Hello, Linda0210. What you described sounds like grafting. You take a cutting from plant A and graft it into plant B. Air Layering involves making a slit to a low growing branch, putting some growth hormone on the exposed cut area and then bending/burying the branch into the soil so the area with the cut is covered with soil. In about two seasons or less, you will have good roots and can cut the new plant from the parent & transplant it. It was not clear when you wanted to start propagating. If you are trying to get this done before spring, Air Layering will definitely not do it since it takes about two seasons. And if you are trying to start now, the lack of leaves and the near frozen condition of the plant will make successful grafting and cuttings near impossible. So if you were planning to start now, please wait until the plant leafs out and then choose between grafting (more complicated) or propagating by stem cuttings (less complicated, takes less time... from over a month to 4 months). Be aware that most people who propagate by stem cutting get best results when they start in the Summer. That technique works as follows: turn on the sprinklers the night before, take many cuttings the next morning (when the stems are full of moisture) with 5 leaves per cutting, apply growth hormone (with fungicide) to the cutting, plant the cuttings in peat moss (half) and perlite (half), top with a plastic soda bottle (or use trays sold with plastic tops at nurseries/Lowes/etc), mist often, provide bottom heat (+75 degress F) and wait. In 1.5-4 months, when you have good roots, you can transplant them to a bigger pot with peat moss and perlite in a ratio of 60:40 & fertilize. For more details on propagation by cuttings, click here. For more details on propagation by grafting, click here. There are also others in the forum who have more experience with cuttings than I so hopefully they will see this thread and share their experiences, specially those in Zone 5 and/or those who have started cuttings in early spring. Good luck Linda0210, Luis

"Actually, there are a number of people who kill their husbands and get out after a few years, especially if the husband was abusive. It's not self-defense if she shoots him while he is asleep. I think the original poster sounded too upset to be making it up, not to mention the fact that she provided a lot of details that she probably wouldn't have bothered with had the story been false." TOS, as the original poster provided so many details (but missing the critical ones like the VISITORS?LIST on the VISITORS?ALLOWED MODULE) I don't think she would have forgotten to mention how many years her SM was in Jail for murdering her first husband or if she was convicted or even put to trial for it...She would have relished telling it. Anyway, details are not a guarantee of truth: as any mother or kindergarten teacher knows, the more elaborate the story, the more blatant the lie.

I am in the same situation. It’s New Years Day and I am lying here depressed. My adult son came to temporarily live with me and my new husband of 2 years about 7 months ago. He asked and my husband said yes. My husband decided not to charge him rent or anything, even told him he can eat what we eat, wash clothes, basically our home is his home. We have a written agreement which we all signed. My son takes out the garbage and cuts grass, clean his room & bathroom. He’s making plans to move back out as agreed. He has savings. Is my son perfect? No, but he is not disrespectful. Other than not walking around the house naked, nothing else has changed in our marital relationship. My husband took it upon himself to step in as a father to my son and even asked my son if that was ok. His biological father…didnt do his job and has no real relationship with him. My husband and son get along fine. However i know my husband is faking it. If my son makes one mistake or forget something, my husband is very critical and judgemental. He complains to me telling lies about my son and says hateful things about my son. i love my husband but this is unacceptable to me. i am beyond hurt and angry. My son doesnt even know how my husband really feels. What brought to this post…my husband thought my son had left and left the door unlocked at 2am. My son was actually outside. Anyway all i literally said was to tell him and immediately he accused me of coming to my son’s defense and starts going off. I am confused. If someone does something wrong or forgot something, isnt the natural thing to do is tell them? What did I say wrong? There is so much more I could say to paint the picture of everything that has gone on. I dont want a divorce but this is too crazy!

You are in a difficult situation indeed. I understand what you are going through. My husband and I have a son together. He also has a daughter from a previous marriage and I have a son from a previous marriage. The situation you describe sounds like mine in that my husband shows his biological son an enormous amount of love and my other son nothing. There is basically no interaction at this point between the two. He use to discipline my son, but I felt it was done unfairly so that has stopped. Now we are at the point where he nit picks about every little thing my son does, but not to him...to me. It is sooo annoying. It has weakened our relationship as husband and wife, but at least my son is not constantly hearing the complaints. I must say though that my husband's nit picking has made me more critical of my sons behavior. I feel like I am riding him harder over insignificant stuff so I don't have to listen to my husbands complaints...I keep telling myself I need to stop this. My husband, for the most part, is good to me and our son. My other son is 12 and very into school, friends, and basketball. I try to do extra stuff for him when I can to make up for the fact that he doesn't have a dad and his step-dad wants nothing to do with him. My dad (his grandpa) is also a wonderful role model and strong male figure in his life. He spends a lot of time with him. Is it possible for you to find your other son another strong male role model? Like a grandfather, a friend, or join a big brother big sister group? Maybe that would help him and allow you to stay with your husband. You also must consider your other children too. What effect will it have on them if you take them away from their father?