Anyone else like alpines?

[SergeantPfeffer]

Or is it just me? I’m just back from our local alpine show with my little haul of little plants and I’m desperate to talk to someone about them. Also looking for growing tips as I’m relatively to alpines but am completely in love with them. So, today’s purchases:
Hepatica transsilvanica (I already have a couple of nobilis, they like our northern climate)
Penstemon procerus tolmiei (alpine penstemon- squeeee!!)
Primula violacea (for the border- I live in a bog)
Hacquetia epipactis (grown this in a previous garden, it’s a beaut)

Anyone have any tips for repotting soldanella?

Yes, me I don't know a lot really. Just the general stuff. Most of them prefer poorer, very free-draining conditions.

I like to grow them in bowl-shaped pots to make miniature gardens. Plenty of crocks in the bottom, mix in lots of grit with the compost and a thin layer of grit after you've planted them makes for happy alpines

I adore them, always my favourite section of a botanic garden.

Can I pick your brains. When would be the best time of year to start an alpine/succulent garden. I want to set a gravel garden up at the front of my house and I'm impatient to start now but guessing that I should wait until spring. I've got some incredible rocks and just want to do it now!

I've just Googled your plants SergeantPfeffer, they're brilliant.

My last (and first so absolute amateur) alpine garden was just filling breezeblocks but they did very well. We moved after six years and they were really well established by then and so robust, never any winter losses.

I had sempervivums as well so plan to mix alpine and succulent perennials again in my new front bit. I also had alpines in a bigger dry bed but they got swamped by the lavender, rosemary, euphorbia which grew so fast. They were great in (south facing) window boxes if I was good with watering but that's too much work for me again. I guess they like cool roots.

So glad there are others who love them. Off to Google alpine shows now!

Oh yay! It’s not just me then
Good question about when to plant up an alpine garden. I’m really not sure, although I have planted alpines up in autumn and spring and both have survived.
My garden is very heavy wet clay, so my alpines have to go in pots. Some are in mixed troughs/bowls but a few are in individual pots, partly because they look pretty and partly so i can easily move them eg the hepaticas like to be in full Sun spring and shade in summer. I have a couple that I need to repot but I’m a bit scared to because they have tricky reputations eg a soldanella and a jeffersonia.

I have bought some cheap sempervivums with the aim of making a drought resistant hanging basket but not for around to it yet- maybe I’ll manage it before winter

I think I am already getting a bit obsessed with them

Oh yeah, the alpine show was amazing- so many unusual plants! And they’re so small the plant sale fits in one room

I tell you what I always kill though- gentians. I love them but they don’t do well for me! My mums thrive on neglect so not sure what I’m doing wrong.