Nota, since winter is coming, plant growth will slow down..I'd wait until spring, especially if you're considering cutting roots.. One thing you can do is divide in half, but then you'd have two of the same hibs, etc. I don't consider Hibs plants that go dormant in winter..My hibs bloom yr round so this tells me they don't go through dormancy..In fact, Mr. Crockett from Victory GArdens states this in his house plant book. But, if they're getting little sun, something we can't control, (natural sun) they do slow down..I bought 3 hibs in summer, repotted two. One's in a 10" the other a 12. I'll keep them in these pots a couple yrs..Some of my smaller hibs that are a few yrs old were repotted in spring..I noticed roots growing out of a few pots but decided to wait until next yr to repot. Are you seeing roots on top of the soil? If so, then I'd say the hibs are really potbound. You mention the soil not drying too fast though, so I'd wait..As long as you're not watering daily because leaves are wilting you shouldn't worry about repotting. Do you have pics of your hibs? Bays grow big..is yours a tree or bush? They grow into standard trees if bottom branches are kept pruned. The trunk will thicken, too. The Sambac grows in winter, also, like hibs. Is your jasmine the Maid of Orleans? Sorry, don't know the botancial names for these plants..Toni

Listen to me, Tisha, just stand by her the best you can---you do know only part of the story---and even if it is in response to outside factors, the pain to HER is still real. I've included a link that might help. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/factitious_disorders/hic_munchausen_syndrome.aspx My sister Margie, was diagnosed with Manchausen's years ago by one of the many Dr's she saw sometime after our Mom died. We know she did have Lyme's Disease from a tick bite she got in Ct. while delivering a horse----down here in the South----it had barely ever been heard of at that time---the aches and hurting joints all played their part in her suffering, though. Margie, after years of missing Mom so much, (They were celestial twins in the universe. They loved and fought each other more than anyone else on earth..) she began to rely more and more on painkillers---her husband would call and I would go over and try to help, but finally gave up----she was too much out of control and would go into screaming frenzies---we were never very close and that made it easier for me to just stay away from her. Margie's husband called early one morning to say she had died sometime in the early morning hours in a bathtub, with a syringe with partially dissolved painkiller medication in it. We went to St. Mary's Hosp. in Richmond to see her. I walked in the room with my family and and it was the FIRST time I'd seen peace on her face since our Mom died in 1984. Margie died July 27, 1997. I was relieved to see peace, not pain. She had a wisp of a smile on her face----the same sweet smile she had when she was a little girl.... I'm telling you this because you will always be plagued with questions. You will NEVER know the whole truth. It's her journey, Tisha and you can only help so much. Someday, you might not be able to help at all. What you CAN do is try your best to support her, even if it's a 'Thinking of You Card' in the mail--it's something positive for her to connect with....being remembered. Just let her know you still care about her. ---And you can pray for relief and support for her, and guidance and patience for you. One thing that has gotten me through some rough times is the uncanny way 'Lucky Pennies' would always show up when I needed a boost. I would be doing some dirty job, tired and worried----and suddenly, there would be a Lucky Penny, right in front of me, waiting. I always heard the words, 'I Am with you' in my heart, with each penny I picked up out of the dirt and grime. It helped immensely. It never hurts to say a little prayer. I send you warm support, prayers, and a great big hug to help you along, Tisha.

Bluebars, I am just initially putting the mealworms under where she normally perches, this is the only spot I see her perch at, it is near the nestbox though so I know I cannot leave them there. I guess I thought that was the correct way to "train" them was to initially put the mealworms under where you see them perch watching for bugs and then move them where you want them feeding from. This nestbox is about 120 feet or so from the house so not easy to watch like those in the yard. Thanks for the tip about the water, I hadn't thought about that one, we have birdbathes on the deck but I never thought about putting water down there too. Oh and the crickets worked. I put about three disabled crickets in one little dish, 10 waxworms and one cricket in another little dish and then mealworms and a cricket in another dish. She found all three dishes, she ate the crickets first from what I could tell. She ate some then went in the nestbox for awhile but she is constantly poking her head out, flying out and then flying back in. I know she must be looking for her mate. Then she eventually goes back in and stays for awhile. Of course about 20 min later, a Robin found what she didn't eat in the dishes. I can't keep them away from there being so far way either. I have a jailhouse style feeder that my dh made but it is for sitting on the deck not for hanging, any ideas how to make a quick hanging feeder that I could use down there? I sure hope she stays committed to the eggs. Bets site said they more than likely will abandon the nest during incubation when a male goes missing. This is only day 3 of incubation, she has a long way to go by herself! Donna

NHL - I can see where the Fall would definitely bring some sad memories.... And I didn't mention - the other thing about Fall is the coming holidays, with all the emotional baggage they bring: ups and downs, and decorating, cleaning, baking, shopping, etc., etc.... Oh well, its all about attitude, right? And looking for the positive. And one question for all of you hostaholics: about those 'nubbins' on my Honey Pie (and I have them on a number of others).... do you try to cover them for the Winter? I was out perusing them the other day and quite a few of mine want to ride pretty high on the soil. By that I mean - I planted them so the crown was the same as it was in the little pot it came in. But over the summer they seem to have lifted themselves up, with some roots clearly visible along the sides as they reach down into the soil. And I'm pretty sure its not water erosion or soil compaction. I didn't brush anything away in order to take that picture above, and to see that growth. It's maybe similar to what I saw with my Blue Mouse Ears that was in a pot for the last few years.... it just wanted to have all the eyes sitting up on top... On those out in the garden, should I mulch in those places before Winter? Or is this okay?