Jim, I put 28 yards of dirt every spring on my yard, still trying to level it, from all the mole holes. I just finished the 2nd 14 yard truck. I have a question, what is clay?? I get sandyloam from GJ Transport in Portland, they sell it for $325 for 14 yards, do you know where I can get a better deal? I could use another 14 yards to put down on the driveway, its so much lower there than the rest of the yard, I cannot make my self pay that much money for dirt, that one day will be covered by a driveway. Barbra,

People are entitled to believe what they want to believe about what their climate zone is. I wouldn't make a claim that parts of downtown Sacramento could ever be considered almost a zone 10a, just as I think it is a stretch to consider my part of Berkeley a reliable zone 10a, although it may be 9 out of 10 winters. We are talking about Strelitzia nicholai here, the Ravenella simply doesn't tolerate northern California winters, the soils stay too wet and cold and they rot away. While there may be the occasional Strelitzia nicholai in downtown Sacramento up against buildings which benefit from reradiated heat and don't tend to look frozen back after each winter, the foliage will get zapped in a major way when temps drop below freezing here. In a hot summer area like Sacto, they will regrow new foliage more quickly, but the mature size will be restricted by being frozen back so often. This plant would really only be suitable as a long term specimen, in my opinion, where it is up against a wall or protected by an overhang or evergreen trees. Out in the open in a Sacramento garden, it will tend to get frozen browned foliage almost every winter, and 25F temps will kill it back to the ground. They can bloom at smaller sizes, I've seen 15 gallon sized plants in southern California that may only have had 3 feet of trunk blooming, as I've also had some that were relatively young and foliage topped out at 10 feet bloom here in Oakland. I've also got one in my front yard that has 10 feet of trunk that has never bloomed yet. Full sun, hotter weather year round and regular feeding will encourage them to bloom at smaller sizes, and also being planted in the ground. Not to discourage someone from planting one in a USDA zone 9b climate here in northern California, but be prepared to cover them if you don't like looking at burnt foliage for 6 months out of the year after a freeze. They do burn foliage right at 32F here in Berkeley, if it is more than just an hour or two.

Toxic compounds abound in all manner of plant species - in fact, more plants contain some degree of toxicity than those that do not. Do you compost remnants of your veggie garden? Tomatoes, potatoes and rhubarb foliage all contain significant concentrations of toxic alkaloids as do many types of fruit, yet these are routinely added to compost. The composting process is a great neutralizer and easily renders these toxins into harmless elements. With the exception of a few very toxic possibilities (oleander, ricinus), I wouldn't hesitate to use finished compost comprised of any ingredients on veggies. If you have ongoing concerns about the BOP, just make sure there are no seed pods included.

can we see the whole plant and the pots they are in .. and give us a full history.. as well as how you care for it ... how long have you had them??? dont repot it on the basis of what might happen .... unless you have good reasons to do so ... why is the soil compacted???.. does it drain properly .... do you fert?? give us some facts to work with ... ken