Actually, 24-8-16 is an excellent fertilizer choice for an extremely high % of all containerized plants. It supplies nutrients in almost exactly the same ratio as that actually USED by plants, which allows you to fertilize at lower rates (EC/TDS) than fertilizers like 1:1:1 ratios and high-P products and still avoid deficiencies and excesses (toxicity). In fact, it would be very difficult to make a case for fertilizers other than 24-8-16 and the rest of the assortment of 3:1:2 ratio fertilizers as not being the most logical choice as your 'go to; general purpose fertilizer. I use Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 (another 3:1:3 ratio fertilizer) on all my containerized material. If you're still interested, Barb, you might find the accompanying link of interest. Al Here is a link that might be useful: More about fertilizing plants in containers here

You will do best if you feed frequently with a soluble fertilizer (like Foliage pro 9-3-6 or Miracle-Gro 24-8-16 or 12-4-8 and apply often at reduced solution strength while avoiding getting the solution on the foliage. You can do this by filling a watering can with a spout that forms a narrow stream, and directing the solution onto the soil instead of the plants. You CAN use the same fertilizer in a weak solution as a foliar spray, but if you can see any positive effects from the application, you should look at it as indication there are other more serious issues that are preventing the plant from getting proper nutrition through the most efficient pathway (into the plant), the roots. Al

Sally, we are not kidding you when we say Tea and China roses on their own roots are the perfect roses for Florida, and I have the photos to prove it. LeVesuve - this rose was planted as a very tiny plant in 3/08 and was moved to its present spot in 3/09. It's first year it's canes grew sideways and low to the ground. Today it is about 2' high and 4' wide and taking on a nice vase shape - will probably be 5'-6' tall. Notice the lack of blackspot. This rose doesn't get any. I also have a baby Climbing LeVesuve, planted in September. You can see how low to the ground it is and no blackspot. I will say that as Teas are preparing to add new growth the old leaf at that budeye will turn yellow, maybe get a blackspot or two, and drop off. That is how they grow. On LeVesuve it's not noticeable. Jean Bach Sisley is a beautiful bush with stunning pink flowers that seem to float above the bush all around it. You can see the scattered yellow leaves on the bush. She was just coming into a big flush and was still pushing out new growth, hence the old yellow leaves about to be pushed off. Anna Olivier blooms like a fool and laughs at blackspot in my yard. She's pale yellow maybe with some pink shading in cooler weather. She's only been in the ground since March (a 2-gallon plant) and is about 2.5' tall and 5' wide, so well foliated that you can't see some of her BIG flowers that are down inside the bush. (Not the best photo, sorry.) Enchantress has been pumping out her magenta, half-dollar sized flowers all summer. She constantly has flowers on her. In the heat of this summer they crisped pretty quick but they're not unattractive on the bush - kind of like having dried flowers on a live bush. You can see how leafy she is and no blackspot. She's going to be small, I think. She was only planted in March so I'm not sure. She's about 2.5' x 2.5' now. Souvenir de Francois Gaulain is starting out (planted in March) like a lot of my other Teas - low to the ground and spreading out sideways. I doubt he's a foot tall yet, but he's 3 ft wide in one direction. He also bears magenta flowers but with a silveriness that Enchantress doesn't have. I think he's going to be a mid-size Tea. He's never had a blackspot problem. You can't go wrong with Red Cascade, a miniature climber with nickel-sized blooms that come in huge clusters. Marjory Palmer is an Australian polyantha that has been very healthy and green since being planted in August. She also blooms very nicely - but not here :)) All of these photos (except Anna Olivier's flower & Jean Bach Sisley) were taken yesterday. My garden is young, and I've struggled with keeping leaves on most of my roses but not these (not necessarily due to BS, maybe due to heat, not enough water or food, or all of the above.) Try them; you'll love them. And there are others that do great - with no spraying! Sherry

thanks everyone for all your advice, I was worried since there was so much variation in the colors of the tile and the predominant color is a dark olive green hence my hesitation with using a brown grout but there isn't an olive green grout. well the tile guys showed up early and used the sable brown and it looks great - here is a photo of part of the shower this bathroom is so small I can't get a photo of the whole room at once - I don't have a wide angle on my camera