I have a bag of vermiculite that is about 10 years old & still rather full. I don't use it much, but if you want to, ... Perlite is cheap, at $15/ 4 cu ft or so. The false floor is the same as growing in a smaller container. If the roots grow into the air space below, they will either "self prune" or they will live, if the moisture content of the air is high enough. Either way, it doesn't present much problem in the way of any physiological damage to the plant. If the soil remains wet for extended periods (I consider more than 2 days too long) a wick would be helpful in removing extra water until the planting matures & roots colonize the container. After that, you can remove the wick. Al

Interesting how many of us have Fibro! Lucky us! Kat4kittens, what's going on with your neck? My oldest daughter and I have both had cervical fusions...several years ago now...due to degenerative disc disease. We both did well with the surgery. DD had her right after having a baby, is a cop on the streets and doing well. She also had 2 low-back surgeries when she was younger. I'm due for more neck surgery now. It keeps getting stuck! OUCH! Oh oh...got off the beaten track here! I have four DDs, whom I raised by myself for close to 10 years after their father walked out when they were very young. (All four girls were born within 2 yrs. and 3 months.) I finally married DH #2 who was raising his two DSs. At one point, we had 6 kids in the same high school! Oldest DS 4 months older than oldest DD. Younger son 2 days older than twin DDs.) Somehow, we survived their teenage years...and let them live!! Let me tell you...it was tough and go there for awhile! We now have a bundle and a half of grandkids...eleven actually...so far! The two youngest DDs are identical twins...who have lived directly across the street from one another for 11 years...and delivered baby girls 2 days apart 10 yrs. ago. How's that for planning! Middle DD had a baby boy a couple of weeks before that, and oldest DS's wife had a baby boy a couple of weeks after the girls were born. Four new grandkids in 11 weeks...made the newspaper...and have kept us all on our toes ever since! Oldest DD, not to be outdone, had her first baby on her own birthday a couple of years later. In spite of pain from degenerative disc disease, arthritis from head-to-toe, Fibro and some other nusence things, I manage to keep going...out of sheer determination! (Someone has to keep everyone else in line!) Because of an ulcer, I can't take painkillers and try to keep going by using "mind over matter"...which sometimes works better than others. But...like I said, I'm determined! We have half an acre that was pretty much naked when we moved in 7 yrs. ago, but presently is covered with leaves! (I wish I had thought to take a picture of all the leaves out there when it was daylight!) There were lovely gardens a couple of weeks ago where the leave are now! Hmmmmmm...I wonder where all the flowers went! And...how the heck did those 5 Eastern White Pines grow so fast??!! Definite animal lover here! Had four kitties, 3 of which I inherited when my brother died. Sadly, we lost 2 of them this past year...one just a couple of weeks ago. Good heavens...did I neglect to mention...I'm a frustrated writer? Sorry...I got carried away! ~Sandy~

lynn_r_ct Congrats on your Kirby! I had the Dyson canister and took it back to Sears. As to your question to the 2 speed motor, the motor goes into a higher speed when the hose is attached for above the floor cleaning. The CFM is increased. You never posted as to what type of house you have as to your various floor surfaces and cleaning needs. The only reason that came to mind as you purchased a Dyson canister and then the Kirby. I have a G-3 and a G-4. 1 on each floor. I also have central vac and don't ever use the hose or the other stuff which comes with a Kirby. It takes way too long to do the switch to the canister mode. I know how to do it and it still takes time that I don't have. I use my Kirbys every day on the carpet and the CV comes out on the weekend to do everything else. Kirbys are great vacs and do a great job. We just don't have the June Cleaver time these days. LOL I would just purchase a Eureka Mighty Mite to to the detail cleaning. I think they are around $100. The shampooer takes some practice and does leave the shampoo in the carpet. I either use the Kirby or my Lux/Areus 3 brush carpet cleaner. I still extract all of the cleaner out with a Hoover Steam and Vac and have a pro come in with a truck mount once a year. They have water heaters on the truck and the water pick up is much higher so all of the cleaner is removed. I then have them apply Teflon stain protector. The carpet is white. No comments as I ask no 1 to take off their shoes. They just do it anyway as it is intimidating! LOL I could care less as I just replace it every 5 years as all carpet just gets gross. It is always white though. Let us know about you cleaning problems and you might get more suggestions.

I would really take a look at Sebo. Their uprights are rated as some of the best in the world. I bought a Sebo C 3.1 canister a few weeks ago and have been thrilled with it. I got it for 750...has all the features and build quality of a Miele without the 1200 price tag. Their uprights are very nice too...tried them out at the vacuum store. They go right down to the floor for 5 inch clearance, one model has adjustable suction on the handle. Removeable brushroll...gosh I can't remember ALL the features. The bags and filters are cheap compared to Miele. Very quiet too. Most of the uprights are about 500, a couple are about 700. I chose a canister because I have little stairs all over the place and didn't want to push an upright around those. For what its worth, I tried out my neighbors Dyson which weighed uggghhh over twenty pounds. So I quickly ruled it out on the weight factor. It was also very loud, no suction adjustment. I tried using the hard floor attachment with the hose...it stuck to the floor instead of gliding. The reason I was using it was because the Dysons giant nose wouldn't fit under my normal sized kitchen toekick...what a kicker. I couldn't get the last four inches of my kitchen floor without a flat floor attachment. That went in the NO pile. Here's a link to Sebo Here is a link that might be useful: Sebo Vacs