It’s beautiful!

Very nice!

Plants are looking great! I do not fertilize my hardy succulents.

May I ask why the mesh? - what critters are you keeping out?

For a roof, you could use old window if you find one that fits. Or one pane of sliding doors - that would be longer. I would pick either in ReStore. Or buy a sheet of polycarbonate, or whatever amount you need. Mind you, they are quite expensive. Or PVC corrugated, they are approx. 40% less. These areavailable in any BBS.

Thanks everyone.

Rina, the squirrel kept digging out my semps as well as left holes during spring and fall. So I had to put up the mesh. It looks ugly but works.

I was hoping to find on kijiji or on the side of the road people throwing away windows or any right sized glass. But I havent been able to. I looked into cor pvc which is what my neighbours patio roof/shade is. The main problem with that was that its ugly for a small space and I wouldve had to cut it, which would make it look worse. So I decided not to get that. In the end if I do use something, it will be glass because it just looks clean. I guess Im waiting for the right opportunity. Thanks for the suggestions.

I really do not understand the need for any cover. As long as the soil drains reasonably well, sempervivums are well able to tolerate cold, rainy, even very heavy snow conditions. They don't even require any special soil - will grow in ordinary unamended garden soil as long as it drains well.

These are very tough, hardy and cold tolerant plants that don't require coddling.

gardengal I know. Im not worried about the rain or snow or cold. They dont bother my semps. Its the freezing rain and flash freezes that take out a few of my semps every year. I have potted ones in cac soil /w perilite and I see one plant melt after the winter and my one semp at the corner of my raised bed melted its outer leaves. My only assumption is the wet condition followed by sudden freeze.

Since they are rated hardy to at least zone 3 (-40F), I should think they would tolerate periodic freezes with ease, sudden or not. I'd suspect the issue was soil related rather than weather related.

I just wanted to take the extra precaution. I have been growing semps in the bed since 2017 and Ive only had one plant loss. Being in the backyard that does not get direct sunlight means it takes much longer for everything to dry out. So the soil has to work double time draining the soil.

There are a decent amount of semps being sold in Ontario. But this is from what Ive seen at the nurseries. There is an online site or two where you can buy it from as well. I dont see much at all interms of people selling on kijiji or craiglist. Theres just no community of people here who grow cacti and succ. For example, there is a large community of aquarium plant growers and there are forums where people talk and sell plants. I sold my plants there for years and talked about plants. When it comes to semps/cacti/sucs there is just nothing. A few years ago when I was active, I remember Rina and one other person were willing to sell or trade semps and other succulents. Besides them, I just sold a few of my semps today. I cant wait to free up more space so I can propagate even more.

Ive never heard of freecycle but Ill check it out now.

I like when there is a deep blanket of snow on the semps. It protects from rain and freezing and all the mess.

I got lots of things for free on freecycle when living in TO...

How long is your bed?

I lost some semps because ice once, when we had really bad ice storm few years ago. Those were in pots, in very gritty - so very well draining - mix. Ice storm lasted few days, there was about 1.5cm thick ice crust on all my pots - not only semps. I took off circles of ice from some, and those didn't have any problem. Many I left ice on just rotted. Overall, I do not have problem growing semps, overwintering outdoors. Most are in containers, and do quite well. They are in gritty mix. I a surprised how well Oddity grows - all of these are from original plant that had 6 or 7 'chicks' - this photo is from April 20, and they are still quite tatered from winter:

Here are some of the same pots today:

Rina, my bed is about a meter and a half in length.

Wow, I love the shape of the oddity. Really look like Shrek ears :D

Are you ever around Mississauga or Brampton area? I would love to get some from you. I could trade a piece or two for your piece or two.

Sorry, I am further away - close to Barrie. I could let you know when I go to TO - just do not know when that will be.

Ok, thanks. If I ever head to Barrie or close by, Ill give you a shout out. Also, any suggestions on who sells the Oddity in Ontario or is it online only? I dont think Ive ever seen one at any nurseries.

0,

I got my latest 'Oddity' at Canadian Tire, of all places.

wow thats awesome. Maybe with luck my local CT might have it as well. But Im assuming you are in BC? ehehe lets see if there is any at my local CT.