I use your twist and pull method, Greg. I'm way too lazy to hunt down scrubs and a sterile scalpel.

I use the mini-clippers.

Use use the twist method and mini-cutters. What ever is on hand at the moment.

Mark, here is what my Happy looked like before it started to bloom and I whacked it!

And I have to agree, it really does not look like the Happy in the data base. Can you post a picture of the Happy you got from PO?

Melissa I think yours does look like 'Happy' under different growing conditions.


And here is Perennial Obsessions photo from their website.
https://perennialobsessions.co...

Melissa, here is my 'Happy' (front row), it's from Perennial Obsessions. Photo is a bit dark, was taken at dusk.

Wouldn't tying a knot with a thin thread be a quick way to make a cut at the desired level, pull both side strongly and the loop will cut the plant, but fist the loop has to be where you want it to be, I am just thinking, never done it.

I did surgery on 'Kip' yesterday, I tried the hand-twist method, very easy and worked like a charm.

'Kip' is on the right, definitely flowering, 'Proud Zelda' in the center (I have two mature rosettes, one set 4 chicks and is not flowering, this larger one looks like it is preparing to flower), and 'Galahad' on the left... not sure if it's going to flower, I will show separate photos of 'Galahad' and to get some opinions about its possible flowering status.


'Kip' after an easy hand-twist operation:

That hand twisting methods produces a nice clean stump.

After reading this thread I had to laugh a bit as I was going around the yard with my notebook noting semps that were going to bloom and being HAPPY about this as I wanted to use them in crossing! To each his own!

To add my two cents to the Happy story. I had that plant directly from Ed. Although he normally didn't keep his seed separated he thought of this as "like #51 but a much happier plant", so the name 'Happy'. His #51 was a striking semp and gave very good seedlings but it was a stinker of a grower and had very irregular shape. It is behind my 'Mulberry Wine' and a seedling that Young's is selling from Skrocki 51 X Minaret. The latter is a close match to #51 in color and pattern but also not the best grower. There are times when it looks magnificent though.

Kevin

JungleShadows said:After reading this thread I had to laugh a bit as I was going around the yard with my notebook noting semps that were going to bloom and being HAPPY about this as I wanted to use them in crossing! To each his own!

Kevin

Kevin, I'm definitely happy about my "Barrel of Hybrization", a number of choice cultivars going to flower (and for which I have chicks), surgery done on two new ones that I'd prefer not to lose.
The thread "a Barrel of Hybridization (Sempervivum)" in Plant Combination #8550

Take a look at this large rosette of 'Galahad', I was thinking that it had that "certain look" where the leaves in the center appear dense, as precursor to shooting vertically to flower. But the more I look at it, I'm just not sure, what do you think?

Two side views, doesn't look like it's shooting:


Oblique top view, dense leaves in center:

It might still produce offsets. I would leave it until it really shows that it will bloom.

Looks like bloom action to me

Well Greg, I might have to do surgery on this one too, it'll be the third one for which I have no chicks. Will let it go a while longer until there's a more obvious shooting up.

Greg, you were correct, in just three days since I posted the 'Galahad' photos the stem quickly elongated, so I did the Twist-and-Snap operation and added it to my shady recovery area. Haven't looked at the progress on 'Raspberry Ice in the past 5 days, wow, things are really happening quickly (just 15 days since surgery), and what can't be seen here, there's new growth points crammed under the top two rings of leaves.

Raspberry Ice on left, Galahad on right, Kip in the back.


Raspberry Ice, new growth 15 days after surgery.

Watch them closely for any signs of blooming. Pinch out the ones that do.

valleylynn said:Watch them closely for any signs of blooming. Pinch out the ones that do.

Thanks Lynn, never having done this before, I didn't realize that some of the regrowth might be more bloomers. Will watch closely.

I have had good success rate if I keep plucking off any bloomers!

Same here Greg. Eventually I get at least a couple normal ones to carry on.

Good luck Mark