Jodik says: The coir might look dry on top, but down in the center of the pot, it could be quite moisture-laden! I have found it helpful to insert little wooden skewers carefully into the soil to about root level, and leave them there... I take them out and press them against my cheek to test for dampness... if they feel at all damp, I wait to water... but if the skewer comes out dry, it's time to water. My coir is 4" deep in a closed pot. I put the skewer to the bottom of the pot. When I take it out how many inches of bone dry top "soil" should there be before it's time to water again? Is it 1", 2" or 4"? I just went 10 days without water and only 1" of the top was dry so am I supposed to water this direct sun pot once every two weeks or so to avoid over watering, really? And how much water for my 6" closed pot? I had been watering 1 1/2 cup or so once a week and my plant was fine but I'm now worried that was too much so I'm re-evaluating. I know what conventional wisdom says (water deep, not shallow) but that advice doesn't seem to apply to my situation. Also how long should it be before I see new leaf growth in the summer time (first season outside)? My 18 month old Red Lion so far has only grown new leaves once a year. At potting and at dormancy end.

No matter what, Tanya, in the hosta market, today--it's a risk when you buy one. Don't worry about it--if it's HVX you will know in a few years, for pretty sure. Just make sure not to cut scapes with the same knife or scissors you just cut another with. And, if you dig and divide, make sure you also clean the shovel and or knife (after and between digs) with a fury, with Dawn dish detergent and a bleach solution. With the nematodes--in my opinion, it's a worse problem. But--what are we going to do--give up our passion? Nope, we'll just have to 'deal with it'!!! Enjoy what you've done!!! I've gone through the hysteria of nematodes and the frustration of HVX--and I think I'm beginning to mellow. The nematodes I found the other day--didn't get 'nuked' this time, like the leaf I showed above (my first discovery on a newly purchased 'Sugar and Cream'). In fact, I'm so cool about it--it's still in that card-board box up on the deck! I feel sorry for it!! But--not for the 'nems'!!! I hate that they are such a problem--and my graphic is from the previous experiences, but I just posted it for fun this time!! I'm not nearly as 'freaked' as before--but still miffed at the seller for selling it--because it was a problem she saw--and felt she had to conceal, whether she understood what it was or not! That, to me, shows a lack of integrity--which I value very much in anyone, whether they are selling me something or just being a friend--be honest, sincere, kindly forthright and patient with me--cause we all are 'a work in progress' on some level! :o/ Did I mention I just can't abide someone who 'flatters' which translates to be someone being very ingenuous--hoping to impress me and with an ulterior motive--that I always wonder about!!! And, I just don't understand the desire to hurt another person, to put them down or make them feel idiotic--what is with that in a person to feed off that kind of hurtful mindset?? Oh well--now you know more about me than you ever wanted to know--right? LOL

Unfortunately, the rain seems to be bypassing us except for a spitting rain right now. And I NEEDED that rain to soften the soil for the addition of the hosta strip to the garden! So, I may have to run the hose on the "soaker" setting for a while Sunday to soften the soil. Then I can plant the hostas I saved in the garbage bags and wait for the 3 new ones to arrive to plant. The OUTRAGEOUS thing is, now the mgt. is toying with me again. They told me in that letter to have my "plantings" out from under the hosta tree, and so I did. I only left the annual salvia, as it will die soon anyway. Guess what???? The dead tree is still there, but I know the "landscapers" have been busy cutting down zillions of trees and large branches all over the complex. So I wonder, with good reason considering their spitefulness, if they wanted me to dig up my garden for no reason except to ruin it AND they won't remove the dead tree as I asked. I just ran into my downstairs next door neighbor, who has told me often how much she loves what I did with the Neighbor's Patch (she is one of the 2 "Neighbors"). She paid me a wonderful compliment just now---she is getting married next year and she wanted the name and color of my Easy Does It rose because she wants to use it in her bridal bouquet!!! I just informed her about the co-op manager's nasty spiteful behavior about the hosta garden, and she was truly appalled.

Fran really I had NO trouble with either of them. I just use a shallow pan or plastic shoe box and sow on the surface and cover with vermiculite and mist daily I had them both to germinate within 7-10 days. I have grown many times. Black moundry I have, but would have welcomed more from tammy, my seeds that I started this year I already had plans for, but blue fescue you can winter sow also I did last year, but this year started some in greenhouse in August they were in gallon pots by jan. Second sowing which you are getting was Feb and they are now in 4 inch pots, but could easily go up. HMMM did you sow on the surface. I have found that with grass seed it is imperative to use pans and not plugs or divided seed start containers. Just fill a container with dirt and they love it. I did not use bottom heat for the blue fescue, but did for the moundry. Black mondo which I was looking for is just a black mondo grass. Thompson and Morgan has seeds I may try it is so expensive for plugs, the same for Japanese Forest GRass, but I guess I will have to bite the bullet in the fall. NEW REQUEST Lotus from DON and Spider lily if you have anymore please. Here are my offers that are confirmed please not some will have to be mailed out later PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I MISSED ANYONE AS I WILL BE MOVING THESE TO A SEPERATE AREA SO I DON"T GET THEM MIXED IN WITH RETAIL> Tammy Purple Fountain Grass Dwarf Umbrella Palm Water Hyacinth confirmed Marian Lemon Grass Purple Iris Aquawise Fiber Optic Grass Pony Tail Indian Grass Lemon grass Becky Dwarf Umbrella Palm Anacharis Bigmoma4ever Anacharis Wendy Lemon Grass Purple Fountain Grass Dwarf Sweet Flag Fiber Optic Grass Ruby Grass Dwarf Umbrella Palm Anacharis Water Hyacinth confirmed Water Lettuce confirmed Mouse Lemon Grass Pony Tail Grass Indian Grass Fran Blue Fescue Pony Tail Lemon Grass Indian Grass Sweet Flag Ruby Grass: Chinese Silver grass: Carex Prairie Fire sedge Dwarf Umbrella Palm Corkscrew Rush Pickeral Rush Water Hyacinth confirmed Water Lettuce confirmed I will send you some daylilys also. Chris Blue Fescue Pony Tail Lemon Grass Indian Grass Purple Fountain Grass Ruby Grass Chinese Silver Grass Carex Prairie Fire Sedge Bunny Tail Grass Dwarf Umbrella Palm Corkscrew Anacharis Pickeral Rush Water Hyacinth confirmed Water Lettace Confirmed Dixietn Pony Tail Lemon Grass Indian Grass Purple Fountain Grass Corkscrew Don water lettuce when available I will mail out need address water hyacinth when available I will mail out need address Blue Fescue Ponytail Lemon Grass Fiber Optic Grass Dwarf Umbrella Palm Hope everyone is well. I would have been on sooner but when we got back from New york the air was broken, then that night laid down to sleep and couldn't I heard a popping noise saw a flash and the tv had shorted out, by the time i got up to unplug it it...