Joyce's Diary

May 2002

The growing season is now in full swing. Most of my Mammillarias are flowering their hearts out and Echinocereus, Parodia, Astrophytum₁ Rebutia and Matucana are not far behind. Most plants in the new greenhouse are really appreciating the extra light they receive. A few, Gymnocalycium for instance, like a little shade and these have been put on the shaded lower shelf.

Most of the younger Lithops have now shed their old skins and I have started watering them. The older clumps have still quite a lot of moisture in the old skins and will not be ready for watering for some weeks. The seedlings continue to grow slowly. Those sown in November have shed their seed skins and are now showing their true colours. It needs a magnifying glass to appreciate how beautiful they are.

I continue the never-ending job of repotting. I have not yet got any of the potting compost suggested by George Hollis. I will get it when I can and try it out. Meanwhile I will use three parts of Westlands John Innes No 3, to one part Chick Grit and one part Hen grit. For the more moisture sensitive plants I increase the amount of grit and for the more hungry plants I increase the proportion of loam. Everyone has their own mixture that suits their method of growing. If the mixture you use at the moment is working well for you, don't change it.