"I hope we can still get that cool rainbow look but I'm really just happy I'm getting any growth at all right now." Not in Virginia Beach but it's impressive, surprising even, that it managed to return from the roots. Where did your gift giver get it - or did you ask? I think they are pretty rare in commerce. "We have a lot of crepe mertles here that people cut back and the tree regrows its branches back, would a eucalyptus do the same?" It would but it's a bad idea, especially for crape myrtle. Google "crape murder" - I believe there used to be a website.

how far from the lights ...??? how many lights... ???? and how much time have you given it... days??... weeks.. months???? has there been any new growth since ... is that growth tending toward the light??? if not.. its not close enough to the light ... i grown hosta indoors .... the lights are 2 inches from the leaf .. and must be checked every few days .... i would lower the lights incrementally to avoid burning the leafs .... i also use 4 standard 4 foot lights in two fixtures ... suspended with hardware chain to make them fully adjustable .... on hosta.. no effect with foo foo expensive bulbs .... its all about intensity .... think about it this way... you cant look a the sun ... but you can look at one bulb.. even 2 bulbs.. put 4 bulbs together... with reflector plates... and at least you are going to have to squint .... and if you move your eye.. AND PLEASE DONT... to 2 inches.. there will be intensity .... get what i mean .. and there should not be any diffuser between the plants and the light ... good luck ken

Came here during some research I'm trying to do on this subject because of some potential plans I have on planting one of a few eucalyptus species, and while there's a lot of good information/discourse here on variables concerning affected plants, mulch quality, effect on soil, and other factors that may affect plants such as water and root competition, I'm kind of noticing a pattern here and elsewhere: There's a lot of lumping eucalyptus into one umbrella category...Guys, there's like 700 something species in this genus; they are not all created equal. I think that also may be partially why there seems to be so much debate over the subject, two different people could be very well talking about two different species. I'm not saying everyone has to be a friggin botanist over it, but it really is helpful to know what species any given person is talking about. Maybe then we can start to notice a pattern with one given variety or another. Just my two cents. As an aside, I kind of think climate may have a non negligible part to play. I could definitely see these chemicals hanging around in the soil a lot differently in a more arid environment with lots of organic matter build up versus a wet rainy tropical environment where everything either leaches away or decays as fast as you can blink at it.

Well Pirate girl, I was reading your post at the same time my buddy was enjoying a nice salad from a Deli (not a real deli IMO, but they call themselves a deli...)! [IMG]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/bsmith782/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_7419.jpg[/IMG] So I snagged the packaging the salad came in and washed it out. [IMG]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/bsmith782/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_4965.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/bsmith782/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_6969.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/bsmith782/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_9786.jpg[/IMG] Mixed up my potting mix (cacti&succulent potting mix/humus&manure/bone meal), put 5 seeds per quadrant then sprinkled just the c&s soil over them then slowly drizzled water till it was a couple notches below soaked (no standing water. [IMG]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/bsmith782/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3963.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/bsmith782/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2737.jpg[/IMG] Here is how I have it situated. [IMG]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r288/bsmith782/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_7028.jpg[/IMG] What does everyone think, should I put any vent holes in the cover or any other suggestions?