I have a similar cacti growing in my own rendition of the Gritty Mix, adjusted for plant size, location of the pot, etc... it's growing very well, and seems to like the better drainage and moisture control afforded by the medium type used. If the plant has filled its pot with roots, I might re-pot into a container that's of appropriate size... perhaps a couple of inches larger, but not too large... taking into consideration the moisture retention of the medium you're using. I tend to keep my cacti a bit on the dry side, but my climate conditions and environment are very different from yours. But the beauty of mediums like the Gritty Mix is that it's almost impossible to over water... and in your climate, you may even want to adjust your mix to give it a tiny bit more moisture retention. If you do decide to re-pot, make sure to keep the plant out of direct sunlight during the process.. and afterward, allow it at least a few days to adjust to its new home, keeping it out of the full blast of the hot sun. Once it perks up from its re-potting, I might introduce it slowly to an eastern exposure, morning sun being kinder than the hot blast of afternoon! I grow my cacti indoors, in an eastern window... and it seems to be a happy plant!

Hello, I have epiphyllum oxypetallum cuttings available for trade. What I'm hoping for: 1) rare/unusual pepper seeds (don't have to be scorching hot, prefer mildly hot but unique tasting, smoky) 2) Fig cuttings: Brown Turkey, Mission or any other black varieties. If interested contact me and we can arrange amounts to trade and shipping costs. I am in the San Francisco bay area and it would be great to make the trade somewhere in this area. Thank you for your consideration.

Catkin, I agree that an outdoor, in the shade, bouquet is great to have. My favorite feature is that the bees continue to visit the flowers that way. I didn't know they'd last for weeks though, I have got to give that a try. Great tip! My most reliable flowers for cutting are: Rudbeckia hirta - these last for 2 weeks in a vase! Scabiosa caucasica - good long stems, I cut it when the center hasn't opened yet, they last for 7-10 days. Annual snapdragons, Rocket mix Globe thistle - everyone seems to love this one. It's a PITA in the garden (reseeds) but I keep it due to popular demand. Heuchera flower spikes - just adore the zing that these add, no matter what color you have. tall phlox Russian sage Bennary's Giant zinnias Catananche, aka Cupid's Dart - flower looks like chickory, and the seedpod dries into a little pearly sphere. Looks great either way! Yarrow. Cut it right at the base and strip off all the foliage. Lamb's ears flower spikes, but only if cut before they fully open. Shasta daisies Rocky mountain penstemon Pasqueflower seedheads (fuzzy little puffs - I deliver flower to a hair salon and they go wild over the frizzy hair look) Allium 'purple sensation' Hosta leaves Lady fern fronds Statice - I haven't grown this one in awhile, but it comes in some great, vibrant colors and is pretty fun to grow. It looks like a weed at first though, so don't pull it! Lavender Culinary sage leaves, sometimes flowers too for a bride's bouquet, a trailing vine of clematis is pretty neat. Tulips Daffodils Hyacinth Fringed bleeding heart (dicentra eximia) For my own bouquets were a week + of vase life is not expected, I also use roses, sweet peas, and peonies. I am too stingy to cut things like Siberian Irises or delphinium because they seem too fleeting and rare to cut. Those are my favorites. What are yours?

The only one that I've grown on that list is Queen of the Night. I planted them in 2001 along with Ivory Floradale and Angelique to make a combination together. Most of the Angelique have faded away now, although a few still appear. Queen of the Night has been a reasonably successful returner. Ivory Floradale is very successful and has actually been multiplying for years now. It starts off yellow early and then fades to ivory white by the time that Angelique and Queen of the Night start to bloom. So you can make both early and late combinations with it. Both Angelique and Queen of the Night pair wonderfully with the emerging foliage of peonies. These pictures show the color and shape of Queen of the Night reasonably accurately: And here is a picture showing Ivory Floradale in its early spring colors - hard to believe it's the same bulb as the ivory white one! While you question was just about dark purple, it might be worth considering some of these ones as companions. I consider these to be one of my most successful plant combinations :-) It won't bee too long now before they start reappearing....!