Hi Josh what do you mean maintain the water levels? soaking the bottom or watering from the top? Was an hr long time to soak or should I do it for longer? Yes the pot is heavier now but she looks pretty awful today. I am still working on the repotting thing I'll let you know what happens

There are plastic fabrics made by Agribon that offer cold protection down to about 8 degrees. There are several differnet thicknesses, and that 8 degree range is the thickest of all. Because the fabric must not be in direct contact with the leaves of the plants, you would need make some kind of half hoop tent or other raised trusses to help hold the cloth away from the plants. Beans, can dry off the vine, and beets can survive a some frost as they will only lose foliage. If the beans arent ready to be dried as seeds, you can always salvage any that are now big enough. You would be surprised as to the size of the beans inside some pods. Pole beans are easy to find as seeds, there are many, and Vermont Bean has more varieties than most bean varieties than any other seed dealer. Buttercup squash will probably not make it, but if the plastic fabric cloth helps to keep some warmth in, it may give you a little extra time. Buttercup not even ripe now, would need at least another 30 days to ripen to hard green color. Over nights are usually when frosts hit, and even in Z5, they are usually only a few nights in a row, then most of the time it gets a bit warmer again, especially during the daytime. Any coverings you plan to use must also allow light through as well as water, so a plain cloth sheet may not be appropriate. The site below offers huge rolls of Agribon, but you should also be able to find smaller sizes. It also is reusable for several years, provided its folded and kept dry after use. I have several thicknesses here, and covered a whole peach/plum tree when it blossomed and we had a sudden frost in full bloom. Only lost a few of the flowers and leaves to frost, but that was because it was just draped over the 25 foot tall tree (try doing that without a ladder in the late afternoon!). Root crops should be fine. Because this product is a non woven plastic, I use an impulse heater to bond two sheets togther to make a larger size or double up on the thickness if necessary. Hope you get well soon! Here is a link that might be useful: Agribon plastic fabrics

Fran - The 1st plant could be a large number of different cultivars as there are probably more japanese types of 'pinks' than any other color... Ipomoea nil with dwarf type genes can cross with many other I.nil and anything is possible... The 'Blue Silk' can sometimes throw a plant that progressively develops a purple-lavender and until I get (and translate) the japanese romaji name for it I have been calling it Lavender Silk http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/176115/ The lavender may take several generations to stabilize into a definite purple-lavender and intermediate colorations that are 'sort of' still blue and lavender are what occurs in the interim... The pinkish bloom can also come out of the blue silk and I've been referring to it as 'pink silk',although there is a definite romaji name for it that I need to re-locate and translate... The stigma and anthers on your almost lavender silk are very dark and this is characteristic of premature senescence...when either the anthers and / or the stigma prematurely senesce they will not function to produce pollen or seeds...this reproductive part dysfunction is the result of being highly bred...there is no 'cure' and you just have to be sure that any flowers that produce good pollen producing anthers and / or a good looking functional stigma are hand pollinated to insure seed production... TTY,... Ron

Aura matte is enough of a sheen for how my family lives in and uses our house. I think it's pretty tough stuff - all I ever need to do is wipe it down. Matte is not equivalent to all flats. Each brand's sheen levels differ. There is not a set standard for those gloss levels which means that all flats, eggs, satins are not created equal. Aura matte has a slight bump of sheen. It is not shiny but it is not a dead flat-flat. Most of the time the word "matte" indicates a degree or two or three or more up from typical flat. Even tho there are no standards, I feel comfortable saying that across the board and in all brands matte does not mean the same thing as flat. Both Aura matte and eggshell will touch up reasonably well -- better than most other brands. But, that all depends on specific color and how angles of light fall across the walls. Aura matte or egg are both good bets. Hope that helps. :-)