Thanks so much yall. I just got off the phone with florida colors. Very nice people!! I have done business with them before and recieved some VERY nice cuttings. I am going to send it to them ASAP!! I really hope they will be able to graft it, but i kind of have my doubts. It just feels so weak. I wish i would have found out about this earlier. I think it mght be too late. All i can do is hope. Thanks again for your help Karyn and Suzanne!! Justin

It's possible that there was a problem with the soil, but to really know you'd have to look at ALL the variables that were different; the time of year, the temperature, the state the plant was in when you took the cuttings, water levels, etc. I don't know how much the temperature/climate varies in Oakland, but certainly in December you still have less light just as you would in any other mid-latitude location when you compare it to June daylight. That might have an impact on cuttings; I would think that if a mature rose plant would not be able to grow in a certain location because light levels are too low (such as in a window or shaded spot), a cutting, which is in an especially traumatic situation trying to live without roots, would not be able to live with such little light either, because it has the same requirements plus the additional need to grow quite quickly to be able to put out roots before using up existing nutrients and dying. The short days/winter light levels might have created too little light. My sense is that with cuttings, too much intense light + heat is bad, but you can compensate for low light levels by increasing daylight hours. That's why a cool, shady place in May or June when days are very long is really ideal; "full-sun" plants can deal with shade when the days last so long. Meanwhile, in fall/winter (the closer you get to December 21) they can't get enough energy from shade, so you have the tougher situation of having to put them in full sun where they can scorch. That's just a guess. For all I know you were using artificial light and everything I am suggesting is meaningless. My sense is that 100% loss is pretty intense and something like diseased soil would kill some, but not all, cuttings. I don't know, but all I can say is keep trying. I have had really awful luck with rose cuttings so I am trying new things as well.

Here is the trick about HomeGoods - you need to go often - the really good stuff goes so fast. The one in Louisville, KY does have a lot of junk but they have some wonderful things too. My friend has been looking for those very large blue and white Chinese lidded urns - very Ralph Lauren looking in the right decor - they are hundred of dollars in the decorating stores but our HomeGoods had them a few months ago. She also bought two solid marble slab tables (white with dark veining) - they look like they came out of an old conservatory - a few chips here and there but they honestly look like they jumped off the pages of Veranda magazine....they were on clearance because of the chips for under $30 a piece. I recently needed a very large outdoor rug in neutral colors - very hard to find the large ones but HomeGoods had a great one at a great price. This past week I purchased several large dark green glazed pots - gorgeous and inexpensive. I agree that the quality of some of the merchandise seems to have gone down hill a bit (I remember when they had wonderful lamps), but they do get some very nice things in - but they go quickly.

All great advice and suggestions, thank you! He was provided a chance to fix based upon concerns we had with his work. We were in agreement to what the problems were and the needed course correction. He was unable to adequately fix the work. Left it that we were going to pause, bring in neutral third party (plumbers, tile workers, and painting/drywallers) to determine where we needed to go from there. At that point old contractor "hack" had a tantrum and said he just did not know if/when he would be able to work our job back into his schedule. In essence, felt like a mutual firing/parting ways. He has not reached out after his first text saying he had receipts that needed setteled. Husband's response was to let us know when he could come over to discuss. Again, no contact from him after we followed up to the text he had sent. Guessing this is not over, but it would be so nice if it were. We will see how it all unfolds. Thanks to all for taking the time to advise and provide suggestions!!!! Huge help!!!!