Thanks, all. I've narrowed down my confusion to the question: when does one plant the culinary Allium family and when does one harvest them? Are they annuals or perennials or biennial? Seeds vs. plants? I get conflicting info. Plant Onion seeds in Spring, but plant Garlic bulbils in Fall. I've decided to go to the library and get a good book on the subject, but meanwhile it's an interesting thread. I hope to get a good understanding of the Allium family lifecycle/big picture, so I can weigh my options. For instance, what would happen if I cut the top off a grocery store red onion and planted it? Well, I tried it, and it's growing! Sounds better than planting from seed, but is definately unorthodox from what I've gathered (or not gathered) so far.

My dry eyes and not being able to comfortably wear my contacts was one of the symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome. I was also having to drink a lot because of dryness in the mouth also a major symptom of the disease I have. I never go anywhere now with out a water bottle and I keep biotene spray in my purse. I have to have full medical ophthalmologist exams every 6 months also now. It is surprising how such a small thing can lead you to discover such a big diagnosis.

Not only are there multiple cuttings per pot (sometimes up to five), but multiple varieties are substituted for each name. What you find in April as "Red Kordana" (or whatever other name the specific producer calls the rose) isn't necessarily what you will find as "Red Kordana" a month later. The names are trademarked and the outlet simply orders them by quantity and color, or as a quantity of mixed colors. Whatever the company which owns the patents substitutes for that color at that order time has ready is what the retailer receives. From a marketing standpoint, it's great. From yours, perhaps not so much. If the one you found is ideal for whatever use you have for it, you may, or may not, be able to find it again. That was one of Ralph Moore's huge complaints about how the mini market was changing before his death. He believed in creating a specific good rose and offering that rose under its name. Not in making a name and offering a dozen different "disposable" roses under that name. Your rose may remain healthier due to not being as crowded, or it may return to the black spot issues. Only time will tell. Many of these grocery store minis will perform outdoors, but not all. They weren't bred nor selected for garden use, so finding one which doesn't either become a "Jack and the Beanstalk" plant with small flowers; a diseased mess; or one which won't grow or flower in less than greenhouse conditions, is likely to be a hit and miss proposition. My youngest sister filled her front yard with those nearly twenty years ago. They receive virtually no care, pruning, fertilizing, etc., and they have lived and produce flowers. Hers aren't "pretty plants" but they fill volume, occupy space and require nothing of her other than the sprinkler irrigation they receive.

Perhaps crushing it causes a certain reaction that does not happen when the creatures are suckling the fluids from the plant. That's my hypothesis that I'm going with anyway. Disclaimer: I am but a laywoman. but there could be something significant to this for those of us looking for a safer alternative for pest control. They did it with chyrsanthemums....can those become infested with aphids? Pretty sure the stuff made from chrysanthemums is lethal to aphids.