I'd chop 'em all off just above the crown and keep the soil damp, but not wet. WHILE you repot, it's important to keep the roots constantly wet. That means you need to be dipping them in a tub of water at least every minute, or removing the old soil with water pressure. The all-important fine roots dry out and die quickly unless you stay on top of keeping them wet. AFTER the repot, it's important that you keep the soil moist where it's occupied by the roots, That might mean watering every day until the roots start to colonize the deeper part of the pot. Other than that, you'll need to get a feel for how many fine roots you must leave to support the water needs of the top of the plant. I regularly remove up to 90% of a plant's roots during a repot and I almost never ever lose a plant unless it blows out or an animal helps it out of the pot. Al

Yes, I stated that I'm not worried about the aluminum, all the same I won't use aluminum sulfate either. Although it may be safe, I worry about toxic levels. Just because lead is in all soils doesn't mean it's a good idea to add more. Same with aluminum. And if you mix turface without a mask, you will be exposed to it. As far as water absorption Axis noted that turface holds 95% of it's weight in water. Pumice only holds 15% and DE holds 142% Try diatomaceous earth in your tests. Optisorb is about the largest size available to home gardeners. Axis makes an excellent size, but is for commercial use only. Numerous studies document it's use as superior to most other amendments. Such as " Effects of diatomite on soil consistency limits and soil compactibility" by Ekrem Lutfi Aksakala, Ilker Anginb, , , and Taskin Oztasa Or "Effects of diatomite on soil physical properties" by the same authors. Also "Sustainable effects of diatomite on the growth criteria and phytochemical contents of Vicia faba plants." Mona M. Abdalla* Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. The Axis company also has great info on all amendments. As far as particle size, do a test. Fill a pot with sand, and one with gravel. Stick a pole in, and see which one gives more resistance. It seems to me gravel would. But I might be wrong? I don't know physics well enough to figure it out on paper. Ah and pumice is further dashed to the ground and called a fake, not a single user rises to defend. Well we can agree to disagree, my day job is a laboratory researcher,or was, I'm retired. If turface has various pore sizes then it is not very well made. Thanks for pointing that out. So you do not believe the manufacturer? Controlling pore size in fired clays is often accomplished with the use of polymers such as Polyethylene glycol. This process is extremely important to control how well purifiers work, or how well they hold up with the addition of salts. You are incorrect about the pore size. Yes pore sizes differs, but that process is used to make different products, and is very controlled. Turface is meant to have small pores size or it would ineffective in it's intended use. The porosity of fired clays is extremely important to have a consistent product such as fired brick used to built houses. Varying pore sizes will compromise the strength of the brick. Selling a product and manufacturing one are very different things. The pore size I reported is for calcinated clay. Range of pore sizes is from .1 -.01 microns. Median is .045 . Plants need a .2 micron minimum pore size to utilize. This info is from a study by Andreas Kalytta-Mewes, Kathrin Mattern, and Armin Reller University of Augsburg, Chair of Solid Body Chemistry Georg Armbruster Soil Laboratory. The pore analysis in the study was conducted by Quantachrome,Bavarian Institute of Applied Environmental Research and Applied Technology. Of course it appears none of these sources trump Al. Who has not provided any data at all to back his claims. Please prove to me that pore size is bigger, thinking Al is right because you sell clay products is not proof. After saying all this will turface work? Yes, it will. Works pretty good! Is it ideal? No, it's not, but what is? It's still worth trying for sure. It didn't work for me, but that means nothing. it has worked well for others. It would be nice if it allowed easier access to stored water, but it does store water, and air, and it lasts a long time, maybe 20 years. That's decent. It's a decent product, or appears to be. It would not be on the market if it didn't work. I know it's not meant for potted plants, but it is meant for grass. DE seems a better product, it has it's own problems. it is marketed though for plants more than ball fields, although it is marketed for that too. It's marketed for large commercial gardens. I use it in my garden. I use turface too for my grass, works well. Just not that well in pots for me. All i said that it didn't work for me. Sorry blame me, it's what you usually do when the mixes fail, you blame the poster. Many have said DE doesn't work for them. I actually believe them. All gardening is local. This post was edited by Drew51 on Mon, Dec 29, 14 at 15:33

Part of why I suggested putting the big ref on the back wall is to eliminate the turn at the ref. The ref where the ovens are and the ovens at "alt-ref" can work too. Not at the original ref location because its kinda bad to have the open oven doors and somebody seated at the stools. It's ok for a micro, but not for something where the doors are hot. My personal preference would be to not have oven doors in a traffic aisle. Looking at it again, maybe park an inexpensive drinks ref on the dining room wall if you retain full depth cabinets. A nice looking dorm undercounter or one of those 2x2 ref-frz like the small lg unit. Possibly a bar sink on the dining room wall run for a complete drinks area there. If it has the pantry and a microwave, it easily becomes the express food area for kids. If you want, you can buy a simpler, maybe smaller main ref without water and ice in the door. The prep sink question is a good one. In this arrangement, you might not actually need one on the island (five people will chime in and disagree)! Its a bit more convenient, but not much. If the main ref moves to the back wall, you need one on the island even less. If the main ref moves to where the ovens are shown, you should have one - so that you don't have to cross the cooking area to get to the water. Where exactly it goes is partly dependent on what type of ref you're getting. A sxs or a french door needs landing space opposite the ref - behind you when you're standing in front of it. A single door ref needs landing space to the side without the hinges. So a single door ref, put the sink in the lower right corner of the island as drawn. A two door ref, the upper right corner. The other question about island width was a place I didn't use enough words (again). Without an appliance, the entire run of cabinets on the dining room wall could be less deep by 6 to 12" and the island could take up those inches in width.

Your second graph-paper design layout is a winner! See what this design does for you: Gives you a clear, easy pathway to all the seating in the room. Placement of the two chairs gives clear visuals to both your bookcase and into the next room = open and comfortable! Placement of your sofa on the long wall creates a strong anchor for the seating group. My recommendations: (Please look at my planning-ideas photo below.) Keep all your furniture, which is very well chosen and attractive. Replacing your existing chairs is a waste of money and time, quite frankly I do not know of a more interesting, better choice than these two graceful, curvy chairs: They’ll look great when approaching from the back and the upholstery offers interesting accent colors. (These colors would be great to pick up in odd, colorful pieces on the bookcase and to carry throughout the room.) What I would add: THE ROOM LACKS A FOCAL POINT: Buy one very large, inexpensive canvas landscape. (Example: 40 x 40 “Silver Leaves Canvas Art Print” $39.99 https://www.kirklands.com/product/Art-Wall-Decor/Art/Canvas-Art/Silver-Leaves-Canvas-Art-Print/pc/2283/c/2293/sc/2673/244340.uts Give yourself a focal point and colors that you like that repeat colors on your two graceful chairs (Yes, your chairs are traditional and this landscape light, airy and a modern interpretation of a traditional design: But feel free to gracefully mix styles by repeating the colors and the “mood” to get what you want.) By the way, this particular landscape repeats the color of your coffee table. THE WINDOWS OFFER NO INTERESTING VIEW AND NO PRIVACY: $130 Buy good-looking plantation-style blinds for inside-mount in your three windows. (Example: White Cordless Faux Wood Blinds with 2 in. Slats $43 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Home-Decorators-Collection-White-Cordless-2-in-Faux-Wood-Blind-35-in-W-x-72-in-L-Actual-Size-34-5-in-W-x-72-in-L-10793478352425/300053220 This allows you to control the sunlight, the view, and your privacy. (Measure inside the window: at the top, middle, and bottom. Subtract ½” from the smallest measurement. Have the width of your blinds cut to this width, which is included in the price.) THE ROOM NEEDS A RUG TO ANCHOR THE CONVERSATIONAL GROUPING: @$200 Your rug appears to be an 8 x 10, which you may very well have good reason for choosing. However, I would ordinarily recommend a rug to encompass all the seating, so I would usually go with a 10 x 13. I always recommend polypropylene (or any such-like material) because this rug will take whatever you dish out: Wine, mustard, etc. If you put an inexpensive rug padding (bought at your local carpet store: That which is put under wall-to-wall), your rug will feel expensive, even luxurious. Examples: TRADITIONAL: Cape Cod Beige 10' 0 x 13' 0 Area Rug $175 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Unique-Loom-Espahan-Cape-Cod-Beige-10-0-x-13-0-Area-Rug-3137526/302716121 CONTEMPORARY: Jardin Ivy Multi 10' 0 x 13' 0 Area Rug $213 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Unique-Loom-Jardin-Ivy-Multi-10-0-x-13-0-Area-Rug-3126068/301076471 You could choose to accompany your rug with a traditional-patterned drape (example below) or a solid or striped color. THE ROOM IS “BOXY” AND LACKS SOFTNESS: $150 An easy fix is to add floor-to-ceiling-length, inexpensive DRAPERIES on each of the three windows. (You could mount these up and under your existing valances. You could also choose to add some subtle, decorative trim to your valances --- Example: a glued-on, simple braid of grey, an inch or so from the edge. You could try it --- if you don't like it, don't glue it!) Each drape should be drawn back: Two framing the sofa on the sofa-focal point wall (with the long side closest to the sofa, so the draping leads the eye toward the sofa) and one to frame the opposite window (long side away from the sofa) Example: Home Decorators Collection, Semi-Opaque Plazzo 96 in. L Cotton Drapery Panel in Sea Breeze, 100% cotton with a 3 in. rod pocket $52 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Home-Decorators-Collection-Semi-Opaque-Plazzo-96-in-L-Cotton-Drapery-Panel-in-Sea-Breeze-9833510810/300820929 You would also need three decorative tie-backs: $25 Montevilla 5/8 in. Facet Ball Holdback Pair in Vintage Bronze, Steel construction for durability and strength, Includes mounting hardware for easy installation $8 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Montevilla-5-8-in-Facet-Ball-Holdback-Pair-in-Vintage-Bronze-680656136454/204201047 CONTINUE TO REPEAT YOUR COLORS, TO CARRY THROUGH AND UNIFY YOUR DESIGN: Add a few toss pillows: Consider some “Faux Suede” solids (easy-care microfiber, great for naps!), then have fun with whatever interests you in smaller pillows (if that’s your cup of tea). Consider using wall paper behind the shelves on your book case: Inexpensive & interesting Add decorative items to carry out “your theme”: Look for whimsical, “fun” things. FINAL SUGGESTION: I’d keep that coffee table because it is a nice, generously-sized table. You could put on the table: A combination of interesting items to express family interests, what you like to do. Example: A couple of books, displayed against one another, perhaps along with something that goes with it (Handsome, travel books and a little globe). Add a circle shape to break up the table’s “squareness” Example: A big, round basket, used to contain interesting or useful things) or a tray (perhaps with matching coasters/napkins that are great to have at hand for sitting around in comfort). Soften up the look with “staging” to create a mood, a scene Example: Playing a game (such as Monopoly, etc.) = On the tabletop, put a board game or stack two or three. Use the shelf in the table for the four pillows that match your chairs: These pillows could convey the concept of easy relaxation, sitting around the table, playing a game. You have superb taste, so why not have fun with the lovely things you already have? For way less than a thousand dollars, you can take this beautiful room and make it spectacular! Enjoy yourself! Wishing you and yours safe and happy, Leslie Isbell