I've had similar experiences with these plants - good autumn germination and subsequent growth - dormancy in spring, but that's it, they never make an appearance again. Perhaps even slight summer moisture is anathema to them. This year I've tried them (and Placea ornata) in plain washed river sand with regular feeding, hopefully they'll be kept drier in dormancy by the sand and won't enter a slumber with terminal tendencies! Please find our Email Disclaimer here: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/disclaimer/