YAY, Emma!!! (And PhatBoy, of course!) I have to say, I'm sure glad you posted pics of her, Sarah, because I get to see her first every time the page loads. I love that beautiful doggie! As I love everyone's pets, whether wild or...wild. LOL GREAT idea to have this, Sarah. *HUGS* and LOL @ explaining "Emma & PhatBoy" Congrats to all the winners and...winners! :D Brenda

Andrea is so selfless, and definitely an inspiration, as anitamo said, or should be--to us all to be as caring and involved as she is with those who need hope to keep on going!! Thank God, somebody puts their money and time and energy where their mouth is!! God bless you, Andrea!!

Hi June--Actually it doesn't take much time for me, now, after learning and practicing as I go the past few years! I do this sort of thing, mostly in the evenings, to unwind! I love doing these things, and often certain things will just bring a mental image up rather quickly, such as Andrea in that post! It's just fun for me!

Highjack, seems you understand these processes very well must have grown orchids indoors and maybe violets? I was referring to terrestrial orchids, most of which do have either necessary or important symbiotic soil organism relationships. We work to collect and save local wild flowers and orchids some of which are becoming quite rare. I was attempting to give Andrea specific instructions about how to do hosta by a proven method without going into all the reasons why. Although as you know I appreciate discussions about the details and appreciate that you broadened the discussion. When applying these methods to easy outdoor plants soil especially clay or clay soils improves the cation exchange capacity. All these conditions can be controlled carefully on indoor plants while outdoors plants can be starved during rainy periods when nutrients can be leached out since one would not want to over feed in these conditions. Solite is expanded shale (older clay), if you need or want a quantity this can be substituted, call concrete producers it is used to make light-weight concrete. We used so much in our growing operation that we bought it in semi-load quantities. "When switching a plant to s/h, you want the pot tall enough the roots do not extend into the water well but an inch or two above." highjack Hosta do not suffer from wet feet as some plants like a yew would. I know you went on to cover this. "The clay pellets will keep condensation in the pellets to keep moisture on them, but not swimming in the water." Highjack Little understood part of the puzzle, nice to talk to someone who understands these methods. Funny you would mention the bonsai type experiment when you know well how it would work, your toying with me, right?