From a post I left a long while ago on the Houseplant Forum: Hmmmm. The guaranteed analysis of the primary macro-nutrients (NPK) in Eleanor's is Analysis: 0.15 - 0.85 - 0.55 This is less than 1% of ANY of the majors. 1/8 of 1% N, 7/8 of 1% P, 1/2 of 1% K. This is EXTREMELY low in fertility. Since I cannot find the rest of the analysis, I'm going to guess the rest of the nutrients are probably nonexistent or nearly so. I haven't used this potion (VF-11), but then, you don't need to ride the bus to know what makes the wheels go round & round. Forgive me for being somewhat skeptical or even cynical, but when vague claims are made like: ... and mildew is eliminated because VF-11 changes the pH and creates a condition where mildew can not grow. Once again, isn't it amazing? I wonder why there isn't something specific in the claim. Changes the pH of what? Soil? Cellular pH? Leaf surface pH - for how long? Hmmm I also wonder at: VF-11 builds so much strength and health that plant cells 'harden' and 'seal in' the amino acids which aphids feed on. You have merely eliminated their food supply. And you have done it without the use of poisonous systemic or pesticides. Pretty nice...huh? Don't aphids feed on sap. How does this product make the sap unavailable to aphids? Does it somehow make cells so hard that they cannot be penetrated and dry up all the intra-cellular plant water/sap? Should I/we be saying GMAB here? There's more, but you get the drift. I wouldn't say that this product has no benefit, as it may very well have some, but I am of the general feeling there is almost surely no panacean value to products like Superthrive or this elixir, and it's a good bet it's not the magic potion some may think it to be. I don't trust advertising that is known to be false and this alone is enough to fuel the skepticism in me. One thing additional: The claim that "you cannot overdo", means there could only be extremely minute (almost immeasurable or nonexistent) amounts of any micro-nutrients in it because micro-nutrient overdose produces toxicity at even low levels and over-doing would reveal readily visible symptoms quickly. Like I said, I wouldn't argue that it has no value, but I do know that I would invest in a good, known source of micro-nutrients and an appropriate fertilizer before I'd trust plant vitality to a product labeled with insubstantial claims. Al

Bill, grafted Loquats (named varieties) are an excellent choice. The fruit from my Golden Nugget tree was superb. But they are prone to fireblight, which eventually killed my tree. They taste a lot like juicy Apricots, with a kick! Birds, unfortunately, love them! I probably will buy another one. It is a nice-looking tree. I grew mine in a half whiskey barrel, and it fruited very well. Isn't that book awesome? I carry it with me all the time and read it whenever I have a few free moments. It is endlessly fascinating! I have a Fuyo Persimmon, newly purchased. It is attractive and healthy, and supposedly the fruit is very good. I have not ever eaten a Persimmon though.. I also have a Guthrie Plum, but it is a regular Plum, (low-chill). It produced small, yellow fruits last year, nothing this year. My 7 Plum trees simply cannot bloom together to cross-pollinate! Lisa

Vlad, I have found it to be almost the same. I could suggest some alternatives; but those are mostly illegal and/or risk importing diseases (the "legal" justification of denying imports). Examples: I am not allowed to export my lemons into any citrus producing area of the USA; I can only ship to the NE States (north of the Mason Dixon line on the East coast. The official reason is Mediterranean Fruit Fly (although it has rarely been shown to infect lemons); the REAL reason is agricultural protectionism. Proof??? Chile is allowed to ship yellow lemons into California. The official reason is Chile doesn't have Medfly; the REAL reason, the Chilean growers are all or mostly all California companies. Chile cannot ship yellow lemons into other citrus growing areas, including Florida and Louisiana. Similar rules apply to New Zealand. I am a member of the Citrus committee of the Association of Guatemalan exporters. Last year, in a concerted effort to create certified disease free nurseries for Guatemala, we tried to import certified seed for rootstock, and certified disease free budwood from the CCCP at Riverside, California. Everyone we contacted "SAID" it was no problem; but the number of seeds or buds we have received to date is still ZERO!

Vladimir, I haven't tried them either because like Laura I am afraid of root rot, especially during the period when the tree's roots transition to the new growing media and cultural conditions. I grew orchids semi-hydroponically for several years because I travelled a lot and I hoped it would extend the period between required waterings when I was away from home and my greenhouse. Although most of my orchids did ok, I have since gone back to bark mixes as I don't travel so often now. What I found was there is a transition period during which the plants regrow new roots that adapt to the semi-hydro conditions. The transition timing is important as the plants need to grow the new roots and will sulk and lanquish if the transition is made too far into the years growth period and there are not enough new roots to support the plant above ground parts. If there is not enough roots generated during the growth period the plant will not have a way to get enough food and energy to support the top of the plant/tree. I also found I had to keep the greenhouse much warmer as the medium cools quickly as the air moves through the medium and pot. Even though I flushed the pots often, fertilizer salts seemed to build up and burn the roots if I was not careful and the reservoir dryed out between waterings. I think my high pH water and fertilizer would cause wide fluctuations in the growing medium that was not good for the plants if I was not careful. I also got a lot of algae growth in the transparent pots I used which was not very nice to look at and also seemed to clog up the air spaces that are part of the system. But overall I mostly was able to grow and bloom plants under the method, but I was not overall satisfied with plant long term growth. I think the SIPS pots may also have many of the same disadvantages for citrus that I had with my orchid's in semi-hydro culture. It served it's purpose for my needs for a while, and I think plants can be grown in most any medium if you watch carefully and make adjustments to help your plant and trees adapt to the different growing conditions, but I didn't feel I was giving my plants optimum growing conditions. Cory