Oh thank you so very much! I have them usually in a shallow planter on a 3rd story balcony and it faces south so it gets plenty of the Southeast Texas sun. Fortunately I have it covered and I have heavy cotton drapes if I need to protect them. I was thinking with it being so hot and extremely humid, it could be a disaster. I have everything to possibly need for drainage....I do regular potting soil mixed with sand, small rocks, and I top dress them with crushed lava rock. I thought the tiny holes might be nice for some air. I had to learn this by trial and error and asking lots of questions. Unfortunately, I have checked so many local gardening books for the Southeast Coastal Region of Texas and also checked the local cactus and succulent society but there isn't a whole lot of info on sempervivums. I envy those who have a more desirable climate for growing these because of coarse, they are my absolute favorite. I can't even think about growing anything else that I grew up with in the Midwest down here (lilac and peonies mainly) because they would all snap crackle pop in the hot sun and suffocate in the clay soil that we have. That's why I love container gardening. When it gets unbearable, I pull the curtains on my balcony and have a mini oscillating fan to put out there for some air circulation. I have so many sempervivum and jovibarba casualties it's really devastating when one gets crown rot suddenly. With all of the things I have tried so far, I am finally losing not as many and I didn't want to come home to some BBQ semps. That would not be a sweet ending to my vacation. I will only be gone for a week but it doesn't take long at all. Thank you so much for everything and the warm welcome.
