Good point, Toni, to ask of Audrey's pot has drain hole(s). And 2nd your opinion of that type of soil. Do you still have the "chunk of dirt" that might have most of Audrey's roots? That might be the easiest way to answer the question of whether or not any roots were removed and how much/many. Regardless, I'm left wondering why she would be "keeling over in the pot?" Happy PL's don't keel. They are upright plants that shouldn't trail or lean. Was there any type of white or yellowish crusty ring around the outside of the top of the soil, and/or inside the pot? I suspect this plant was sitting in a bog for a while, and most of the roots had died. Even if you accidentally tore most of the roots off, Audrey has a good chance of survival. If the amount of roots left are too small to support all of the foliage, some of the leaves will die. For now, if it were my plant, I would cut off any leaves that don't look great, as close to the soil as possible so you don't get a skewer look. Put Audrey in slightly less light than she was getting when she was happy and made a few flowers. Then put her back into more light when you see any new leaves growing. Most plant advice you will encounter says to let the soil dry completely between watering but PL's do not like to dry out. Keep Audrey damp but not soggy. Is that possible with the pot and soil you have? Did you pack the soil tightly or just let it sift/fall into place? When you gave the huge watering afterward, did the soil float around, or stay mostly in place? If you didn't pack it, and it stayed mostly in place, there should be some air pockets within the pot. If you packed and had floating, it might be too wet and devoid of air, even for Audrey. As long as the excess water drains out of the pot within 5 minutes, Audrey's roots should be happy. Unless there is a problem with water draining from the pot, I wouldn't repot again right now until her condition is more stabilized. Even though that soil is not desirable, PL likes damp conditions and can regain some health without being further molested right now if it is draining. I would also like to see a pic of Audrey.

Mo - I'm not sure I would use the alcohol spray on strep plants. The only ones I have ever used it on were the dracaena and a couple sansevieria plants, and the draecena was a little sickly afterwards...and that was a dilute mixture. If your friend has foliar mealies on her streps I would suggest dabbing the mealies with an alcohol dipped cotton swab. This may help control them but won't eliminate the problem. Maybe she could even try bagging a plant after the dabbing and seeing if the fumes help. If she is really desperate, perhaps trying to spray just one strep with a dilute mix and wait to see if any adverse effects appear. They may not be apparent for a couple days or so. I know mealies are extremely difficult to eradicate in violets(streps too). It is imperative for her to isolate those plants away from the unaffected plants in her collection. They(the pests) can multiply like gangbusters. If she only has a couple plants affected, the best treatment is the trash pail. Perhaps she could wash a couple leaves and put them down for babies, and still watch them and the offspring very closely. In Pauline Bartholomew's book "Growing to Show" it is recommended to use 1/4 tsp. of 50% Malathion with quart of warm water. Suggested to repeat 3 or more times at 7 day intervals. I don't always keep up on which insecticides have been banned, but this one may not be too difficult to find if still on the market. Fortunately, I've never had a mite problem(fingers crossed for luck). I have not used hydrogen peroxide on violets or streps, so I don't have any experience with it. Last year I ordered in some Kelthane to have around because so many people seemed to be having mite problems. Thankfully, I haven't had to resort to to opening it yet. It runs in the back of my mind that it was going to be removed from thr market by the end of last year and that was the reason for the purchase. However, I do know of one person that used the hot water dip method on a violet, but it died. If you do try this over the weekend, let us know the outcome in a week or two. Where are you located in WV? Wishing you luck. Elaine

Thanks Ingrid. We are having hot weather - days 90-100 and humidity in the teens (very drying). I have been planting some bands from High Country under a little shade support stapled together with thin lumber and a piece of landscape cloth, and they are doing great. They seem to love the heat, just not the direct sun. I didn't shade a band of Barbara Oliva very well a little earlier in the season - I put a chair over her, but it kept blowing over - and she promptly sunburned. But she's coming back strong. :-)

Holy cow. Poor woman. I have friends, a couple, whose dog has bitten the wife twice now, drawing blood. (Her hands). I couldn't tolerate that, much as I adore my dog. He'd have to go. This couple never owned a dog before and got a breed known to be difficult. As far as the woman in the story - how can anyone keep animals they are afraid of? I'm shaking my head in wonder. I haven't seen a chow in ages (here in Southern Cali) - they must not be very popular.