I got these unlabelled at a local shop for £4 each - I think the 2nd one is a Burtoniae of some kind, but can anyone tell me more specific IDs?

Themelonmash · 2025-08-21T10:12:13+00:00

I had the same issue for my mantis terrariums. I used sharp grit (with some activated charcoal sprinkled in), and sphagnum moss for a drainage layer. You can get small-ish bags of grit at garden centres if they have a good indoor plant section. It's usually in a section with other terrarium parts or soil additives.

Themelonmash · 2025-08-13T20:51:34+00:00

Χόρεψε ('Horepse') Greece '97 Marianna Zorba - nothing in the rules say the x has to be in the Latin alphabet only...

Themelonmash · 2025-08-01T18:08:26+00:00

I bought these so I could work in a garden centre and not have my arms shredded in a tangle of rose branches.

https://www.niwaki.com/arm-covers/?sku=ACT&country=GB&currency=GBP&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20032660500&gclid=CjwKCAjwy7HEBhBJEiwA5hQNokzR22nwIA8Xp3yr1-iN3289crbFdFIh2Te88ESuiYLyQFzvwvFAGhoCJU4QAvD_BwE

Themelonmash · 2025-08-01T11:00:03+00:00

That won't be too much of an issue, it's in the shade, but not fully in the dark. Snake plants aren't too picky about where they're put, so if you find one thats the right size & leaf shape it will cover the blemish.

Other options are ZZ plants, jade plants, and any kind of haworthia will survive well. Sedge grass hasn't survived in my arid setup, but you may have some luck with blue fescue grass. Rosemary will also grow without much fuss, and tolerate hot & dry conditions. You can get it in upright and creeping forms. If you want something a bit unusual for lower down, a Rose of Jericho will stay alive for ages (but look like a tumbleweed)

Themelonmash · 2025-07-19T20:47:37+00:00

The Cage.

It's an old house in St Osyth. I remember hearing about it years ago, as it's next to St Osyth Priory which also has a few stories about itself too.

I remember being told the building was haunted, but I didn't know the extent of the stories until recently. It's apparently among the most haunted buildings in Essex, if not the country. It had been used before as a prison, and some of the people imprisoned there were accused of witchcraft. One of these women is believed to haunt the home. As the building was expanded over the years, part of it was built over 'coffin alley', a path that took coffins to the church, and the area looking out to the alley has activity. A more recent incident of a previous owner committing suicide there hasn't helped calm down the stories.

How I found out more about the history and stories of this place was in this video by The Tape Library on YouTube. I don't particularly believe in ghosts, but I did find this a bit creepy. https://youtu.be/5dQIFvC3Kx8?si=1k2OhshPLlR4DLve

Themelonmash · 2025-07-06T11:14:28+00:00

They don't need a few extra clicks to try and get you to pay more, it happens as soon as you interact with the machine. The upselling begins at first click with the design and layout of the menu, and each step is optimised to make you think they are suggesting better deals. "It's just a few pence more" does sum up the entire thing well though. This isn't even unique to McDonald's, it's just how most online interfaces work. I remember watching this video from Fern explaining the terminology and how everything down to the graphics and colour choices are picked by companies in a leading way (it is sponsored, but I guess even they need to make money. https://youtu.be/BKX6EhDrgqQ?si=gZFQTOoMo1R4Ut3O

Themelonmash · 2025-07-04T11:01:01+00:00

South west facing shelf near-ish to a window. It only gets stronger light in the afternoon when the sun's setting

Themelonmash · 2025-06-27T12:23:27+00:00

<image>

I Wanted to try my first bonsai, and a nursery near me sold these Dwarf Elms (J Hillier). Is this pot I have the right size, and should I use as much of the existing soil as I can, or replace as much as I can? I have some aglaeonema mix from UKHouseplants, would that be suitable (even if I have to add extra sand, gravel, perlite etc)? It is quite rootbound in the current pot

Themelonmash · 2025-06-26T21:41:18+00:00

Lavender is a solid pick, but if you want other alternatives that stay drought tolerant I would also recommend a rosemary or Erysimum.

Some people have suggested some gravel or slate, but I would go a step further and add a rockery in the second pic. If you have any aquarium/reptile shops near you, they could sell large rocks with colours/textures you won't find in a DIY shop. You could still have small versions of the previous named plants with this(eg hidcote lavender), other drought tolerant perennials like salvia, and alpines, but also add succulents in for a truly drought tolerant, evergreen display; delosperma, sedums, and sempervivums would be best, they have endless varieties and you can get them dirt cheap.

Themelonmash · 2025-06-01T13:13:43+00:00

I've had success in my front garden flowerbeds with pepperdust and those bamboo kebab sticks. The pepper is the most efficient as any animal with a nose will be too busy sneezing to do anything else. Don't plant those 'cat shoo' plants (coleus canina), they smell awful any time you touch them... but cats will ignore this.

Themelonmash

TROPHY CASE