Also, some oak leaves do contain tannins which '... are mainly physically located in the vacuoles or surface wax of plants. These storage sites keep tannins active against plant predators, but also keep some tannins from affecting plant metabolism while the plant tissue is alive; it is only after cell breakdown and death that the tannins are active in metabolic effects.' Meaning Tannins do have a physiological effect on the growth of plants. The good news is that 'the leaching of highly water soluble[8] tannins' into the soil will not last long since they will wash away with the rain. Tannins are polyphenolic compounds found in some oak trees. I want to stress the 'some', and not say that all oaks have them. Plants, like every other living thing, will stop and start different metabolic processes depending on the environment. Some oak trees are allopathic, and some aren't. It all depends on the situation. http://www.bio.miami.edu/dana/161/evolution/161S11_germination.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin#Presence_in_water_and_wood

Thanks for all the great suggestions! This weekend I'll pull out the things that are probably too stunted to salvage and add compost and cottonseed meal to fertilize the bed. Since I've been using bagged "organic compost" and decomposted cow manure from Lowe's, I'll try a different compost this time for some variety. Will then replant with things that stand a chance of tolerating our impending summer heat, and see what happens. shebear: Hope you're right about that clay soil; sometimes it seems more suited for making bowls and pots than for growing plants! But, I will say it's an order of magnitude better this year than last year. Have already had more tomatoes this year than all of last season!

Just because you can't see them, doesn't mean they aren't there. CT damage is done on many levels, and some are egg laying, others are feeding associated distortions. Because you're in a county with some significant agricultural production, someone there should be up to speed on what chili thrips are. Call your state ag department. CTs are not just a pest of roses but of hundreds of other plants, many with commercial value. $$$ get the attention that garden plants don't. Good luck.

The emerging leaves are pale, telling me that it's not getting the bright indirect sunlight it needs. The soil mix looks fine, very similar to what I use, but it's not getting watered enough. These plants love water, they just don't like wet feet. If that makes any sense. With the soil mix that you're using, you can water it much more often. Mine stays outside for most of the year and I water it almost daily. Plus, I rarely fertilize it and it still grows like a weed. That's because it gets all of the bright, indirect sunlight that it wants. It doesn't matter how much fertilizer you "feed" a plant, those fertilizers aren't food, and they won't do any good if a plant isn't getting the sunlight it needs to photosynthesize. Plants manufacture their own food, and they can only do that through photosynthesis. As for the aerial roots, you won't really see many of those until the stems grow much longer. Just give your plant much brighter indirect sunlight and more frequent waterings, and it will take care of the rest itself. These plants are called monsters for a reason, HaHa... Also, don't bother misting. Monsteras love humidity, but will grow perfectly fine in the interiors of our homes. My place uses gas heat, which pretty much strips any moisture out of the air during the winter months, and it doesn't phase my monstera one bit.