Hey Stush,

they have some awesome roots. I do know for sure that some people grow wonderful sans in a peaty mix. We hear so much advice here about avoiding peat, but it works so beautifully for some. I think sans are very adaptable plants and will thrive under many different conditions.

Holy Moly, Stush -- look at those roots! Phenomenal! As I dutifully repot my new Sans from the peaty mixes that growers use and put into a C/S mix with lots of pumice, perlite and manna pro, I often wonder HOW the growers get such fantastic results with so much peat. I am always tempted to try it, but so far I haven't. I'm a chicken, I guess.

I don't do well with Bantel's Sensation. I have killed a couple already. But, can you share more sometime about what you call the old days and HOW you were planting in peaty soil and how you watered? I still might give it a try.

BTW, thanks AGAIN for your wonderful advice about alfalfa and potassium. It has brought amazing growth to some of my plants. I'm going to do another dose of it in September watering schedule.

The old days when I first got my sans. They were the tall growing trifasciata & Laurentii. That was some 55 years ago. They did great and grew to 4 feet tall. But sadly to say, that method didn't do so well for other sans I purchased. Usually they rotted and died. Then joining here I discovered about watering and drainage. Worked great for most of my other sans. Some great people here who gave me replacements and how to grow them. Most of my sans are in a gritty mix and will stay that way. In the past when I tried to grow B.S.'s I didn't have much success. So for now, I will keep these only in the same kind of mix.

Exactly right. Environment means everything. Warm plus moisture is great but cold and moisture means death.

What a view !! How old are they ?

I don't know. I think about 5 years but I have to look over my purchased spreadsheets to find out for sure. I purchased 4 pots filled with 5 to 6 each for $2 each at Lowe's clearance shelf. Regular $18 each. Had to drain the excess water out before buying. Gave about 1/2 of them to friends. Had them in the past but could never grow them more than two years. These are growing excellent for me. Keeping these guys in mostly regular potting soil.

Did you think maybe the ants made lots of cavities which aided draining? Maybe after all they saved the plants? It happened with few of my succulents which sit on concrete or tiled surface. The plants seem to thrive and are not bothered by the ants.

I think the ants did much to help the plants. There are so many different kinds of ants and some cultivate fungus and such. It could be the added air circulation plus any nutrients left over from them living there. Shame I had to kill them. Don't want to bring a pot full of ants in for the winter.