My Orostachys furosei continues to be visited by ants. I think that they are farming small aphids on the flower spikes, but cannot see well enough anymore to be sure that it is aphids or something else that holds their attention. I'll share a few pics here showing the ants, which comb the plants incessantly. Curiously, the ants are leaving the other Orostachys alone, even the fimbriata which is also blooming.
furosei flower spike....................................... furosei with 5 ants seeking?.......................... flower spike with ant
My fimbriata is also blooming (see earlier photos in this thread). I'm going to try to collect seed from both the furosei and the fimbriata for sowing overwinter indoors. I'm trying to decide whther to tro cross pollinating the two varieties for some hybrids or to just self-pollinate the fimbriata for more plants. Any thoughts on which of these to do?
Also think I will divide one of the larger fimbriata rosettes to see if it reacts the same way that sempervivum do to division, possibly triggering more offsets, possibly delaying flowering.
