Winter,again @#%&*!

[mickthecactus]

I don’t have a lights setup so my seeds are always sown in the propagator last week of Feb. Always works well for me.
This year I have some Pseudolithos seed. Wonder how long I can keep them going?!

[Stan]

Poured last night and is super windy today - by bay area standards. I hit a downdraft that shook up my car on the road. On the plus side Aloe vanbalenii is having its greatest and tallest blooms ever. Pics when the rains stop...

[Gafoto]

I don’t have a lights setup so my seeds are always sown in the propagator last week of Feb. Always works well for me.
This year I have some Pseudolithos seed. Wonder how long I can keep them going?!

The lights do a great job with Agave seedlings. I have a whole pile of them going:

IMG_4319.jpeg (546.9 KiB) Viewed 1316 times

Parryi seeds sown in early October in a 2.5” pot already upgraded to the 4”:

IMG_4318.jpeg (479.98 KiB) Viewed 1316 times

Hopefully by the time they’re ready to go outside in April I can split them into their own 2.5” pots to grow for the summer.

[mickthecactus]

That’s a terrific display. Well done!

[Gafoto]

That’s a terrific display. Well done!

I’m quickly moving towards growing only the highest elevation and coldest locations I can find Agave seeds. I don’t think I was aware of what kind of time investment growing Agave from seed is when I first started. Some of those 2.5” pots have plants in them that were started two years ago.

[jam]

That’s a terrific display. Well done!

I’m quickly moving towards growing only the highest elevation and coldest locations I can find Agave seeds. I don’t think I was aware of what kind of time investment growing Agave from seed is when I first started. Some of those 2.5” pots have plants in them that were started two years ago.

The ability to visit all those habitat locations, observe various populations and collect seeds from those growing above the clouds changes the game for you.

I can see you, like many others, couldn't resist and got yourself some azul monterrey seeds. I have ordered some as well, from an English vendor which doesn't ship to the EU so I had them shipped to family in Southampton, thus it may be a few months before I sow them.

Careful with those name labels. They can get mixed up easily

[Gafoto]

That’s a terrific display. Well done!

I’m quickly moving towards growing only the highest elevation and coldest locations I can find Agave seeds. I don’t think I was aware of what kind of time investment growing Agave from seed is when I first started. Some of those 2.5” pots have plants in them that were started two years ago.

The ability to visit all those habitat locations, observe various populations and collect seeds from those growing above the clouds changes the game for you.

I can see you, like many others, couldn't resist and got yourself some azul monterrey seeds. I have ordered some as well, from an English vendor which doesn't ship to the EU so I had them shipped to family in Southampton, thus it may be a few months before I sow them.

Careful with those name labels. They can get mixed up easily

I’ll let you know how good my choices of seed locale are in 3-4 years

I have already lost a few labels and have a couple pots of mystery Agave running around. Those plants will probably be early in-ground trials. Helps free up room for other plants.

The ‘Azul Monterrey’ are another experiment I can’t resist. I have a few ovatifolia and montana seeds going but the larger plants of those species I have in the ground this winter don’t seem like they’ll make it without severe babying. They’re such beautiful plants it may be worth the effort each winter though.

[Fairview]

Here in Texas we are in "Fool's Spring". Daffodils are breaking ground, lawn care trucks are out, plants are coming into big box stores. We still have the "Second Winter" followed by the "Spring of Deception" followed by tye "Third Winter". After that Spring might just arrive.

[Stan]

Like a typhoon were the winds yesterday. My Howea palms looked like coconuts with fronds whipping back and forth. Nothing was knocked over but some leaves got shredded. Sounds like down south is much worse with 5" I think it is of rain falling on Los Angeles. San Diego I was told escaped the worst.
On the plus side we are long past our frost and freeze period. We are not warm,but not cold either. high 50's.

[mickthecactus]

Here in Texas we are in "Fool's Spring". Daffodils are breaking ground, lawn care trucks are out, plants are coming into big box stores. We still have the "Second Winter" followed by the "Spring of Deception" followed by tye "Third Winter". After that Spring might just arrive.

Sounds just like the UK.

[Stan]

The whole winter has been mild in temps,hence the leaves that hang on to Plumeria,Pachypodium and Pseudobombax ellipticum.The mildest winter in my lifetime. Even the drought years of 76-77 mixed record highs with also record lows. Its been cool and steady this year.

[nsp88]

Here in Texas we are in "Fool's Spring". Daffodils are breaking ground, lawn care trucks are out, plants are coming into big box stores. We still have the "Second Winter" followed by the "Spring of Deception" followed by tye "Third Winter". After that Spring might just arrive.

Man, I have been so tempted to move plants outside and start frost tender seeds.... I keep forcing myself not to but the temptation is getting stronger and stronger.

[jam]

Here in Texas we are in "Fool's Spring". Daffodils are breaking ground, lawn care trucks are out, plants are coming into big box stores. We still have the "Second Winter" followed by the "Spring of Deception" followed by tye "Third Winter". After that Spring might just arrive.

Sounds just like the UK.

Or anywhere in Europe, for that matter. 10C / 50F was the morning temperature and it peaked at 15C / 60F by mid day. Should stay this way at least till mid February.

[Gafoto]

Here in Texas we are in "Fool's Spring". Daffodils are breaking ground, lawn care trucks are out, plants are coming into big box stores. We still have the "Second Winter" followed by the "Spring of Deception" followed by tye "Third Winter". After that Spring might just arrive.

Man, I have been so tempted to move plants outside and start frost tender seeds.... I keep forcing myself not to but the temptation is getting stronger and stronger.

Our frost free date is in May. Probably close to two months before I move things outside.

[Stan]

Ah! my Bocconia was stripped of 90% of its leaves by the winds. Not that big a deal but it looks funny. I'm sure with wet soils and longer days those axils will send out all knew shoots.

[Paul S]

If you can steady your nerve and cut it hard back the new growth is huge and vigorous. Mine would make 8ft in a season.

[Stan]

Woke up to some cold upper 30's. Had to hose the cars windows. I hear its near record cold for this time of year. At least the last 30 years since I know that going back to the 1940's we had temps dip to the 20's in February.
Still it's sunny today and for the next week.

[mickthecactus]

Today was awful. Cold, very wet and dark.

[edds]

Wet, sludgy snow, sleet and very cold rain all day here too!

[mcvansoest]

Today was awful. Cold, very wet and dark.

Same here.... lots of snow in the high country, cold and rainy here... sweater and fire place weather... we do not get that very often...

[anttisepp]

-25C last evening.

[mickthecactus]

In which case ignore my moaning!

[Stan]

-25C is -13F. An unlucky number.

[nsp88]

It has rained a decent amount the past two days, but today is looking clearer. As a parting gift from the storm, we were given a bunch of hail this morning. Most of my plants at my place are sheltered with a hoop tunnel or partially protected by roof overhang, but the exposed vilmoriniana and americana took some hits. Thankfully the hail wasn't too large. I have a bunch of agaves that were exposed out at my parents. Hopefully they aren't too beat up.

PXL_20240211_185159740.jpg (249.5 KiB) Viewed 856 times

PXL_20240211_185240064.jpg (294.34 KiB) Viewed 856 times

PXL_20240211_185202856.jpg (278.67 KiB) Viewed 856 times

[Stan]

As another river moves in....Aeonium schwarzkopf and Aloe marlothii are in bloom. Neoregelia fireball looking vivid red.