LOL! Tough question because everyone get's different results. But if you make your own recipe from Portlands, peat, sand, etc and aren't adding any admixes then a water bath is probably terrific. But if you are using stuff like quickwall, topping cements, and grouts then to be safe you are probably better to just keep them misted and not submerge them. Some of these premixes require contact with the air to cure correctly. So the short answer is if it's your own recipe using Portlands a water bath is probably good. If you are using premixes it might be a good idea to stick with the misting and covered with plastic. Most premixes are plenty strong anyway so the water bath is probably over kill. Just my opinion, because even when I ask the experts I get conflicting answers.:)

As far as the bloom remaining, I'm not surprised. They are very study blooms that last a long time in water. I think the main reason to cut bloom stalks is so the plant can focus on setting up new roots. Iris are so hardy generally that I wouldn't worry about this so much, as concern over wind or pets knocking it around so it takes longer to set root. Iris are so top heavy anyway.

Tame, That's wild! I'm guessing that although your husband refuses to go for 'family counseling' you are probably the one who has the most responsibility for this child as far as parenting goes. You need to give your husband an ultimatum, either he goes to family couseling with you or the child goes back to her mother or into a foster home. You should not have to parent this child without help. If it was me I'd put him AND his daughter out the door! Good Luck!

I had a look around for the maxibloom analysis and as the name (and low N %) suggests its not really geared for vegetative growth. The high phosphorus levels combined with additional P from phosphoric acid based ph down will increase the need for Mg but will also reduce the availability of Ca,Fe,Zn,Cu and K, which are directly linked to chlorophyll production. http://gh.growgh.com/docs/LABELS/maxibloom.pdf At 7g per US gallon you`ll have around 92ppm of N, 121ppm of P, 214ppm of K.and 64ppm of Mg. In comparison, Maxigro at 7g per US gallon will give you 157ppm of N, 40ppm of P, 214ppm of K and 37ppm of Mg Maxigro can be approximated by combining Maxibloom with calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate and epsom.