Thank you, it's much appreciated. The next morning I did just that and it might only be my eyes playing tricks on me but now it does look a healthier shade of green. The only problem is I dissolved the epsom in the 12-4-8 so I am stuck with it until I buy another quart. I could not find any analysis showing the MG 12-4-8 or MG organic choice potting mix containing any amount of magnesium, but the fields were normally just left blank. From what I've read, It also seems Magnesium doesn't change soil pH much, either. So basically, would I be okay just using the 12-4-8 + epsom or should I really buy a new quart? Thanks again, -Troy

Mikey buddy a big get well hug and to your parents . Your not supposed to get sick during the hottest part of the yr your supposed to leave that for the winter . I heard summer colds and flu's are very hard to shake they just go on and on . Take care my friend. Laura I soooooo would love to see you with a Greenhouse in your backyard . It would make your winter care of your tree's soooooo much easier . You have put so much time and energy into your tree's and it so shows your tree's our outstanding I have been learning from you but I still cannot chop my tree lol. With a Greenhouse your fruit especially your mandarins and you have a ton of them will ripen to perfection in a house not likely and if they did they wouldn't taste as good as grown in a GH . Your tree's would be fighting for light during the winter months if inside the house because they all can't be in front of the window there would have to be some further back and every foot further back from the window makes a huge difference . If you were only growing lemons and limes you would be fine with them in your home but with as many special varieties as you have I don't think they would ever reach peak ripeness and flavor . Laura I cannot believe the fruit I get off my tree's in the winter and the quality and flavor incredible I would love for you to experience the same thing. Have a great night . Brian

I started growing Jiaogulan (Gynostemma Pentaphyllum) this summer for tea. It's an herb native to Southern China. There's a lot of info on using the herb online, but not that much at all on growing it. I started with some a bare root vines given to me, cut them into sections and stuck them in glasses of water until they all grew little roots, then I planted them all. I had no idea if that propagation method would work with Jiaogulan, but it did. Now I have many plants each growing vines. One vine is now growing what looks like little berries. I guess these are the fruit/seeds I've heard about. My questions are, are the Jiagulan flowers and berries edible also? When is best time to harvest for seed saving? Im in NC zone 7b (almost in 8a). Would it be better to bring the plants inside for the winter, or let them die back and come up again next spring? If leaving them outside, I'll probably take cuttings and put them inside anyway just in case they don't come back, because I now know that will work. Any info from experienced Jiaogulan growers will be appreciated. Thanks.

Sara, Mountain Gardens sells bare root plants, and you can buy them through paypal. Im pretty sure they are still selling plants and seeds this. MG was founded by Joe Hollis, and Joe passed away in November, and they also had a fire that destroyed their main building. Im going to order a couple bare root Gymostemma plants for myself. I bought a hundred seeds from somewhere possibly China, and I think they weren't viable, because not even 1 seed germinated, even after trying several different germination methods. If you do decide to buy seeds, Id advise a little bit of research into the vender. The jiaogulan plants growing at MG, naturally spread and root, as they grow, and they would no doubt be very healthy bare roots.https://www.mountaingardensherbs.com/ https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-verizon&sca_esv=a2b78866b809fff6&sxsrf=ACQVn0_vcq7ViaKd3Wkx9Cm8ugyaJdNv_Q:1708120431579&q=gynostemma+pentaphyllum+seeds&tbm=shop&source=lnms&prmd=sivnbmtz&biw=384&bih=723&dpr=2.81