I'm looking at ValleyLynn's thread in the Classifieds & Group Buys forum. I'm putting in an order next month, and Chantell is ordering with me. If anybody else wants to jump in, you're more than welcome... it'll save on shipping, especially if you only want a couple of plants.

$3 for 3-4 "chicks" is a great deal on Sempervivum ("Hens & chicks"). Shipping shouldn't add much, as Lynn says at least 30-40 sets of chicks will fit in a large flat rate box ($18.75). We've got the box half full already. :-)

I just put up a group buy thread for sharing the order: The thread "Mid-Atlantic forum group semp buy" in Classifieds and Group Buys forum

Critter, I am interested in semp group buy. Can we choose specific ones from her list?

Yes, indeed. Price is the same as she listed on her thread in the classifieds forum, but we'll save on postage by going in together on an order... and I think she may put in a few "noid" offsets as a bonus... If our order gets really big, I can ask her about a discount, but that $3 price is already a steal.

@Frenchy21 - yes
@Becky_No_UK_AL The thread "Mid-Atlantic forum group semp buy" in Classifieds and Group Buys forum I could include in your goodie box if we waited till Sept.

I will reply to all the above later. I was quite behind readinf all the Posts.

Meanwhile--can anyone ID this Sedum?

I have 4 small pots of it this Sedum growing and available to share
They are well rooted in the 4-pack. Will pop them out and pot them up.

Picked up these pieces at MD Flower and Foliage
as they were broken off and laying there --in a box.

Wow Gita you did good Is it one of the Stonecrop Sedum acres?

Jill --- on the seedling post ... Good try for saving them.... My friends look the other way when they see me coming with a box of plants, or puppies or kittens.

But you know really, Maples do make wonderful Bonsai, their leaves reduce well, except the really big leaved ones. Never tried the Rose a Sharon.
But do have a Crepe Myrtle. And Jill, you probably already know this if you have Bonsai, but for others if they don't know. The best way to start a Bonsai is let it grow in the ground, and deep shovel around it like you were going to dig it up. But don't. Twice a year. So the roots don't get to deep or thick. The truck will thicken up much quicker than in a pot. Continually trimming the tree the way you want it while it's in the ground. You'll also be continually conditioning it. When it's looking good, pull it up and put it in a pot... Waa Laa... a Bonsai.... if you like container trees that is....

I didn't know that! I've been starting them in pots, and pruning back the tap root... thanks!

OK! Will try to address all that was talked about above. May not get to all.

1--True CC---I went outside to see how mine is doing. It sure is growing well.
All my CC's start to grow some new leaves when outside--they just love the air and humidity.
I looked at all my CC pictures from years ago. SO fresh and pretty. All the blooms so spectacular!
Now they seem to be struggling. Stems aging and rotting at the base. Not much new growth.
Fronds turning thin and papery--then breaking off. Etc..etc..etc..

May be MY fault--as I do not take very good care of them inside for the winter.
I either over-water--or don't water much at all. I keep remembering that after they bloom, they
need a 5-6 weeks of rest. So--I let them "rest". maybe too much.
May be that they need a cooler spot to grow? They are on this tall rack near a window,
underneath which is a heat vent. But--nit that close!

I decided that my True CC needs a hair-cut. So-if you want to have a start--let me know--HERE-
NOT on the Swap tool. I will give each of you a piece with ~ 3-4 sections on it.
That is how I started mine. It was a gift from "Birder" (long ago DG member).
She sent me 3 or 4 sections like I will give you. It had to be in 2011 (??).
Here is a picture from Nov. 2012 where they are just starting to grow bigger.


Here are a 2 beautiful pictures of it's blooms from 2014 (the "heyday" if them blooming.


Here is how big they have grown in the last couple winters. Just took this today.


Here is where all my larger CC's spend the summer--on this rack by the house
under the Patio roof. They really love it outside. I can see a lot of new growths coming.
The smaller CC's live on this metal rack up agaist the house.


Last 2 pictures for now:

1--close-up of The Easter Cactus "leaves" If you look very closely--you can detect the slightest
scalloping around the edges of these leaves
I have several (maybe 3) different color Easter cactus--I just don't know which is which
until they bloom. Gotta bind my time.....

**** Note:
When you are taking cuttings of any CC's--DO NOT CUT THEM OFF!!! TWIST THEM OFF!***
You will see a tiny nub sticking out from the separation point.
I don't know why that is important--but it seems to be.

Also wanted to mention the two most obvious differenced in the true CC.
1--The leaves are "daintier" and have NO scalloping at all
2--The blooms hang straight down from the tip of the "leaf". See pictures above.

Gita - I would love one but only if there's any remaining after all of those that have shown interest previously 'raise their hand.' And thank you for the pointers. I'm trying to root my 'Molly' Cactus (have had since my grandmother passed 21 years ago) for my nephews. Annndddd...based on what you all have said...she's going outside tonight. I've never thought to do that before.

Jill--
You asked about the Ric Rac cactus. (Selenicereus Anthonyanus)
" Is your ric rac cactus an easter cactus, or another type of epi?"

The Easter cactus is NOT an Epi. I need to Google to find the official name for it.
OR--hunt down some of the Posts JB has posted with more info.than you will ever need.

The Ric Rac Cactus IS an Epiphylum (Epi) in the Orchid cactus Family. BIG Family!!

The "Ric Rac" can grow into a heavy "monster". The fronds are so heavy--that I have
given 2 of the Ric Rac HB of it away. I always feared the weight of the RR (~35+lbs)
will pull out the ceiling hook and come crashing down. Here are 2 pictures--get the idea???
I have 2 pretty big ones growing again. Not in the HB but just in pots by my front door.
I have NO idea what I will do with these? I could cut one of them up in decent sections
and you all can grow your own. They grow quite fast. I have only seen one bloom ONCE.
The below pic. is from August 2005. That is not long after I got it.
It is hanging on my pole next to my Lipstick Pant. Zoom in to enlarge.


lightbox]2016-07-26/gitagal/2ceb87[/lightbox]

OK! Need to do something else than sit at the computer all day.

Happy gardening! Gita

What happened to this shot ????

My picnic table is 5' in diam.

G.

Chantelle--You will have one--or two. No need to wait till "there's any left".

I promise you--I will not hack my CC down too far. I want the whole plant to be as
nice as it can be by Christmas. Just a haircut....
From cuttings--you may need to wait 3 years...maybe....to see blooms.

When you take your CC outside--give it filtered light--like under a tree...NO direct sun!
G.

Gita,

I would love one Your Plants looks Gorgeous

I don't see any of your plants struggling, in fact my plants want to go home with you..hehe....

Gita, I remember you gave a monster ric rac to Rawlings Conservatory... have you been back to visit it? If you cut one up, I'd love some extra pieces... every time mine starts getting big, somebody falls in love with it, and I take a few cuttings for myself and give the plant away. Like with my curly spider, I did that last fall and then didin't have good luck iwth the cuttings... I do still have a piece, but just a bit. I know, it'll grow!

Donna--

Did you "want one of the Christmas cactus--or the Ric Rac we were just talking about?.
I think you wanted the Xmas CC.???
OH, I DO have some struggling plant failures--but do you think I would post them here???

I am starting a list on a sheet of paper for "Early Requests'.
When I get more organized--I will organize my"Haves". Stay tuned!
I never have an "wants". Gita

Jill--
The Ric Rac I gave away to Rawlings is still there and thriving.
They re-potted it in a lg. clay pot and put it among the rocks of the Mediterranian
House's huge pond.
There--it learned to grow roots all among the rocks and is now part of this pond.
I have not gone back there more than once. That time--it was done blooming--
but the Folks that work there assured me it did.

I have also given away the humongous Maya Brug to Cylburn) --i am sure you,ve seen
the pictures)It was almost too big to fit into the Citie's Pannel truck. Took me 2 weeks of begging for them to come and get it.
Then--I gave away my huge Dr, Seuss--except the "Taker" (Mike--the Guy who is in charge of
all the GH displays)--was rude and arrogant and was not even there when I delivered my blooming Brug to him. I had cut it all up in 55 appropriate size cuttings, marked "up" and "down"
on each, plus the whole rootball and base stems of the brug itself.
Each time--there were a couple staff girls to receive my "gift". Mike was not available.

I called him a couple times (he was downtown somewhere) and when I got a hold of him--he said arrogantly: Man! You don't let a man breathe!!
In the future--I will not accept, nor do I want any contributions from you!
HIS LOSS! I bet he rooted all those cuttings and made a lot of $$$ selling them
as growing plants at their Market Day at Cylburn.

Sorry--I just don't let any of you breathe either--do I? I go on and on...
Got so much to tell everyone....G.

I bet the ric rac adds such a neat texture to the plantings around the pond! Glad it's thriving. :-)

Aspenhill, I was trying to resist that beautyberry, but when I saw just now that nobody else had dibsed it yet, well, my fingers just clicked that treasurebox icon... Thank you! Is that one of the ones we found together? I planted my two in the treeline the year that the groundhogs or bunnies? ate all my new little shrubs to the ground. Last fall, we put cages around all the young shrubs & trees to protect them... I'll make sure to protect this one that way!

Critter, yes what I am offering are seedlings from one of the beautyberries we found at the first Ace Outback excursion a few years back. When I was working in that section of the garden a few weekends back, I saw them near the original shrub. You know how I am notoriously bad at id'ing things, but they look so much like the beautyberry and are in such close proximity that I am assuming that is what they are LOL.

Jill--
I will cut some sections if it for whomever asks for any--but will do it right before the swap.
Adding you to the list...

Re the Curly Spider--"Bonnie"....
This is going to be a year of recovery for the 2 HB's I now have.
Last summer--the old HB looked so miserably root-bound and just not doing well--that I decided
to uproot the BIG MAMA HB , sort it out, re-pot the sections and start 2 new HB's.

They are both outside--just existing--but looking OK. Me? Biding time...
Neither has reached the stage of making runners to bloom on yet.
SO--There are NO cuttings to share. Maybe next year?

I agree with your desription of what a Hawaiian Spider plant looks like.
Paler in the middle of the leaves with the slightest touch of yellowish white.

Here! I just took a picture. Not sure it is a Hawaiian Spider???
JB decided it may be.

Jill--I found a well-along 4" pot of "Bonnie". Will mark it as yours. Will even re-pot it in a 6" pot.

Gita