Hello Everyone, Sorry to get back to the party late!!! : ) I have been out working and the days get longer after being on vacation!!! Especially when one works a 12 hr day!!! Yikes, it gets hard to adjust back into the swing of things!!! Mike, I do use the Gritty Mix on my Citrus, C & S and most of all my young Plumeria as well as my DR's. Using this mix has really allowed me to become relaxed at watering without the fear of over watering. Some of you know that i travel for my job which takes me away for several days at a time. I may have a trip that last for 4 days. Before i leave on a trip that long i always make sure my trees are watered and when i return i water again when i get home. When i do have multiple days off, i have just used the same method that Josh uses and i know what the containers feel like and how the foliage looks. Usually, i will wait for a couple of days after i water and then check my plants visually and also check them by feeling the mix as well as lifting the pot to feel how it weighs . Sounds funny, but i do know what each one should feel like with the proper amount of moisture. Even if i want to give them more, i really dont worry because i know that they wont have excess water retention in the containers with this particular mix. My pots are lifted and when i water, i water a little and then while im watering other plants i go back and give them a little more. The excess water does drain out into a plastic plate which the containers are setting on plastic water caps. I use four per container. The excess water stays in the plates and i let it evaporate in the plates. I had every intention of using the Skewers at first, but i never really needed them. Some use them and i think its a great tool to use to see if your trees are dry or moist. My trees (Plumeria) have different watering needs. So as i look over my plants and trees everyday, i feel them and check them as i make the inspection..lol It is a relaxing way for me to unwind when i get home from work. You know how it can be crazy at work for me!!! : ) I just dont worry anymore about watering them. They usually get watered every two days, but some are different. I have a few trees that like to be watered everyother day. Some are watered every four days.. some weekly. It is like they all have different personalities!!! The Plumeria get watered if active this time of year maybe every other week. It is all about the individual plants and their needs. Hope this makes sense!!! Josh, Thanks for your watering techniques...it sounds like we water the same way!!! I really think one becomes aware what the plant or tree needs. I always check on the trees that like alot of water first. This does include my Citrus and my special other trees. Hope all is well in CA!!! Cant wait to see pics of your Ponderosa Lemon!!! I will prune the top of my tree this spring. : ) Toni, Thank you for the nice compliments on my trees. I cant believe how many blooms i have on the Murraya Paniculata either!! It really has put on a show for me and it has all sorts of pods growing.. The Varigated Maya is doing great... Im so excited about this Plumeria. Remember when you asked me about whether i had a Varigated one or not? Well, my girlfriend had purchased one for me before then and had it sent to her house to give to me for CHristmas!!! I was so surprised!!! This is my first Varigated Plumeria and i am really happy with this one!!! The leaves are so beautiful when they appear, they have this pink hue that i cant stop staring at them. I just need to watch being a "mother hen" on this particulat tree and leave it alone!!! : ) I hope you had a wonderful New Year and that everyone continues to stay healthy and happy!!! Think Spring!! I hope this helps MIke... Take care and tell Sissy hello for me!!! I will send Greg an email to see about his tree... Take care, Laura

Thanks for the answers. My friend is just watering it and it seems to be oddly looking good. Like the one that I thought was dead and was putting off all the time to cut it, the branch of it that didn't have brown leaves turned green again. I think it was dehydrated for a long time. I also decided to see if I can drill a hole in my pot instead of looking for a new one

LOLOLOL...The squirrels have been horrible for me too in area I didn't think to put repellant....They are eating strange things..Mines sit on my fence eating my Lilac leaves and the other day my Roses, stems and all? Did they come from another planet planted by aliens this year? Just NUTS...lol Thank God mine don't touch my Citrus, although one did get stuck in my greenhouse and chomped on my Orchid bulbs...Then drowned in the pond in there...

Ditto with Dave - this is a first I've heard that "forks" killed a tree. Maybe several dozen that severed ALL the roots? Oh well, bummer. I'd give it a chance to recover if the branches are still green. Recovery takes time, so be patient (6 months - 1 yr). Cori Ann, you can grow ANY Grapefruit in Livermore. you have the warm nights in mid summer that will sweeten the fruit up. And that is the key... where south Texas has those warm nights early on that sweeten the fruit by February March, our cooler spring delays the ripeness until late June/July or even August. Having said that, I just had an Oroblanco for breakfast yesterday morning.. and a Redblush this morning. the OroB has sweetened up and NICE (first decent crop - took 3 years). The OroB doesn't get ripe until late February / March in Danville. The Redblush I had to harvest because there were too many on the branch (looking like a grapevine) pulling it to the ground. The Redblush in years past has not colored up until July so I am waiting to see if this years' crop is the same. An alternate to the Oroblanco is Melogold... I can report back on those over the next week. Costco had dozens of Oroblancos last month... I might check their Concord Garden Center later today and report if I see some. BTW: I scored with a Rio Red on C35 earlier this week in Danville !!!! : - )