WHAT A GREAT FORUM...Isn't it everyone? The help, the ideas, and the experiences from others astounds me. Everyone here has so much in common with their love of plants.. It is very interesting to see how others feel and what you do... Larry b, your concern for hurting others was noticed. And yet you are discrete in sharing the truth of it all...You are a good person, as is all the rest of everyone here.. I will say this.. Everyone made me think alot about the way I view my plants. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I think my plants look great, and that's whats important. Toni will vouch for that...:-) I am sure that most of our plants feel the same about themselves too...lol When that experienced plant friend of mine came over that day and said, "most" my plants were telling me they have issues, need help, more attention to manicuring, because a "few" of their leaves were anything but perfect, some with even a little mark on them,it bothered me. He even called my soil anything but good for my tropicals, partly to blame for the way a few looked. But He didn't get me to question that one though!! I almost believed that I was not doing enough for them to look perfect, after I felt I was doing the best I could do for them, and having fun at it too.. I wanted to continue to experience the JOY of this hobby. So I came here for the right view of how our plants should look, and what each of you do to their imperfect look if any, and why? Isn't this a purpose of these forums? You have all picked me up. Encouraged me.. Showed me a balanced view. I personally LOVE to look at my plants everyday, I mean everyday.. I am one of those that does not ignore them, not for one day. I spend huge amounts of time in my plant room, everyday, because it is there where I find great peace for many reasons. I CAN and will still look past their blemishes, their defects, because beyond that, they are beautful, at least to me.. Some here have seen them. I never heard a bad thing of them, not yet anyways...lol. If there are any plants not "perfect" in shape and in every leaf color or form, it is not do to our failing our plants as my nursery "friend" suggested.. They are a reflection of our love for them, even if they have a few flaws, not manicured as often as suggested. I thought I was failing them and that their leaves were a sign of that. I am not perfect, so they will never be too I guess.. If there is a true health conditon that needs to be fixed, then I will accept. I think there is a balance between a sick plant that suffers for many reasons that we strive to find out why, and yet, as to one that just gives us an imperfect leaf or shape ,a blemished look, once in a while, no need to be overly consumed. A few of you continue to show me how to look at my plants in a balanced view, in ways I not thought of once before.I appreciate it. You are always learning something new in this hobby for sure. Yes, jeannie7 said something that really stuck a cord in me, and put a huge smile on my face. She made me see the reality of it all... To quote: "The leaves plants form are perfect...who's to say the plant doesn't know how to make a leaf according to its genes. It's the conditions that man gives the plant that causes the brown on the tips and edges. If you want to see the plant in all its splendour, then give it back to its natural home." It is the "nature" of plants, even in the outdoors, and I am going to continue to "ignore" their flawed leaves, unless it is a sign of negligance on my part..:-) I am not aiming for flawlees plants, just happy healthy ones! This is what my nursery friend should have appreciated in mine, or even his, but didn't. I guess I let his experience in nurseries almost change my view.. I hope he doesn't look at peoples flaws like this. Oh boy! Oh, just yesterday he told me he no houseplants of own..I wonder why...lol. He just asked for a couple of mine though. Why? He says they are so much more unique than the ones he sees at the nursery. What's wrong with this picture? lol I am going to agree with what Pirot girl said.... "I personally will not engage in lest it turn my pleasureable hobby into a burdensome chore which is not my idea of a pleasant hobby." Except for the insects, which I have accepted that comes with the territory and takes diligance, I find that when I do what I can for them when I can, it is a great source of joy! This is the nature of houseplants... We can do what is best to make them happy and healthy, and in turn they will do their best to make us happy too. If they show signs of pest infestation or fertilizer problems, that is a different story. But this is not what this thread I started is about. Thanks for seeing my point. Thanks, for making this encouraging forum happen.:-)

Agree it's easier to talk about one plant at a time. I'm not a fan of verbal abuse, either, admit it's a cheap, desperate act against a probably innocent plant. Seriously though, I've got the sickness that most plant people have - where one thinks the plants are always thirsty. Assuming the soil is not inappropriate and the roots have room to grow in it, and that light and temp are within acceptable range, gaining control over this compulsion is what enables people to improve most of their plants, or at least not kill them. (A few plants actually like to stay soggy, and not everyone has this defect.) The soil is extremely important and although I'm in complete agreement about texture and moisture, I do things differently than most people (like putting live compost from an open pile in potted plants.) So I encourage people who grow in store-bought ingredients to follow Al's advice. A current thread, What was your 1st houseplant..., is packed with testimonials about plants killed by love in the form of too much water/inappropriate soil. Once you get a good handle on that stuff, almost any plant should thrive in your care. Your only limits would be those out of your control like climate/light level. Ivy and Syngonium (arrowhead vine) can both be grown as dangling trailers, or upright with support of some type. Something fun to think about for plants that have a choice. Do you notice any reddish or pinkish coloring to the veins on your Syngonium. Most I've seen have some. That's all it takes (as if regular green/white variegation isn't already enough) for me to swoon over these. I have one that makes pinkish orange leaves that fade to "plain" green/white as they age. It will be spring before I need to determine if that should be left to hang or given a support to climb. "you'll find yourself concerned with Other people's plants almost as much as your own!" No doubt man! It's terrible when someone gets something interesting going and then disappears. Not only are you worried about them and their issue, you're dying to know what happened. That's rare though. I love watching people's plants grow as they periodically post pics of them. "Again, after repotting, mold will vanish along with gnats." Again, no doubt. And if the new soil is kept too soggy/too often, these problems can return. "...provide the incentive they need to abandon any contrary ways." This cracked me up! How timely, too. A couple weeks ago I got sick of looking at a particularly unhappy potted spider plant and don't really want to unleash more of this thing in the yard, and have given enough of this rampant weed away to start several other infestations already (and I can always dig up more if I find myself with empty pots,) so I put it upside-down on top of a compost pile and kind of pushed it down a bit. Sunday I went to put stuff on that pile and that spider plant had righted itself (although I'd be willing to concede that a squirrel,...

What animals do you have, and are they likely to munch on your houseplants? Many are toxic to animals(if they eat them). There are threads on this subject here, if you can do a search on them. Aside from that, I've not had any luck with Ivies, except for Algerian Ivy. Don't know why. It is a variegated type. Your "Wandering Jew", or Tradescantia, needs more light to retain its purple color. It will also get leggy reaching for available light. You can take cuttings(that include a few nodes)from the tips and stick them back into the soil to root. The remaining stems should put out new side shoots and make the plant a bit bushier. Cuttings from this plant also root well in water and you can just keep them growing in a vase. Heart-leaf Philodendron is one of the easiest vining plants to grow, but is toxic to pets. And if you want flowers, African Violets can be grown near or under lamps with CF bulbs. I have some next to a small table lamp and they bloom regularly. Good luck with your quest, and keep searching past threads on this forum...there's a ton of information!

Thank you so much everyone, I am overwhelmed with all the kind replies. Last night it took me awhile to figure out how to get pics from camera to computer, Photobucket, how to post in GW, how to add pics, etc. Was feeling pretty pleased with myself. I was even happier when I read my very first ever response. I wrote a detailed reply and after typing it all, promptly lost it (don’t ask me how). Well that teaches me a lesson for being so pleased with myself (I’m a lot less cocky today). You’ll have to take my word for it that the lost post was far more articulate than this one. Was so tired just went to bed. Came back on tonight & found some more generous new friends. You’re right the rug is too small, but alas a bigger one was not in the budget. The sofa and corner chair are the same material & pattern, but not quite the same colour. The sofa is tan and the chair is more gold ($400 for the set). I really wasn’t sure whether or not I should leave the half-moon table bare. I am not heartbroken about the candlesticks. They were 25 cents for the set (and I have only cleaned one of them). The books are family bibles (youngest is from 1940, oldest is from 1869), they can go in the drawer of the half-moon. The half-moon table (demi-lune?) was $100. I used to have a curio with interior lighting, but this one doesn’t have that (darn). The curio is a corner cabinet & is as far into the corner as possible (can’t put it anywhere else without blocking the window). I didn’t move the curio in any of the pics (I guess it’s the angle of the pics & I’m a lousy photographer). There is no room on this side of the half-wall (entering the room) for anything. On the other side of the half-wall (in the LR), next to the big gold chair, there is a small very short (Duncan Phyfe style?) coffee-table. I was experimenting by putting my silverware chest (tripod legs) there. My SIL is talking me into putting a small electric fireplace there. Fireplace would be the same height as the arm of the chair, I could put small framed photos on top, and there would be room for a guest’s cup/glass. The coffee table was from CL ($150). It matches the secretary in the kitchen (visible top left of 1st pic) which was also a CL find. The secretary won’t fit in the LR. The painting was $99 (+ another $99 for the frame) at a ‘starving’ artist type of show. The gold mirror above the brown wing chair (last pic) was replaced by the black mirror. I was afraid that the black was too contemporary, but SIL says it goes because the lamp is black (I am beginning to suspect that I am traditional & she is not). Maybe my traditional needs a shot of contemporary. Mirror is directly opposite the window, when blinds are open it reflects the outdoors. I was planning on replacing current white blinds with dark brown ones (someday). Was trying to create symmetry with the lamps framing the window, but I guess that wasn’t a good idea. Cushions were $8 for the amber ones (I have two) and $12 for the red ones. I know I’m not good at this, I’ll keep playing with them. Also want to get cushions for the window seat. The curtains are velvet back-tabs, originally $49 at Sears marked down to $19. I bought another set, same material but in gray (also $19) I am hoping to find someone to cover the window seat bench in the gray velvet. Pic 3rd from last shows it wrapped around the bench just to give you an idea. Hard to see but beige cushion on brown chair is the same colour as beige in the rug. Sorry if I seem to be going on about the $, it gives you an idea of what’s been spent (there is not a lot of money available to decorate). I will (unintentionally) kill any kind of plant life (be it natural, dried or plastic), but do put real flowers in vases when expecting company. I love the suggestion regarding throws & sconces. Would the sconces need to be working ones? I did want to hide the cord but wasn’t sure how (will taping it to the table harm the table?). I was also considering painting just the wall behind the sofa BM Revere Pewter (currently walls are Para Pebble Beach). Sometimes I think yes it’s getting there, and other days I think I’m just making it worse. I apologize for not personalizing my thank yous. I do really appreciate the comments from each & every one of you, I'm just tuckered out again. Thanks for bearing with this two really long posts (& I'll try not to do that again).