I agree with Lea except wait 5-7 days for it to harden over before planting. Also cut all the leaves off. Any leaf will draw water from the stalk and make it wilt. Until it has its own new roots, leaves are a problem. Bottom heat is essential for good rooting so place your black plastic pot on hot concrete in the day or on a seed mat. For the parent plant you have many options. Any branch cut will not bloom that year. It will regrow from 1-7 new branches somewhat parallel to the original branch. For this reason, branches are often cut half this year and half next so you always have a blooming branch. The cut branch needs to be about 6-10 inches from the stem or it will not regenerate branches (some will). I cut my branches, let them dry and then coat the end with DAP tub and tile sealant in cedar tan. This is the best product I have found. I would also recommend root pruning your plant. You remove the roots and dirt and cut away 1-2" around the plant and from the bottom or if it is in a large pot, stick a long knife with teeth or a keyhole saw blade parallel to the pot side and cut 1-2" from the pot edge all the way around the pot and then remove the plant and cut from the bottom. Replace the removed soil with new mix with some starter fertilizer mixed in and water with B-1 and/or Superthrive. Reposition the plant as you do this to make it stand more upright and be balanced. Hold it with a pole or with styrofoam pieces and it will rejuvinate and be happy as a clam. Bill

Because so many seedlings look much like named varieties but can have completely different genes, identifying plants from pictures is one of the biggest errors in the plumie world. This is one reason so many plants sold as cuttings from picture ids, turn out to be incorrect plants. If you did not buy a plant from a reputable vendor as a named variety you really are wrong to assume the plant in the picture is a named variety. For example, I had a seedling from a Vera Cruz Rose that looked exactly like a Nebel's Rainbow. Also I had a seedling from a Ryan Chelsea that looked exactly like a Lani. The high number of genes creates many variables for plant survival. I recommend people label a plant as looks like a _____ or possibly a _______. Please never sell a cutting as some plant picked from a picture. This is just wrong and has caused so much error in correct identification of registered cultivars.

Oliver, I can't help with the black spots or the white spots on the leaves, but I can tell you not to worry about the latex that came out of the leaf stalk when you cut them off. It will not harm the plant. On the cuttings, most advise you to use a rooting hormone with fungicide included before rooting them or planting them in soil. Remember to water once and then not at all until you see real leaves opening at the tip. Mike

Wow, that some incision! I hope you continue to heal in such a speedy fashion! You are my good example! Yes, I know what you mean about hating to ask for anything ---- many of us are too da**ed independent for out own good sometimes. But you know that people do want to help. And your friends may be actually hurt if you don't ask for some help. I've thought about this for myself, too. I plan to ask a friend whgo I see for lunch every couple of weeks to pick up some sandwiches and come here for lunch one day. And I'll ask someone to drive me just once. All because I know my friends want to help. How about asking a friend to bring over dinner some evening? Little things mean a lot. I am so glad to hear that you are doing so well, and that pain meds do indeed work. Take care, and let me know how it goes. I'm still waiting to hear from surgeon who is waiting to hear from my insurance company.