In my experience, a high % of the growers looking at your plant will be saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"; and if I had a nickel for every time I heard the advice given, I'd be a lot closer to a comfortable retirement. Do you ever hear, "If your car still starts, forget about changing the oil" or "Why bother having the brakes fixed if you haven't had an accident yet?" You know best what the original root mass is like. If it's badly congested, it will affect the plant as long as it remains that way, but it's not a decision I can make ..... whether to go for the whole repot now, or wait until early summer next year. I suppose I would weigh the likelihood that I could get the plant through the winter in decent shape and use that as the issue on which the decision balances. If you're confident you can, then what harm in waiting? If you're concerned, then maybe best to don your gloves and git 'er done. I don't think you need to spray the roots with neem oil .... I've never done it, so can't share how the plant might or might not react. Any idea what the active ingredient was in the insecticide you were given to use on the soil's inhabitants? Keep us posted? More questions I might help with? Observations? Al

Good morning, everyone! allison, The 1/2 bath might be considered a 'folly' down there! I do have a small area around it somewhat finished, but the rest of it will always be a spot to work on my many hobbies, like furniture refinishing, messy crafty stuff, you-name-it. I also have a doggie door in the opposite 'working' side of the cellar, that goes to a former garage under my office, which I made that into a wood working 'shop' years ago. Another doggie door in the shop takes them out to their fenced in area of the yard. The cellar and the shop are valuable real estate to me, just as they are. I do have 3 windows and a door with glass in that 'living' part of the cellar, as well as a wood stove, and an armoire with a TV it in. It's cozy in the winter with the stove, and cool in the summer and the couch down there is great for naps! These pics are of my former LR sofa down there and a 'reading' nook with big chair. Not much decorating has taken place yet! The door you see on the right in this pic is to the 1/2 bath. This is the reading nook which faces the wood stove. Being a dog lover, I got this original oil painting of a Springer from eBay for $21.49! His eyes are a perfect match to the Behr 'Cork' paint color. And this is Ikat fabric called Casbah, that I got at 1/2 price at Ballard Designs. I might make sill length panels for the 1/2 bath for fall and winter from it. The way it goes with that paisley wallpaper is the stuff that (my) dreams are made of. I'm happy to see so many paisley lovers here, as I have always been one, and I LOVE to mix patterns in a room, even a small one like this. I'm glad that others are inspired by my 're-cycled' bathroom! I'd never have done it if there hadn't been a rough one down there to start; but I just replaced that with one that even I'll use. No more storing tires and hoses in this one.

I'll throw in my 2 cents worth here and try to address several points that have come up. I've taken the class and am a Certified Lead Renovator Since you are doing the job your self (with the help of friends) the law does not apply to you. If you were using a contractor it would apply to the contractor and he/she would be required to be certified. They would need to test for lead in the areas being affected and if lead was detected, and if they would be disturbing more than 6 square feet they would need to take appropriate steps to contain the lead and protect their workers and your family, and properly dispose of the contaminated material. If the intent of the remodel is to upgrade, improve beautify etc the home it can be done by a contractor who is EPA certified as a Lead renovator. If the intent is to remove the lead then it must be done by a contractor who is certified for Lead Abbatement. The lead requirements that went into effect on April 22 is a nationwide EPA requirement. It affects every state and locality. Some states, like California where I live and work, have even more stringent requirements over and above what the EPA requires. Lead is not that hard to contain, the law should not add huge amounts to the cost of a project. We are estimating that it will add roughly $300.00 to the cost of a typical kitchen remodel. We need to test for lead in the paint, the cabinet finishes and the glaze on ceramic tile and take appropriate measures if lead is found. If you live in a house built prior to 1978 your contractor is required to give you a booklet titled Renovate Right within 60 days of the start of the project, and get your signature that you received the booklet. The cost of the 8 hour certification course will vary depending on who is offering it. In Northern California I saw it offere for as low as $160.00 by a local NARI chapter to as high as $400.00 by a local training company. I hope I've answered a few questins.

~bump~ Hmmmm....the 156th post....did they remove the 150 limit??