Hey AG... I'm trying to find a suitable light setup for my jades for this winter too, since they'll all be relocated to an area where there really won't be much light at all. I was looking at the same lights you bought, though I decided against them because I thought/felt the lumen output wasn't sufficient to what I know jades to need. Looking at them online again, I'm beginning to think they might not be all that bad (if it puts out 1,093 lumens per bulb). All that concerns me is the color range - 4,200K. If there was some way to get "daylight" bulbs for it, I think it'd be OK for jades (though I'd want at least four). Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong because, again, I'm looking for a good light setup for a rather small space (a corner with about 2ft clearance along either wall). Jeni

Quote: * Posted by ms_minnamouse What kind do you use Albert? I'm too old to pay much attention anymore - there is a Rootone in a white bottle that has one hormone and one fungacide - but I don't think there was anything better than the old Rootone in the red screw topped jar with two or three hormones and one or more fungicides. The shelf life of that stuff should be decades unless it been opened and taken in moisture so if you can find some on ebay, get that. You may hard pressed to do better.

Blocking is prefered, but Molly bolts are the next choice. Plastic sleeve anchors that expand are not really suitable for drywall. The pressure of the expanding sleeve simply fractures the gypsum core. The large screw thread plastic anchors for drywall are a little better, but are really for light duty (smaller pictures and such) and not something that is touched and used on a daily basis (like a TP holder, sink cup holder, etc). The leverage of the item protruding from the wall WILL eventually cause the anchor to come loose. While many of the anchors have decent shear ratings, the withdrawal ratings of most are poor. Molly bolts expand the area the load is applied to behind the drywall and have a much better withdrawal rating. If you yank a Molly bolt out you will make a hole at least an inch across in the drywall. If you use Molly bolts enough there is a very nice setting tool that expands them by pulling the screw instead of turning the screw. The setting tool is usually under $20 if you can find one. The setting tool is almost required if you are using molly bolts in plaster. The little 'teeth' designed to limit rotation while tightening the screw do not work in plaster or hard material.

I found an absolutely beautiful Jade in a dumpster when I was tossing my trash. I pulled it out and after trimming a bit it was absolutely fantastic. I proceeded to over water it and practically kill it. It got so bad that I thought it was a goner...and then I did the unthinkable. I cut off the entire matted and ruined root ball. The whole thing. I let it air a few days and stuck it in an awful mixture of street dirt. 6-months later, it is making a huge comeback. I barely water it now and give it a shower every six weeks or so to blow away any mites or whatever crawlies happen on it. It is doing fine. I happened on another specimen with an 8-inch trunk and I broke it up to make about 5 new plants with 4-inch trunks (the 8-inch was rotting). I'm hoping to get at least 3 of those rooted using the same method. Re-rooting a 4-inch trunk gave me some confidence with Jades. They seem to be really resilient if you sorta be a little mean to them ;-)