Happy Birthday, JoJo! I can't believe I missed this thread... though it's not unusual for me to be a day late and a dollar short! I always seem to arrive late to the good parties! ;-) Way to grow, JoJo! You've got some extremely healthy roots going on, there... and I know why! Because they were allowed the aeration and drainage necessary to function as they should! I'm guessing that's an "H. Lemon Sorbet" you have, there... a lovely green flower with slight hints of yellow. She's a real beauty! She and her daughters will give you years of enjoyment if cared for well... and it appears you have the care part well in hand! A very nice re-potting tutorial... thanks for sharing! Other photos are nice, too... the pineapple growing so well, the fleshy roots of a healthy Clivia... the slight variations in gritty mixes and how well they work... Well... better late than never, it is said... I'm just sorry I'm late to wish a Happy Birthday to a good friend. I hope your day was everything you hoped for, JoJo!

You're growing some beautiful roses and I really like the clematis. Those are really pretty. Your flower bed looks really nice. Are those climbers planted in front of the trellis'? Or are you just using those for pretty supports on tall roses? Just curious. Leslie

Yes, if you paint the wall (the paneling) the same colors, top and bottom and paint the chair rail that color also, it will make it all joint together and disappear sotaspeak. Then paint the doors the white color as your other white in-house. You can paint the kick molding (shoe molding) or you can leave it the same color as your (dentil work, etc) molding at the top. In fact, I think I would paint the room the same color, yellow, green, gold, whatever, and then paint the doors like the other white trim in your house. Leave the shoe and quarter-round molding in the stain color and leave the stain at the top. I have seen this done before and it looks good. Then you have the white colors which connect to your foyer, your main color and only the color of the molding as a third color. Your room will look united and larger, more open. Another trick is to line paneling with cheap wallpaper and paint over it. They used to sell what is called wallpaper lining for that specific purpose, to hide the "creases/dents" in your paneling but most people do not mind them (I don't). But, if you do, you can spackle or grout them, whatever it is called, or you can just buy cheap-as-dirt wallpaper to put over the paneling and paint that.

Well, I knew this would happen, I found some of the answers to my questions. Noting them here for anyone with the same questions. Al (talpa) on the subject of fertilizing after repotting, and whether to water with or without fertilizer first. Link here. "You can fertilize when you see signs of new growth or after a couple of weeks. What will you be using for fertilizer? The only time I moisten the soil before I fertilize with soluble fertilizer is if the plant is obviously very dry. Even then, if I'm using reduced dosages and fertilizing often, I might fertilize a plant I suspect is dry. It's always better to err on the side of caution, though, so your plan to water first and then fertilize a few minutes later is the safe bet."