Irina, I responded to your last post, accidently hit a button, and lost the entire page. Sheesh. I keep saying vinegar when I mean Rubbing Alcohol. Vinegar was stated numerous times. AGE!!! I've sprayed and swiped with alcohol. Rubbing Alcohol. 91%. Last night, we went to Walgreen's...remember RA was about .79 a bottle? The least expensive, Walgreen's brand is now 2.99.. Anyway, I did NOT use vinegar for mealy..lol. I'll have to check HD for Bayer's Tree & Lawn. 'no nearby Lowes.' What's the difference between concentrate and ??? Irina, we don't use chemicals, so when it comes to none-organic products, I'm clueless. What exactly is Bayer's Tree & Lawn used for? What does it do? Before purchasing, I'll have to read all ingredients. With birds, dogs and an iguana, we must be extra careful. A loud noise startles birds, next thing they're off and flying, sometimes landing on plants..Our little dog, Coco, finds everything interesting, and iguanas LOVE plants. Especially munching leaves. How do you determine dossage using Bayer's on indoor plants? Also, this spring I'm repotting or refreshing soils/mediums in all plants. I started this project about a month ago. If I decide to use Bayer's, it's best I wait until plants are potted in their new homes. Irina, I have Peat Pellets/Pots, and a little seedling green house with dome and vents..Includes heating pad. Four of the violet leaves rooted. They're small, too tiny to set in pots. Do you think my violets had soil or foliar Mealy? When violets were unpotted, I didn't see pests. However, violets that once had a healthy root were gone, like something devoured them. Mealy was on foliage. It was this forum I learned of soil mealy. Before reading threads here on African Violet Forum, I didn't know soil mealy existed. Irina, I soak plants in winter out of love. lol. It's a lot of work, but afterwards, tropicals look like they just came from Fl. Succulents are only soaked once during winter. It's relaxing, and IMO, plants enjoy it. It might not be something that needs to be done, but I feel better after their bath and shower. Thanks for the prayers..We can all use them. You'll be in mine, too.. Thanks again for all your help, Irina. I swear, you're a Saintpaulia encyclopedia..lol. hugs, Toni

Sorry, I didn't mean to post an entirely disconnected thread. Wish this forum had an edit button.

AB...I think if you use an enhancer on honed AB the fingerprint issue goes away. As to sealing vs not sealing it, I suggest you get a sample of it unsealed and test it...if water sits on top of it and sort of beads up (i.e., isn't absorbed) then it probably does not need to be sealed. Kevin (AZStoneConsulting) has said that he's found some ABs that do need sealing...but not all do. To me, anyone who makes a blanket statement that all AB must be sealed either doesn't really know what they're talking about or are lying... (probably the former). There are a lot of people out there that think all stones have to be sealed and that's not the case. [I admit it, I was one of those who thought all granites had to be sealed...b/f I started actually learning about it. Later, I was pleasantly surprised when my KD mentioned in passing that while most of their granites are sealed, my AB would not be b/c it didn't need it...I already knew that, but it was nice to hear it from her! I did take home a sample to be sure my stone was not dyed and did the other tests while I was at it...it passed all tests with flying colors!] Here is a link that might be useful: Thread: Stone Information and Advice (& Checklists)

I am always incredibly polite and try being gentle the first time, but I am also desertsteph all the way! When anything goes wrong needing customer service, or we want to return something, there is never a question of who will handle it in our house. I am always reasonable, but always get my way. I am not concerned about being liked or thought of as a b*tch. If asking for what is fair makes me a b*th, then I am one with no shame. I find that many companies will test to see if they can get away with doing less and/or saying something can't be done. That is only the start of the conversation to me. I go up the chain until I am speaking to someone who will do something. If I ever we to get a tattoo (never in reality), it would be "that is unacceptable" because that is my catch phrase in so many situations. I have also learned to say that and just pause. Let them speak next. You also need to know what you actually want done before calling sometimes. Often, the company will offer to do more than I was expecting and the pause is what gives them the chance to do so. If not, then I state clearly what would be acceptable and where I draw the line. They sense someone who is firm and means business. It is almost a game at times. There have been quite a few times that dh is nearby almost in full giggle and when I hang up we are both hysterically laughing. I never get loud, curse or call names. I am more polite the more annoyed I get. It can be chilling. I think you are entitled to functioning plumbing and anything that is to be centered is to be centered. You are being charged for proper installation, not "almost" well done. I make it clear that anyone who does right by me gets references and referrals (and really do), but that anyone who does substandard work will be known for that among people I know.I usually leave the second part unsaid, but if someone is giving me grief, that becomes quite evident. Stay firm and you will get it done the right way.