So, for starters, I have a miniature rose that I got for my birthday last September.  It was in bloom when I got it and lasted several weeks before it stopped.  It stayed alive though.  I cut it back when I was sure it stopped blooming and let it dry out for awhile.  I even stuck it in a bag and put it in a cupboard.

It just kept growing though.  It still has foliage, and appears fairly healthy.  I'd like to put it outside in a planter when it's warm enough.  Any suggestions?

Houseplant questions.  How do you propigate an aloe vera?

And last question.  I got a small piece of a Christmas cactus from a friend that seems dormant.  It bloomed dutifully at Christmas and had a second little bud on it that just dropped off.  It's alive and kickin' but has shown no additional growth so far.  What to do?

My Hoya is 15 years old. Healthy and growing. It has no place to climb and hangs down. BUT it doesn't flower . In 15 years I have had only 5 or 6 flowers. What can i do?

There's a reason they call it a Christmas cactus, y'know.

Re your mini rose ninja - I have planted them directly into my garden, and they winter quite well (southern Ontario).   So yes, set it free from that bag, give it some food and water & see what happens.  Probably will be just fine! 

Don't know about aloe vera propagation - did you google?  Might want to just try cutting off a leaf & sticking in a pot of fresh soil - might grow!

Christmas cactus is a slow grower - I think often grows in spurts.  Don't over-water, but don't put it through long periods of drought either.  I may only bloom once or twice a year. Or are you concerned there's no further green growth?

What about my Hoya plant - upthread?

Houseplant questions.  How do you propigate an aloe vera?

Aloe veras seem to need some roots to transplant successfully.  I have other succulents I can cut off, treat cut end with some growth hormone or not, stick in some good soil, and be successful.

No luck doing that with aloe vera though - they seem to need some roots, so carefully separate plant and root from main plant to transplant.

Think it is because there is so much juice in the plant, I tend to overwater and plant rots.

One of the best books for house plants is Reader's Digest "Success With House Plants"

which may be out of print now....great book.

Sorry CH!  I've never had a hoya - although I've admired a friend's!  Beautiful flowers.  So I looked it up in my book - do you know if it's a 'mini' or regular?  Apparently the mini is more difficult to grow - needs more heat & humidity but less light.

Several DO NOTs listed - do not disturb once buds appear; do not remove the dead flowers (I guess they must eventually just fall off?) and do not repot until it is unavoidable (sounds like it enjoys being pot-bound). 

Secrets of Success:  average temp - 50-55 degrees F in winter; bright light but protect from mid-day sun in summer; water liberally from spring to autumn; sparingly in winter.  Allow surface to dry out slightly between waterings; Mist regularly, but NOT when in bloom.  If needed, repot in spring.   Flowering time is spring to autumn.

So how does that all sound??

What does everyone do with their poinsetta plants that last into March like my has?

Normally Idecide somewhere around the middle of January that they need a breath of fresh air.  They don't seem to like that

Sounds like mine. i think it is regular. It gets light but not direct sun. Very Healthy but no flowers.

the cactus needs a dormant period in the fall; put it in a cool room where it will get long dark nights with no artificial light.  It can be watered fairly sparingly in that period. It should bud before Christmas; then water it more, and don't turn it--I bring mine from the spare room to the dining room where we can enjoy the blooms, but carefully place it so the same side is toward the window because they say the buds will fall off if they try to turn toward the light. I put mine outside for the summer, pot and all right into the dirt in a no-direct-sun location, then dig it up again in the fall, wash it off and put it in the spare room to rest.  Works beautifully.

Crazy:  My Mom's hoya's issue was that it wasn't potbound.  Once it was....wow, did it bloom.She had it in a fairly big pot.  she had it professionally repotted. coz she didn't know how to downsize it.  They are gorgeous & smell lovely.

I've thought of that GordW, but just can't seem to do so . . .