Hoovb: Yuccas are *generally* polycarpic, but I suppose there always has to be an exception to prove the rule. Yucca whipplei is monocarpic, and is the sole exception of the genus. It is abundant here in SoCal, and every spring the hills are littered with their unmistakable white inflorescences. Hiking around in these same hills, you'll see the dead remenants just as prolifically...

I agree, leave it in it's pot and put it in a sunny location. You might also place a fan nearby set on low to keep the air moving and pulling some of that extra moisture out of the soil. I probably wouldn't use the bottom heat though, if the soil is really damp you don't want to heat it up and cook your little guy. Then go get a moisture meter. They have a long probe you can use to test the soil down where the roots are, not just at the surface. The finger test really doesn't work for succulents, or any other plants for that matter. The soil should be nearly dry before you water again, whether that takes a week or three weeks. I like to test rather to water on a schedule. Cheryl

Thanks everyone for your positive response to the wall clock. I think it is a keeper. Kateskouros, I agree with your smart observation that the clock looks a little piece-y. It does, especially in the photo which visually compresses the space. It looks a bit less piece-y in real life. But I will admit that this nook is still not 100% figured out. Perhaps it is an example of trying to squeeze something into a relatively small kitchen that doesn't quite fit. Perhaps we will still do a padded back, as several of you suggested in the original post. But overall I'm glad we have the nook, especially since we basically live at that table.

Well the best thing that has come from the Rhino Hide deteriorating situation is how much I have learned! Thank you everyone for contributing and thanks for the link. Juliaarugula, thankfully it is not Voles leaving my hostas without roots or crown... but who knows my garden is still young, there may be a year when I get a hungry vole. That will probably happen once I get the snails and slugs under control. hahah ;) NewHostaLady- I'm suddenly aware of green roots, and noticed a few hostas with green roots in my yard, these hostas are from the same place I got Rhino Hide. I never covered those green roots with soil because...I don't know?... I guess I just left it exposed as it was in the container (following the theory of planting at the same level it was planted in nursery pot and keeping crown high). I have to circle back and follow NewHostaLady, Babka, and Bruce's recommended procedure tomorrow for TC overgrown in pots .... and I mostly likely will have to dig up quite a few formerly potted TC hostas later that are probably lagging or stunted! I thought it was lack of "this or that hosta care" that I was supposed to be doing for it. After Rhino Hide's photo shoot the other day, I had sprayed the root and crown with 10% bleach and left it for about 2 minutes before rinsing the bleach off and potting into a container with potting mix and called it a day. But with today's posts and the details of what to do- I realize what I had did wouldn't be effective enough to help the hosta. Pretty Birds, you are right I have pampered them too much. I read all about the mature hostas and wanted my young pipsqueaks to grow lush and beautiful. I also tried so hard not to damage the roots. I hand water very little, so far, this year as rain has been good. Ken-Adrian I agree, gizmo's can help or delay the help by obscuring the obvious to ID the cause by digging it up (look and see). I have learned through your posts on other threads that hostas are not babies. It's a learning curve for a newbie hosta parent to trust that a plant with lush beautiful leaves doesn't need helicopter parenting. I consider this as my lesson learned. Babka- Email is now enabled. I hope that your appendectomy recovery is a speedy one. No worries I understood what you meant before you edited it. :) Bruce- along with sharing your lovely hostas garden thanks for the slug killer metaldehyde product tip. I read the link above about your 250 Sagae divisions (wow)- thanks again for a great visual instructional. All of my "delicate touch and TLC" that I have given since last year.... and now the hosta will get chopped from top to bottom, and take a long cool soak in 10% bleach, ha! HA! Ironic. I am nervous to "harm" the hosta ... but then again, Rhino Hide already has one foot in the grave, so I might as well cure it or speed up its slow demise. Old Dirt, your example with Sweet Sunshine just gave the confidence to be bold with my failing hosta. I still have the eyes/shoots so I will soak in water- it couldn't hurt. If it roots, then that would be a happy twist. Thanks! Now I have a better understanding of what's happening to Rhino Hide. Many thanks again to everyone who commented. I hope it has helped others who may have a dying falling apart hosta situation, too! If Rhino Hide survives I will post an update in the future for closure. :)