Callous tissue is the first step to roots, so by cutting that off, you set yourself back several weeks. It wasn't a good idea to add verm. and peat to the supersoil. Supersoil already contains some peat and by adding more along with verm. your mix may be retaining too much water and could rot the cutting. What's done is done. Just don't water again, until you have at least 2 open leaves. You can mist it if you like, but no more water! The lights you have are fine, but bottom heat from a propagation mat or heating pad really help with the rooting process. I am still a fan of 70%perlite or pumice and 30%peat. It works like a charm. Later after it has a nice rootball and leaves, then repot it in a mix of 60% Supersoil and 40% Pumice. Regarding spider mites, yes they can spread and they are difficult to get rid of when the plants are indoors. Air circulation helps and they hate being sprayed with water. Good Luck, Tony

Thought I'd update. Got Windows installed without a hitch, Dell talked me through it. I debated whether to put Win 7 in since I was starting from scratch but worried some of my software might not work Everything went well except I couldn't find drivers for some things such as my wireless adapter so couldn't get on line. Called Linksys and they spent over an hour trying to get the driver in and finally did. That was the best part, finally getting on line and getting hit with a zillion MS updates. I have misplaced or lost some software. We moved here in March and I could not locate my Office disk, wireless mouse/keyboard software and a few other things, might have gotten lost in the move. I'm most concerned about Office 07. I paid for it. Dell says they can't help and I could try contacting MS and see if they would do anything. I haven't moved any of my files back yet. Otherwise, I feel like the computer runs better than when it was new. Things seem different, have to fool with fonts and views, but I'm amazed how effortlessly the machine runs. This computer always seemed to have a few 'glitches' but I was used to it. Now it seems so fast and smooth (of course there isn't much running on it yet.) I don't know how to thank everyone for all the support and help I received. You are the best friends anyone could ever ask for. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks! Thanks from the bottom of my heart... Jane

Thanks, Steve, What i meant by "milled badly" was that at one end of a board it would be 5.5inches width and at the other it would be 5.375inches. This required me to go thru all the boards to try and find matching width ends where they butted, or re-rip ten foot ipe boards on site using my Sears 10inch Harry the homeowner tablesaw. It wasnt pretty. The quality of the wood and the sanded sides seem good to me, just gotten dirty and a little gray. Its really noticeable whenever I wet it down. Wet looks incredible, but soon dries back to dusty gray. I will be testing a 50sqft area with sanding then finishing and if I like it better, I will tackle 50-100sqft every weekend until done. Or hire some helpers and get it all done in a week or so. Thanks again for the advice. And if you or Celeste is ever out here on the left coast near Santa Barbara, you should come by for a marguerita! Its really nice here when it isnt on fire, or earthquake, or flash flooding, or locust season, or an election, or... :)

Thanks Carolina prowash - this is exactly what I needed. I knew bleach would do it - I just wasn't sure whether it would screw up the finish, which is still pretty nice. For Commanche - I feel your pain. I've read your other thread, but I don't think my problem is the same as yours. I've got a few mildew spots, mostly where the sun hits the deck last - not a completely blackened surface. I stripped my deck the beginning of this summer, then brightened it (before staining), and it was a LOT of work. For what it's worth, I switched from ATO to Woodtux this year, and I like it a lot better. As for riles, well, you did hijack the thread, but I don't mind since I got my answer from Carolina. As for your blackness under the tree, I would try a mild bleach/water mixture on it. If it's mildew, the black spots will come off fairly easily. Just be sure you clean it very well next spring to get rid of any latent mildew before you stain. You'll probably have to put down a brightener as well, because by then, the ipe will have silvered some. After 4 years with our gorgeous ipe deck, I will tell you that ipe is a lot of work unless you are ok with allowing it to go silver. Wish we could do that, but our house is a redwood color, and a grayish-silver deck just would not fly.