Well I settled on my palm, a double planted wedding palm (Lytocaryum weddellianum). Its in one of those trays with the lake and a rock outcrop. I *underplanted*? it with dwarf mondo and attached a miniature orchid to the rocks. Hopefully it willl look like a tropical shore. I did a similar one with an orange jessamine, bamboo and mondo which looks much nicer. I was trying to recreate a minature hong kong. Ill post pictures one day. Adam

I've stopped giving any of my extra plants to my neighbors because much that I've shared have been tossed in the trash or let to die. My neighbors across the street was given 6 palm trees and yet they will not water them, but want them. I have them rooted angel trumpets that they let dry up and die. Many folks are to lazy to come by and get them and want me to plant them! I tried for years to share my bounty of plants with others, but like always are not interested. I have since stopped giving them away. Just an example of what happened last year has placed a bad taste in my mouth. I started and gave away 120 small angel trumpet trees, bromeliads, heliconias, to them for their garden sale I cared and fed the plants up till the sale and yet the head of the group said to me "they didn't want to be my frieds, but they only wanted my free plants" So after getting them plants for 1.00 a piece from a felow gardener and said that to me. I stopped giving them anything. I felt used! I now toss all the trumpet cuttings in the trash. They are so ungrateful for my actions I gave up. I found this site hoping on meeting someone who is not ungrateful when they are offered plants. When I get over run with heliconias i will share them with nurseries or anyone on here that is interested. I give and give and never get anything back but heartless pain

I have 1, 2 and 3 year old seedlings of Chinese Fan Palm to trade. I WANT TO TRADE FOR Dioon Spinulosum, Flame Thrower Palm, Bottle Palm, Ruffled Fan Palm, Joey Palm, Cardboard Palm, Rio Verde Cycad, Golden Cane Palm, Elegant Palm, or others. I DON'T WANT Palmetto, Queen, Mexican Fan, Date, or Sego.

Rotting Palms  Phytophthora Cinnamomi  Dieback First I would stop using chemical fertilisers. I have found that they deplete the soils over the years. Use only organic fertilisers like, cow, chicken, sheep, fish and kelp. These fertilisers build up the humus in the soil. I lost two royal palms and was very worried about losing the rest of my palms. The fungal disease is called Phytophthora cinnamomi (dieback). I used Nutri-Life 4/20 microbes. www.nutri-tech.com.au. This will build up the soil microbes and I have not had a problem since. You will need a large clean bucket or garbage bin with a lid an aerator kit (and heater). See www.greenharvest.com.au they are $39.00. An aquarium aerator and heater will also do the job. See brewing photos. Brew Nutri-Life 4/20 to instructions. http://smallfootprints.com.au/blogs/eco-blog/archive/2008/11/12/organic-gardening-improving-soil-fertility-with-beneficial-bacteria-and-fungi.aspx Let me know how you go. Jo Pritchard  Karratha WA jopatch@westnet.com.au