Eileen, I'm not sure if the move went through as planned; I recall some vendors didn't like the distance from Manhattan at the new site, and the market is now fragmented. CatherineK, Welcome and get ready to party with the plants! We got a 7x14 balcony 4 years ago, and it's been a constant struggle between my DW and the plants ever since (actually, you CAN walk around out there this year)! I second the vote on the farmer's markets -- Union Square is the largest, but other locations have different vendors and different selections. Other good nurseries in Manhattan are on 96th off Broadway, with lots of cheap containers, and 103-4 and Lexington. Chinatown seems to be losing its plant stores as well, but you can still find some really nice flowering plants that you can't easily find elsewhere, and great, inexpensive bonsai pots in some of the stores! Box stores like Home Depression will get you, for the most part, lots of cheap plants that have been abused and neglected, and may or may not make it. That doesn't stop me from looking anyway, but they're not my first choice. I also vote to get the mandevilla -- one pretty bloomer that you really like can make the whole balcony more welcome, and there's always next spring to plan for more permanent installations, if that's your style. Also, don't forget NY's botanical gardens (one in every borough, except yours, although the conservatory gardens at 106th and 5th come close!) for ideas and for plant selections. Finally, Jennie is the balcony deity, so tune in and get schooled on all the cool things you can grow! Jim

I too am EXTREMELY SENSITIVE to poison ivy and recently broke out in a similar rash after being careless while propagating my all time favorite plant, the philodendron micans. I also suspected that had to be it so I took a fresh cutting and dabbed the sap several times in my arm and didn't wash off for a few hours. Somewhere between 12 & 24 hours later, I started feeling that familiar itch and watched as my test patch gradually spread out the size of a dime and rose up with the little tiny bubble pattern I'm used to seeing with poison ivy rash. THIS SUCKS! I'm in the middle of battling it right now and in my research found this helpful article. I also read another helpful tip that said the sap from these plants can somehow penetrate through standard medical gloves so thicker gardening type gloves should be used when propagating and caution should also be taken when refreshing propagation water. I plant to purchase some thick, SOLID rubber gloves that can easily be thoroughly washed. NOT those gardening gloves that have a breathable section at the back of the hand and wrists! You should also clean the tools you use and the work area. Rubbing alcohol AT LEAST 70% grade is known to be effective for cleaning tools that have come in contact with poison ivy so I plan on implementing that. As well as never shortcutting again by taking rushed cuttings and not doing the basics like laying out a protective mat and immediately washing my hands afterwards. I lazily let my NUMEROUS cuttings drop to the floor (CARPET!) and I know I didn't wash my hands right away like I normally do. A couple hours later I laid on this floor in a tank top and got a mild rash a day later across my upper back and shoulder area as well as my ear lobes which I believe is from handling my earbuds right after propagating my favorite plant. PLEASE MAKE MY PAIN WORTH IT AND LET THIS BE A LESSON TO YOU... PUH-LEAZE!

Hmm. I think you are probably limited to Dracaena (fragrans, deremensis 'Warneckei,' d. 'Janet Craig,' etc.) and Chamaedorea (elegans, cataractum, metallica), and some of the lists include Dracaena in the toxics too so it's iffy. Kentia palms (Howea forsteriana) or lady palms (Rhapis excelsa), too, maybe, though both are expensive and kentias are difficult to find besides. Depending on how low your low-light situation is, you might be able to pull off a Cordyline glauca: they're not extremely fussy about light, as far as I can tell, and they at least have non-toxic relatives (C. terminalis). They are, so far, too obscure to make the lists yet. It also depends somewhat on what you're trying to protect from the plant: although the toxic/nontoxic lists that are circulating cover a lot of plants, they don't usually differentiate between plants according to what they do, so Nerium oleander and Tradescantia zebrina both wind up on the list despite the fact that Tradescantia will, at worst, give you some skin irritation, and Nerium is capable of killing everyone on your block. So there may be some wiggle room there for a few more options, depending on who you're trying to protect and from what. Another possibility is to consider hanging a plant instead of setting it on a floor: Cissus rhombifolia (grape ivy) and Chlorophytum comosum (spider plant) can both get to be 4-6 feet long, and if hung at the right spot might fill the same purpose as an upright plant, though good luck finding a six-foot Cissus. If all else fails, maybe adding a light is an option?

Holly Kay, there are places that allow you to return product you are not happy with. You might order one from one of them (Blue Mercury is one) and then look for the best price if you want auto-delivery after that. You won't be out anything other than the return postage i you don't like it and the price difference one time as insurance if you do like it. A lot of places will make you a sample if they don't have samples to give you --- but that means a store you can go into. I reccently saw a Blue Mercury when I was travelling and picked up two samples while I was there. Sephora and some places that sell Philosophy will do that, but it doesn't hurt to ask for a sample anywhere and see if they have one or can make you one.