No - that's fine. I'm not one to get all upset about someone using anything I've shared here if they think it will help someone. The only thing I find annoying is when someone copy/pastes and takes credit, or has slightly paraphrased something I've written. I'm smiling as I remember an instance here on GW where I had shared some somewhat technical advice with someone on the bonsai forum who was obviously fresh to growing. Two days later, I was looking at the 'foliage plant' forum and guess what I discovered. That person dispensing the word for word advice to someone else, as though it was a matter of course. All I said Was "Gee Joe, that advice sounds very familiar." - just so he'd know he'd been discovered. Thanks for asking; but don't worry - you're not stepping on any toes. Besides, I'd be inclined to overlook something like that from anyone named Kookybird. ;o) Al

Bloodmeal is darker. It could be cottonseed meal but I don't think they grow much cotton in Japan. It's probably a locally produced organic amendment. It could also be bone meal. I was a little surprised to see him planting in "jello". Hard to judge without knowing soil pH, soil texture, and drainage.

Bowiea tends to pup Easy to see when they develop

raptorfan - some things have evolved to take advantage of poor soil and when you fertilize them they can put out too much foliage at the expense of roots. I killed three lavenders with kindness before I got it through my head to leave them alone :-) Of course part of my problem is that I don't really have 'poor soil'. pkguy - It's true that not everyone has access to compost. Balcony gardeners in particular, don't always have room for a bin. But where there's a will there's usually a way. I live in a ground floor flat in downtown Montreal. It's a concrete jungle - my backyard is paved and I can't dig it up because I rent. All my plants are grown in containers - everything from Impatiens and Geraniums to Ostrich Ferns and Daylilies, from Cannas and Callas to tomatoes and asparagus. Those big black composters that everyone has aren't going to work for me (too big)- so I improvised. I use 2 80 litre Rubbermaid storage bins from Canadian Tire as compost bins (they have holes drilled in them for ventilation) - I manage to produce a whole 80l bin of finished compost every year and an additional 2 bins full of partially finished compost (from the winter months - that gets put in the bottom half of my tomato containers). I do have some 'Miracle Gro' around for emergencies, but I haven't used it in four or five years (I do buy some worm casting fertilizer to use on my houseplants). I'm more than a bit of a tree hugging hippy at heart, so I believe that I should do whatever I can to reduce the load being sent to landfills, and reduce the amount of chemical pesticides and fertilizers I use. I know that not everyone feels this way, and I don't expect them to. But I also know that many people do feel this way, but don't know all the options they have available, so it's good to give as much information as possible. I'm not dismissing Miracle Gro as a waste of time or money, used properly it will give you a nice garden. But so will other less expensive and more environmentally friendly options. Having more options available is always better :-) BP