OK. I am brand new here and not even an orchid grower. I would not know how to pot one up if you paid me the current Lottery Prize. But sometimes, I come on over here and read a bit and see your stunning photos. I am, however, a gardener myself. I grow sweet peas, hippeastrums, narcissus, and many other things. I once went to a professional orchid show just to see what the fuss was about. There were many, many different types of orchids and colours and arrangements of them. It really was quite a show. I remember most of all some yellow and velvety brown ones and they were something! But the memory that most stands out in my mind is that of a visit to my hairdresser. On this occasion, there were three Cattleyas in an amethyst bowl on the nearby credenza. They were pure white and very large and had a very frilly, deep purple throat (almost the same colour as the bowl). The picture is still in my mind: that is what an orchid is to me. If I could grow them, I would get that one. I read this thread just to see what kind of remarks you had to make about general tips for beginners. I must say that you all are one polite and nice bunch. I have seen some people get some nasty remarks from others on some forums but so far this one is as you say, very decent. As one member said: just because this is the internet it is not an excuse to forget your manners. I was raised with them too; and I appreciate all of your helpful advice and polite and friendly manner. One should not have to defend oneself on a visit to GardenWeb, after all. You have a great Forum here in the orchid section.

Yes figs are EXTREMELY easy to root and fortunately there are several good methods that can be used. However, M Taggart indicated he/she does not have a heating mat and is questioning whether or not moving to a warmer room is advisable. I believe that I have answered those specific questions. Al is the one confusing the situation by throwing in the use of propagation mats.....which M Taggert has already stated he/she does not have. Maybe one day we will see the details of AL's written fig rooting method(s). I know that he has been passing a rooting method around to certain forum members. The IMPROPER use of heating mats can be very problematic and is often THE CAUSE of rooting failures. IMO the risk/benefit and cost/benefit analysis of using any external heating source is not justified for a hobby rooter when very reliable rooting can be conducted INDOORS at room temperature. Normal room temperature (70 - 75 degs F) works real well and no propagation mat is needed. Al recently posted this suggestion to another forum member: "I've rooted thousands of deciduous cuttings by sticking in a damp, sterile medium and applying bottom heat to keep the cuttings in the 70-75* range. I normally provide some type of tenting to keep humidity very high, but vent the tent. Keeping air temps a little cooler than soil temps (10*) is also helpful. I remove bottom heat a soon as the cuttings have struck." In answer to M Taggert's question in this thread, Al references a 55 to 65 degree rooting temperature. In the quotation I reference above Al recommends a 70 to 75 deg rooting temperature to another person. Which is it?????..... the 55 to 65 cited above or is it the 70 to 75 range he cited in another post???? A post, by the way, in which I was criticized by some forum members when I stated the obvious......that a 70 to 75 deg temperature range is plain old room temperature (see link below). It would be helpful to forum members if Al posted his exact fig rooting method(s). Maybe there would be less confusion. M Taggert, in answer to your question and in consideration of your particular situation.....move your cuttings as I've suggested above. Keep the top on your Rubbermaid box. Save your money and do not go out to buy a propagation mat.....it simply IS NOT NEEDED in your situation. FYI.... if interested in reading more about my preferred ROOM TEMPERATURE rooting method see the attached thread (link below). You will be very pleased with the results that you obtain if you follow this very simple fig rooting method. I consistently obtain a very high rooting success using this method. You DO NOT NEED a heating pad, nor a propagation mat, nor a temperature controlled device, nor any additional heat whatsoever from any source when rooting indoors. Many forum members have had their cuttings severely damaged or destroyed thru the improper use of heating devices that were recommended by others. Those devices are better used in an OUTDOOR (Greenhouse) type of rooting environment. Dan Here is a link that might be useful: An easy and reliable rooting method

Hi Deanna, we are known to drink many cups of tea each day,..everytime a visitor arrives you offer a cup of tea so you end up with a lot of tea leaves at the end of a week,..i get a sort of perverse enjoyment opening up the semi dried tea bags and admiring all the tea to be spread around the base of plants,..in particular rose bushes,..lol at your remark that thankfully you have stopped growing,..but hopefully just as healthy,..even though you don't flower. Oh all my stuff is far from blooming,..i still have Delphiniums,Foxgloves,Larkspur,Calendula,Mahonia japanica,Chrysanthemum,foxgloves,Crocosmia,Sedum,Black Mondo Grass,yet to flower but i look forward to Verbascium Niger to see how tall it will grow this year,..there are several in the garden,..i don't know where they came from,..volunteer Plants. I had a nice surprise this morning,.. one of the two volunteer poppies flowered,..they are about 2 1/2 high and grew among the Lupin plants,..the friend who gave me the seeds has no Poppies,amazing where they come from. Philip

John Good point about soil and pot or ground Since I know little about inground growing of citrus with out protections I don' answer beyond remove the grass, mulch the tree, tree is too deep, etc. Mike I too share the same numbers of you in my ground micro zone. summers are equivalent to Atlanta Georgia and my winters match Lexington, KY