Hi Judith: Muriate of Potash is potassium chloride, salt index of 116.2, very high, that's the stuff we use to de-ice in zone 5a winter. I would not use that stuff on any plants. Sulfate of potash has salt index of 43, NPK 0-0-50, plus the sulfate part which makes it more water soluble. The safest potassium with no salt would be chop-up banana peels soaked in water. Banana peels NPK is 0-3-42. MiracleGro Moisture Control potting soil (blue bag) already has slow-released fertilizer for 3-months, no need for additional fertilizer. What it doesn't have is calcium, essential for root-growth. I put granular gypsum bought from Menards on top of my roses ... after 1 month of spring rain, that didn't dissolve. Gypsum is 22% calcium, and 17% sulfur, but it varies with brand .. some brand contains less sulfur, and never get dissolved. The soluble gypsum from Kelp4Less dissolved easily in my tap water, pH 8, so I suspect there's more sulfur % in that one. The instant green-up and deepening of bloom colors most likely is from the sulfur %. I would dissolve the gypsum you bought from the feed store at the rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon, if it doesn't dissolve, then is best used in the ground. Roses Unlimited recommends mixing in 1 cup of gypsum in the planting hole. If the gypsum you bought from the feed store still doesn't dissolve, I would put less than 1 tablespoon of vinegar per gallon ... any more roses will wilt in the heat. Putting vinegar in the heat is risky, less is best. So far 4 studies pointed to calcium and extra potassium as essential in best root-growth: U. of Kentucky with Peters 20-10-20, same with U. of Mass with marigolds. Two additional studies: one with hydroponic lettuce, with the best result Masterblend 20-18-38 with added calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt). This was done hydroponic, no soil, thus the logic for Epsom salt. Another experiment is done by Ohio Link NTD center on New Guinea impatient flowers. Here's the tested ones: Peters-water-soluble 20- 4.4 -16 Daniels-soybean-base 10- 1.8 -2.5 Osmocote 3-month release 15-4-10 5-month slow-release 15-4-10 The best performance is Peters-water-soluble (NPK 20-4.4-16). The worst performance is organic soybean base, too little potassium. Potassium mobility is a 3, somewhat mobile, and gets leached out. Potassium is essential for root growth, that's the only extra fertilizer one needs besides calcium for best root growth. MiracleGro potting soil has plenty of nitrogen, I get a gigantic dark-green Excellenz von Schubert from a band, I had to chop off 2 feet of growth, before planting in ground. The safest bet: chopped up banana peels soak in water for potassium, and gypsum powder at 1 tablespoon per gallon (low salt index of 8). Plus MiracleGro Moisture Control potting soil (blue bag), which already have slow-released fertilizers. Less fertilizer is best for young bands. Below is Gene Boerner, bought from Roses Unlimited end of June sale, fertilized with the above approach. Picture taken few days ago, so it's 3-weeks of growth:

They're still looking for the Sunken Treasure. If you're able to find it, I'd plant it just under H. Banana Boat and next to H. Yellow Submarine. :) Don

I dug out some old pint jars and old lids tonight that I've had around for 15 years or more, (the lids haven't been used, I found them in a box of stuff I had packed up years ago). I canned them up with some of the newer silver lids from a box of new jars. In my opinion, new JARS and LIDS are total carp compared to the older ones. Everything is "thinner" from the jar glass to the rubber on the gaskets to the lids themselves. Little by little, bit by bit they are shaving materials, to cut costs I imagine. We'll see how they do sealing. So far too soon to tell if there will be problems. I would imagine not a lot of problems or Ball would have to address them. I've long noticed the lids getting flimsier, but I don't think it's a color change issue since that is just plating.

Hi Everyone... So, since I am still unable to start a new thread of my own (which Is basically why I stopped posting) I saw that somehow this thread of mine had been brought up to the near front so I guess I'll just add my latest bloom which was an Exotic Star. I have a Merengue, and a Mystica (with 4 flowers) about to open also. I also have a papilio and a Fledermaus with protruding buds. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!! Donna