While I certainly can't rule out some root issues or girdling without digging up the tree, I don't see evidence of this on the trunk (ie. compressed on one side etc). Also I don't mean that is has not grown at all, but it has not really grown taller. Nearly all growth has been lateral, and even downward. Plus it's foliage is dense for a Ginkgo. I also see that I didn't make clear enough that the "flopping over" is the trunk bending over and no longer supporting itself, despite having more than doubled in caliper since the first measurement 5 years ago. I also failed to indicate that this tree is about 6.5' tall. I have attached the only picture I have available with me at this moment so that you can see more clearly. I didn't attach it before, due to the picture being back light making it somewhat difficult to see what is going on. Sorry for the poor quality. Still there are branches growing downward clearly visible. There has also been significant side ward growth this season, but NOTHING upward. Thanks to you all Alley_cat, Dax, and Sara. This is exactly what I need. People to help me think it through. It is much appreciated. Arktrees

I can't tell yet whether your chirita is a form of sinensis or a sinensis hybrid. But, it defintely has the sinensis pattern of netting on the leaves. As you grow it, hopefully, the netting will become stronger. Chirita sinensis and its hybrids will vary in the amount of netting and background color of the leaves, depending on culture, temperature and some mysterious factor I can't figure out. The most common one, popular, and shared often would be C. sinensis 'Hisako'--which it may be. I would just call it Chirita "sinensis type" and leave it without a definite ID. Chiritas are very easy to work with. There is no problem in separating babies. Any leaf that breaks off or breaks in half can be put down for more. When I propagate chiritas, I take medium sized leaves (3-4 long ")and cut them into two or three wedge cuttings (bottom, middle, and top). Thus I get about 4-6, mol, plants from each leaf (two per cutting--so, to reiterate, the top half of a leaf is a perfectly fine cutting). Under lights I often get flowers on small plants in 2-3" pots. But, they are much better flower producers when they get larger. Chiritas like to be grown in small pots relative to plant size, but can be potted up too. Your strep is over potted. But, it should grow into its pot size, as this is the time of year for it to put on lots of growth. But, in the meantime, be careful with watering so that it doesn't stay too wet--think "lightly moist"--whatever that means ;). Jon

Hi, I know this is an old post, but I it sounds a little similar to my problems. And I wanted to get this board's opinion on how I should proceed. I've been lurking reading as much as I can for a bit now. We have an old pool in our house (don't know exactly how old it is, but I'm guessing about 30 years old). It's been re-tiled once. And they poured concrete around it at least once that we know of before we moved in. The concrete was poured incorrectly (or not sure exactly what), but the tiles are popping out it seems that it doesn't have the layer to help it absorb the concrete expansion. And after one of the last earthquakes we had there are a couple of cracks as well. I recently put in all new equipment (pump, filter and heater) because I thougt at least this way we could keep it clean and functioning. I've gotten a couple of quotes (somewhat close in $) to re-cope, replaster and retile. The issue is that none of them mentioned doing a leak test. As a matter of fact one of them went as far as to say that they would not guarantee that the cracks would not come back and that they will not leak. There's a deck that surrounds it partially. I paid for someone to come and wash it and stain it but they found that it starting to rotting in a few places. So now, I'm thinking that the pool is indeed leaking and I need to get the pool done before I try and rip out the deck and put a new one. But re-doing the pool and deck is a huge job and I will need to do it in stages. My question is: what should I watch out for in regards to the pool? should I call one of those Detect Leak places before I call a PB? How can I stagger the work over a few years to spread the cost? At the end of it, is it worth it to spend around $15K to get the pool done when it might still leak. thanks for your input!

thanks all for the words of encouragement. today, I needed it more than other days... DD is dragging her feet, about moving out..she has all but the bunkbeds and their clothes, moved over and she just reads and watches a movie, now and then with the kids don't know why she's putting it off, cuz the kids are looking forward to this move. it's to a boyfriend's place, where there's more room for them to play, lounge around and he rents bunches of movies and games for the kids. I realize that this will make or break them and for that I'm sinfully guilty..cuz I want more than anything else, for them to split and that means she would have to find another place in the distant future but still, I need my life back mean of me but realistic