1) Every ingredient that you listed for the Fox Farm soil is extremely fine. Since water retention is dependant primarily on particle size, you should expect a medium made of all fine particulates to be extremely water retentive, something I try very hard to avoid in containers. 2) You can read about soils and how durable soils that remain well-aerated long after peat/compost-based soils have collapsed can offer a greater margin for grower error and make things much simpler for the grower if you follow this link. 3) Not necessarily, but if you think about it, what will you do if your pH falls outside the favorable range? Start adding acids and bases to change it? In commercial situations, pH is usually tested frequently and adjusted by injecting a wide variety of chemicals that have elements plants need into the irrigation water. Since pH is affected by temperature, fertility, plant material, moisture level, even time of day (Plants help to control the pH in the rhizosphere to make it easier for them to uptake nutrients. This effect is reduced when plants are undergoing periods of reduced transpiration, which in turn has an effect on pH.) I'm not saying that because I ignore trying to control pH that you should, but I've never found it necessary to fret about it in any container planting. I might consider the plant prefers acidic conditions and forgo the use of lime and maybe use a urea-based fertilizer to take advantage of the acid reaction, but other than that, I don't worry. Remember that Media pH is far less important in container media than in mineral soils, and if you're supplying nutrients in soluble form, unless the pH is WAY outside favorable limits, your plant will be able to assimilate the nutrients. You can find considerable discussion about this in Dr C Whitcomb's work, "Plant Production in Containers II". 4) On average, plants use about 6-10x more N than P. Since the P in NPK is not a true measure of P supplied (P is reportted as the % of P2O5 [phosphorous pentaoxide]) you need to use a multiplier of .43 to tell the actual amount of P. In 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers, there is 7x as much N as P, so you actually have a considerable cush in 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers. Plants use roughly the same amount of nutrients throughout the growth cycle in relation to N, so I'm not sure where the idea they need larger doses of P during flowering/fruiting comes from. Tissue analysis of fruits and blooms show roughly the same levels of P as other plant organs, which meshes nicely with the idea that consistent P levels at approximately 1/6 that of N are entirely adequate throughout the growth cycle. I actually don't boost K by adding the ProTeKt, I reduce the amount of N, which also must reduce the levels of P and K. Since I can see by my plants that what I said above about P is true (also confirmed in the text cited above, which is essentially the Bible on container production) and P levels remain adequate at reduced application rates of 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers, I only need to be sure plants are getting adequate K. I can do this by incorporating some potash in the soil when I make it in anticipation of the reduced N applications for tomatoes, or simply forgo the increase in TDC by supplying it later as needed by using the ProTeKt. Al

Great job! They look just like the ones I remember that were posted early....you're funny Frou....you save projects from others that you "borrow" too! I have a list like that too!

I'm from zone 7 and I've done tons of propagating for my business (I'm 17 btw). The best way to propagate is use Mike McGroarty's systems (and he has many of them) to creat you own personalized system. You can't succeed if you don't fail, so don't be afraid to just try it one year. It's one thing talking about it, but it's another thing doing it. You'll learn a on more experimenting yourself than reading about it. But...if you really want good information...Check out freeplants.com I left a link for you at the bottom of this post. Hope you fiure everything out. BTW Mike lives in like Ohio, and he does all his propagating outside... Here is a link that might be useful: Freeplants.com!!!!!

Thanks again for all the advice guys. The pool table is definitely a bad idea. I was lucky to get rid of it the first time, why would I be dumb enough to buy it back? You are right, it is more of a guy thing, it does take up a lot of space, and in todays world, video games are definitely the better choice for family entertainment. I never thought of some of those ideas, and I thank you for sharing them with me. It is also not the greatest idea to leave the lawnmower behind either. I also never thought about the lawnmower reminding people there is yardwork - good idea. This is a section relating to house selling. I feel bad that this post has recieved so much attention when I originally just wanted a couple simple answers - and it has metamorphasized into this mess! A lot of that is my own stupid fault. I tend to read things, take them the wrong way, and then I have to respond and "defend" myself - when I was never under attack to begin with. Then I read things again, realize things were NOT as malicious as I originally thought, and then think Duh! Why did I get upset by that? Well this is yet another of my Duh! moments - and I apologize. Yes Brickeyee, I can be a very good kettle, and yes badgergrrl, I can also be a grumpy old man - thank you for not calling me something worse. I really am a nice guy, but often I find myself in this predicament. So again - sorry! As if you can't tell, I have a hard time letting things go. I went through a real nightmare attempting to sell my house before, and I am dreading having to go through it again. I am also dreading whatever repairs and cleaning I will need to do after the tenant moves out just to get the house ready again. This is still 1 1/2 months away, and I am already getting stressed out over it. All I want is to get rid of the house, do it quickly and easily, and without being financially raped in the process - a whole lot easier said than done. So this is why I am the way I am - I am carrying a lot of stress relating to the whole house thing. Thanks again for the good advice and thank you for understanding what I am going through. I know it is ultimately up to me to figure these things out, and no matter what you guys say, you can't really fix things for me. You are total strangers, but it still helps me having some sort of outlet for me to voice my concerns - to people who might understand me. Thanks again. Have a good day.