I see the word NOID used quite often in the Sempervivum forum and understand the general meaning but am just curious as to what the letters stand for. Tried to google it with no success.

It's just no id.

Karen - Thanks! That's easy and makes sense. Now I can put my mind to better uses by concentrating on solving more serious matters such as "How can I make this snow stop and get Spring underway?" I'm ready for gardening but too cold and blustery outside yet for this old guy.

Hi Don. Wow, you are still getting winter weather?

Yes, we've had snow flurries with a little accumulation for the past four days. Enough is enough! Lots of robins running around trying to find something to eat on the snow-covered ground and daffodils blooming, but so far those are about the only signs of spring so far in this neck of the woods. Guess just have to hang in there 'til spring gets ready to pop. Believe it or not a couple of the offsets you sent are getting little chicks already.

Oh my, how exciting that is Don. Photo please, if you can. We love to see babies starting to pop.

Lynn - I'm from the "old school" and don't even own a cell-phone, let alone one of the latest computerized gadgets. However, my wife has one of the old, old flip-top ones and so far she knows how to take pictures but hasn't been able to figure out how to save/transfer them to our computer.....but we will work at it so that I can send some pics of the offsets as they grow and have babies. Right now I have run out of pots and waiting impatiently for some that I ordered on the internet and expected to receive a week and a half ago but find they've been back-ordered.. My daughter and son-in-law won't let me venture out to our local Home Depot due to my age and existing heart and breathing problems while the corona-virus is prevalent to a slight degree in our area..

Better safe than sorry Don. I agree with your children about staying home. We stay home, I do venture out to the store about every two weeks or so. We are also in the high risk category age wise.

Good News, Lynn. Pearl came home yesterday from a two-week stay in hospital battling various kidney problems. Doing well. Great to have her back home! I haven't had a chance to surprise her yet with the bonus 'Pink Pearl' offset you sent for her. She'll be surprised and pleased. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness.

I am so happy and thankful that Pearl is back home. Sending you both hugs. You made my day with such great news. Thank you Don.

Hi DonfromPA,

At first I too was confused by the term NOID, if it were written slightly different as NoID the meaning would be more self-evident

A few semp-related terms were conjured in this forum, just for fun, so for a Semp arachnoideum without a name, I call them "arachNOIDs"

Here's an arachNOID I bought at a large garden center in 2018, which I used in an outdoor planter. Second photo is the same plant in my planter, November 2019.

Lynn, my long over-due order of pots finally arrived yesterday - so my work is cut out for me today. Had already separately potted up all but four or five of the rosettes ordered from a couple of nurseries. Will finish them up this morning and then proceed with the offsets from you. Incidentally, nearly all the rosettes received from the nurseries are loaded with chicks.

As mentioned before, four of the offsets , so far, are already showing signs of motherhood: Glauca Minor, Goldmarie, Irazu and Shauna by starting to produce babies already. Starting each offset in its own individual pot to provide ample room for growth and parentage - as well as making it easier for me to keep their individual identities separate. I'm already wondering of what I am going to do with all the chicks I might be getting - hopefully be able to trade with fellow members. Thinking maybe might even try getting some youngsters in the neighborhood or even grown-up friends interested in gardening by starting them out with a gift of hens and chickens. Would be fun to generate a few fellow semp-lovers nearby.

Expecting a shipment shortly of a few more rosettes and offsets from another NGA member. I have indeed become an addict already. So far I haven't ventured into trying any of the other types of semps - most of which I know very little about, but am learning some from following the posts and pics of fellow NGA semp enthusiasts. Hope to try some of them a little later - after taking care of the ones I already have.

Looking for a local source of grit, etc for the semps - as I notice all pictures show them. Don't have a nearby nursery and haven't seen anything along those lines at our local Home Depot or WalMart store. Shipping costs from on-line sources probably likely to be prohibitive. Used to have a Farm and Garden outlet locally, but it closed its doors a year or two ago - unfortunately. Will have to do some checking - any suggestions, anyone?

Washed, or clean 1/4 minus is working for me at the new garden I am starting in Oregon City. But make sure it is clean, no dirt, dust or ground up rock powder.