In years past, I have seen mosaic disease in several of the milkweed plants that we raise. These plants are a host for migrating monarch butterflies. In the early stages, the disease looks exactly like a mosaic, scattered white spots against a green background. As it progresses, the leaf turns almost completely white, and by that point, the plant is wilted and essentially dead. Milkweed overwinter as a root, and come up the following spring, in the same place. I would often see a healthy milkweed in the next year, so I guess that the root was not affected.

We live in Staten Island and just heard that the Community Gardens in Miller Field will not be planted this year due to contamination. There are sewage treatment plants and small stations in the beach areas. Oil from heaters leaked when they were turned over or floating down streets. I am very worried about what could be in the soil...Marist College had offered free soil testing and is no longer doing it. The salt water killed most of my mother in law's plants and shrubs and what survived is now covered with something - we don't know what it is. Perhaps it is some type of mold. I would be afraid of planting any type of garden with vegetables - I just read an article in today's paper that people are being told not to eat fruit from their fruit trees/fig trees if they survived, and not to eat anything like strawberries or herbs that may come up again. It is suggested that until you know what is in your soil, not to plant vegetables. I have a friend who had the air tested around her home and there were high levels of many different types of contaminants. We and a lot of other people are looking for a place that will test soil. Btw redteddy, I wish you luck in the Rockaways - I have been volunteering for nearly 6 months and have been sending donations to your area with many people here. I hope you recover quickly.

Tcamp...The KEY here is to make sure after just a few weeks that the mix still does a good job, holds it structure, does not stay wet at the bottom while the top dries, dries out evenly, does not hold disolved salts, and does not suffocate the roots ... If you use to many smaller particles, or use big and large where the smaller falls to the bottom, you can run into serious trouble before the end of a season.... Even a fresh bag of the worst potting soil drains well at that start.So please keep a close eye on your mix...I wouldn't use it, but if it works for you, that's awesome.. Pray for spring soon. I hate the cold! Hows' the porch doing these days? Mike This post was edited by meyermike_1micha on Thu, Mar 6, 14 at 19:38

Jimm, Our own Adenium master Randy has written extensively on cultivating his beautiful plants - if you do a search for his posts you'll find a wealth of knowledge, a veritable mine of sagacity.....on the subject - look for any recent Adenium posts (or as some folks generally call it, 'Desert Rose' and I'd bet you a dollar to a doughnut that he'll have something to say that will make you sit up and grow 'em right. I'm sure that what you've done is great (L myself never meandered into Adeniums much, and certainly not the Adeniums that he grows), but he's got The Touch.