Toni - If by instinct you mean that anxious feeling in my gut so intense it's gonna burst out if i don't do it, then yes....instinct. I don't believe oncidiums, the subgenus oncidiinae, or any hybrids crossed with them flower as freely and long phalaenopsis (Those orchids you see at every store that only have leaves as a base). But, they get pups, and pup like crazy. So in time, and under ideal conditions, during flowering there will be a LOT more than any phal can provide. Those that like to propogate will appreciate this orchid more.I believe blooming can be spring/fall and last a month +, maybe 3+?. I don't know a whole lot about their flowering since oncidiums are not as popular as phals. Meijer is the same with their orchids, most are typical and boring, but once in a blue moon they nab something like these. I personally like the larger, white flowers more. But according to orchid forum, it is a cross between the subgenus and something else...so it might not get as many pups or flowers. If it were physically possible and we were not total strangers, i would hug you. ...I'm ecstatic over the idea forcing forsythia into bloom. Thank you for sharing that. I am just now trying that out. Purple - i was incredibly careful bringing them home after reading how you were with them....I had a friend help me. Told him to wait in the front of the store for me to pull up just so the cold would not harm it. Might have been a little paranoid...

Lisa, welcome! I don't get over here much in the winter...I tend to get the winter-time blues until spring, but hopefully that will change soon! I'm starting to see some green poking through the ground, there is hope. On the first page of the forum at the top of the topics list you can click on [switch to: conversations] and it will take you to the conversations side. Lots of good stuff here. You'll have fun. Or you can just click here: ramona Here is a link that might be useful: conversations

Pat, which recipe are you using, the original Habanero Gold recipe or Readinglady's updated version? If you're using the original recipe you'll get 3 jars, maybe a smidge more. That's one of the reasons I asked Carol to see if she could upgrade to a larger amount. the other issue was time, I wanted to start with soaking the apricots after work, but didn't always have time to finish the batch the same night. This is the recipe she came up with and it makes twice as much, 6 jars: Big Batch Habanero Gold (Carol calls it Hot N Sweet Confetti Jelly) 1 cup minced dried apricots (1/8" dice) Note: Could use dried peaches or pears instead. 1 1/4 total cups minced red sweet pepper and minced red onion (1/8" dice), approximately half-and-half. 1/4 cup Habanero peppers Note: For extra-hot, increase Habaneros to 1/2 cup and reduce red sweet pepper/red onion combination to 1 cup total. 1 1/2 cups white vinegar 6 cups sugar 1 3-oz. pouch liquid pectin (I used Ball, which I've decided I like better than Certo.) Prep apricots, peppers and onion. Place in a large, stainless or other non-reactive pot. Add sugar and vinegar. Bring to the boil and cook 5 minutes. Pull off the burner; allow to cool, cover and let sit overnight. Stir occasionally if convenient. Note: 4-6 hours would be plenty, so the time doesn't need to be any greater than the soaking time for apricots in the original recipe. Next day, bring the mixture back to the boil. Stir in liquid pectin. Boil hard 1 minute. Pull off the heat. If necessary, skim foam. (I did need to skim a bit.) Let cool 2 minutes, stirring to distribute solids. Pour into jars. Stir to distribute and remove air bubbles. Do the usual with the jars and lids, BWB 10 minutes. When jars are sealed, "agitate" to distribute solids throughout the jelly. Yield: 6 8-oz. jars. Oh, and those gloves? Just put a plastic bag over your hands. Not quite as dexterous, but it works. sol, my friend, if my habaneros ever grow this year, I'll send you a stash of that jelly! Happy Canning. Annie

Valves are cheap. Could try to work back and forth to see if goes further with multiple tries. Plastic valves can stick if not used for years. If you try to apply a lot of pressure to force valve , shut off water upstream in advance to minimize the mess if pipe breaks. If it is questionable, probably better to replace the valve at your convenience rather than wait for it to fail. Generally make sure plastic pipe not used for last 18" to hot water heater. As long as this is so, can just cut out bad one and glue in a new one (may need coupling and stub of pipe to make up length for cut out part, need glue & primer) but this is a very cheap and quick replacement. Usually CPVC (yellowish) pipe is used in this position. Picture looks as if white (PVC) pipe here. OK, but sizes and glue are different. Since writing on pipe visible, can just check pipe (3/4" visible in photo) for size and material.