Sand is not a good soil component either unless only used in small amounts. I use unglazed, un-dyed coarse gravel from the pet store. Here it costs $2.99 for a 5-lb bag. I mix that about 50-50 with soil from my garden. The soil is high in clay. When wet, it stays together. When mixed with gravel, it crumbles apart easily. I also add lava rock for those species that are more sensitive to overwatering. For me, Stapeliads do not qualify. If I were exposing them to unobstructed rain, then I would add lots more drainage material. Most of my plants are protected from rain in an unheated greenhouse. Since I use garden soil, extra fertilizer is not necessary, and when I repot in 2-3 yrs, the new soil will have new nutrients. Keep in mind though the soil I use has minimal compost and humus. It would be considered poor. I have a patch where I "quarry" from that remains bare. I would repot now. Keeping them in peat increases the likelihood the roots will dessicate, making it also more likely for the plant to rot when you start to water in the spring. I water mine lightly occasionally during the winter. As far as temps go, I have never had a problem exposing my Stapeliads to temps down to 29-30F. They are still outdoors now. Even Pseudolithos from "hot" Somalia doesn't mind the cold. I'd bring them in but space is limited so I stretch it out as much as I can. x

Hi Bill, I have seen mention of this Mapei on other threads and did a google search and came up with a lot of foreign-language links. Who makes it? Or better yet, can you give me a link to a website? (Also, I sent you an email - did you get it? I noticed another tile installation disaster today. Our Master Bath floor has been covered for protection until today when part of it was exposed while the double vanity was installed. The large 16" square honed Calcutta Gold tiles are not centered on any of the walls, so there are really off grout lines at the center of the vanity. It is really obvious and when I think about it I literally want to cry :( . This is our forever house and everywhere I turn, a tile job is done badly. I could really use a good referal!)

Here I go again, I went and looked at the Blue star, the GE Cafe, Dacor, Thermador, Viking and Capital, and even an AGA. One thing I liked about the Dacor was the lighted knobs to let you know if you've left a burner on, which I tend to do! I thought for sure I'd want the Capital, but it just did not ring my bell, I liked the look of the Dacor more then the Capital. I can't believe it but I'm leaning towards the Blue Star. I really wanted a self clean oven, but I can just imagine searing steaks on those beautiful open burners. Blue star kept calling me. I have a Zephry Hurricane under cabinet mount range hood, and it works really, really great with my current GE 12,000 btu burners, it has 650 CFM. Will it work with the 22,000 btu Blue star burners? I'd rather not replace it if it will be OK and still suck the smoke out. I really like it, very easy to clean. Thanks for all your help! I know it takes time to answer all these silly questions. Susan

Hi june, I am on about 4 acres and there are woods on most sides of the property and only one neighbor on one side that I can see and its fenced there lol. So escapee passiflora and other vines aren't a problem. In fact, there are "wild /rogue" trumpet vines, japanese honeysuckle, and carolina jessamine growing all crazy out in the woods and up various trees on the back of the property. I have a lot of gulf frits so they do keep the escaped (from pots) passies under control here too. For additional control, I grow most of my passiflora in pots and use 3 tall bamboo poles tied together at the top in the large pots. Then I use fishing line and black electrical tape to create a little trellis for them to attach their tendrils onto between the bamboo poles. Then I position the pots up against a fence or tree and let them climb that way once they grow over the bamboo poles. When it freezes, I cut them back to the length of the bamboo pole/trellis and move the pots into the gh because some of the passies I grow will freeze back badly and some are tropical so gh culture during the winter is best for those. ~SJN