Sorry for not getting back promptly I have been busy with work. It does somewhat resemble a ficus, but it definitely isn't a ficus I have seen in stores before if it is one. Do you think it would be okay to treat it as if it were a ficus? In other words do you think the care for a ficus and this tree should be similar? @ken_adrian don't worry lol I guess I typed wrong when I said that I said I put it out in the sun, it wasn't in direct sunlight more like a shaded porch in the evening. I am hoping to eventually re-pot it into something better, because I know the soil it is in know is pretty much garbage. It retains way to much water. My intention for it is to keep it as a bonsai, but it has a long way to go before it begins to look like one. As for watering a potted tree, what is the proper way to water it? Are you implying that I over watered it? As I have said before and my name implies I don't know anything about plants...but I am more than willing to learn. I had some junipers which I was hoping to get to learn on but they all died and I felt terrible. At least I didn't make the mistake of trying to keep them indoors, they were fine in fall and must be the winter was too cold, that or the cuttings when I got them didn't get a chance to get a good root before winter came. I would like to be able to keep my trees alive and healthy and so far my track record isn't going to well... So now I have this unknown tree, a Golden Gate Ficus, and a Jacqueline Hillier Elm. Along with two little Elm seedlings (not sure what type though the package just said "Miniature Elm") which I started two years ago and they are still growing really good! This post was edited by MyThumbsNotGreen on Fri, May 10, 13 at 21:58

We have had these for years so I understand the problem. You cannot use anything abrasive. I have tried it all. Soft Scrub will work if you must clean quickly for company but over time even that will erode the finish. Even a Clorox wet wipe will do it if used for long enough. We just had to replace all three of our soft close enameled wood toilet seats because a new maid service used something harsh and basically melted the paint to a point where it was so soft that it came off white just swiping my hand across it. Replace them when they get to that point. Plastic is much easier to clean and probably more sanitary but we just cannot stand those. If you don’t mind then though, you are better off.

I didn't bring home a 4" Sylvania, but I can provide a comparison to the RT6. I, too, prefer the 3000k color over the Ecosmart/CREE 2700k color. Both dim well down to very low levels, using cheap incandescent dimmers. The RT6 has a short turn-on delay, in the range of 1/2 second. No deal breaker, but not as instant as the CREE. I ended up going with the cheaper 6" Ecosmart (I do think 4" looks better). Partly for the cost, and partly for the instant on, and partly because I can get brighter 6" LEDs in the areas I need (island, sink), and use the cheaper 575 lumen ones elsewhere. Since I have to meet California Title 24 for the kitchen, part of the higher cost was that Sylvania charges $8 for an adapter (cost of manufacture ~ 12 cents) to go from their connector to a GU24 socket. Either one is a good choice, in my opinion.

Banana Fanna, It is an interesting project. Kind of like taking a condemned house down to the studs and rebuilding it. Filling the drain holes in the bottom is easy and can be done when they gunite the spa. Should also consider putting a gunite bench in the deep end. Well, lets look at cost estimates: Plumbing/electric............$3-4000 Equipment including pump, filter, heater, pool/spa controller, light, cleaner, misc. maintenance equipment......$6000 Steel/gunite including dowelling for existing gunite .....$4500 Replaster......$7500 Decking.......$5000 If they did the dirt removal themselves, then they may be willing to put some sweat equity into the deck by using pavers to save money on labor. It will be interesting to see the finished product and I wish them the best. Knowing the current codes in their area will be important for equipment location and fencing requirements.