, it is worthwhile to learn MS Access, the database that comes with most of the MS Office packages. Access can take the data from Excel and automatically create a database data file from the data. The neat thing about Access is that you can define reports to run against the data. So if you have a column for plant maximum size, your could generate a report that would list all of the large semps. You could also use that field to generate a report for all of the small semps or whatever size you wanted. You can mix and/match the different categories that you choose to create. So you could get a report that says which of your semps turn purple and stay small, for example.

Access is pretty easy to use, but if you have not worked with that program or other database programs, then it takes a little effort to get going with it. It's not because its hard, but because it can basically do whatever you can imagine doing with it, which means there are lots of possiblities to sort out.

What great information on this thread. I am beginning to get some hardy succulents and hens and chicks started around my porch area. I was looking for information on best soil for use in pottery containers I am making to hang on a wall or fence. I love all the beautiful plants you are displaying and I am willing to pay postage also to broaden my scope. I hope to post pictures on what I have been up to since I found and joined this site. Thank You ValleyLynn

You are so welcome Paula. We love sharing our experiences with these plants and would love to see what you are doing with yours. Many of us will be ready to trade, or send plants out come next spring. Our semps are all going into hibernation mode right now. What part of the country do you live in, zone, weather conditions.
I will leave your question on potting mix for those that have already done containers that hang (wreaths, pots, etc), as they would need a lighter weight mix than what I use in my free standing containers. I use a fast draining mix of chicken grit, Turface, small amount of Miracle Grow potting mix and some perlite. The chicken grit and Turface make for a very heavy pot or container.
We are so glad you have joined us, and we plan on making you another semp & sedum addicted person.

oh lynn that RED RUBIN Is Just Beautiful is it a hardy semp or not ???


I want to learn more about these so I want to go thought all the post :)))).
well i have to go get a bite to eat.

Perlite and vermiculite are very light. Vermiculate eventually collapses somewhat, so perlite is a good choice. A layer of chicken grit on top of the soil will help keep the perlite from rising to the top so much.

Great advice twit, thank you. I will have to remember that for the fruit & veggie cans I have ready to paint and plant for hanging. Doing the first ones in cobalt blue.

All the semps are hardy Susie, conditions (as in soil or potting mixes) are what determines how well they do.
Chris grows them all and she is in WI. : )

I would love to see some of your gardens so that I can get a few ideas of how to plant them is Full sun best or not ?
I Don't have much shade so i hope the answer is yes :)
thank you all for shareing your input .
susie

Full sun is great in some areas of the country. If you have very hot, hot & humid conditions, first have of day sun is great. I have mine in full sun, but I did put shade cloth over the beds when we had a heat wave predicted. I was sure glad I did it. Here is one of the raised beds. I grow mine in the raised beds because we have such wet, mild winters here in the PNW. This keeps them much drier.
Chris and twit grow using two other methods. There are many. Maybe they can share a few photos to show how they grow theirs.
You can see the difference of three months of growing makes in the plants.

----June 2010 ----Sept 2010

Susie, there are pictures of my semp garden on this thread: The thread "Semp Gardens & Raised Beds" in Sempervivum forum

Thank you Chris, I forgot about that thread. Great photo.

I'm at work and can't post any pictures

The link worked great Chris. I am going to have to remember about that feature here in Cubits. It's a great one.