Mine always sulks for about two weeks after repotting. It gets limper than usual, outer edges of some leaves turn brown etc but after that it usually perks up and blooms like crazy. I was told to use how often you have to water as an indicator for when u have to repot (I.e. If you have to water every day then u should repot). I don't agree, I have to water every day even two weeks after repotting and mine's in a pot without drainage holes (just a reservoir for auto watering)! If I don't water, the plant sulks and wilts. I'd love to water less often but I just can't seem to get away with it :(. I've repotted mine twice in the last 6 to 8 months because it grows so fast. The first time the roots were about two feet out of the pot and the second time the roots took up most the pot. I agree with the advice above to slide it out and peek at the roots to get an idea if you have to repot. Mine might be different than yours though (it's in a 20" pot (I think?) and big enough that I expect it'll eat small children one day, either that or call me Seymor and ask me to feed it :S)it seems like a larger variety than most I've seen. I hope that that helps, good luck! Ryan

Hi SarahofLayton, I just want to welcome you and to say that your are in good company here. Many will give you great information and it will become easy to understand and really become confortable in your ability to understand what you plants needs are. They will tell you what and when and we are here to tend to those needs. Al has listed some links for you to read and i know you will find them useful. Don't worry if you need to reread them and take your time in soaking in all of this information. This is really a good time to learn and get aquainted in your knowledge for the care of all of your plants. The repotting will wait until Spring/summer, depending on where you live. So, don't feel that you need to take on to much now. : ) I remember the Ficus that Rina Had to tackle and she did a great job with that huge tree. She knew what she wanted to do. Then she learned what needed to be done with the help of many including AL. They did a great job on that tree. Great teamwork!!! : ) So relax, read and know that many here will help you, encourage you and teach you all that you would like to learn. I have learned so much here in the last few years and i am so glad to have found this forum and to have the support here. Many here have taught me and i can't thank them enough... including Al, Mike and many more.. Taking a tree and having the confidence to do whatever is needed is the most rewarding feeling when you know it will be happy in your hands. You will see such inprovement in the health of your trees. But remember, that they don't always respond to the repotting as fast as we would like to see, so don't worry. They have their own time to relax and get comfortable in their new enviroment. Hope you have great success! Your Peace Lily will be fine.. Looks great!! : ) Good Luck, Laura

If you're not growing in water or semi-hydro, you need a soil you can water to beyond the point of saturation (so you're flushing the soil each time you water) without cause to worry that your soil will remain wet (instead of damp or moist) for extended periods and create problems stemming from poor root function or one of the rot diseases that make roots and the lower part of stems their home. That means a fast draining soil that provides lots of aeration from the top of the soil column to the bottom, even immediately after a thorough watering. Al

Dave, I was going to say... only 500 threads? What, were most of them deleted? HaHa! But then I did a quick search, and there were 3,073 threads that showed up. Had me worried there for a sec. Don't do that! :P This year, I kept my braided Ficus Alii out in full, direct sunlight all day long, all season long. (I used to keep it partially shaded.) I originally planned on keeping it in full sun only during springtime, when the sunlight isn't quite as intense. But it seemed to love it, so I left it where it was and kept a close eye on it. It has grown so many new leaves that it's now top heavy. Plus, it stays very thirsty. So I have to water it just about every single day. A small price to pay to make sure it stays so full, beautiful, & healthy.