The part about WATERING SPARINGLY is important enough to warrant repeating. With leaves removed, your plant will only use a small fraction of the water it used before defoliation. Using a 'tell' to tell you when it's time to water (or withhold it) is a good way to stay on track. Using a 'tell' Over-watering saps vitality and is one of the most common plant assassins, so learning to avoid it is worth the small effort. Plants make and store their own energy source – photosynthate - (sugar/glucose). Functioning roots need energy to drive their metabolic processes, and in order to get it, they use oxygen to burn (oxidize) their food. From this, we can see that terrestrial plants need plenty of air (oxygen) in the soil to drive root function. Many off-the-shelf soils hold too much water and not enough air to support the kind of root health most growers would like to see; and, a healthy root system is a prerequisite to a healthy plant. Watering in small sips leads to avoid over-watering leads to a residual build-up of dissolved solids (salts) in the soil from tapwater and fertilizer solutions, which limits a plant's ability to absorb water – so watering in sips simply moves us to the other horn of a dilemma. It creates another problem that requires resolution. Better, would be to simply adopt a soil that drains well enough to allow watering to beyond the saturation point, so we're flushing the soil of accumulating dissolved solids whenever we water; this, w/o the plant being forced to pay a tax in the form of reduced vitality, due to prolong periods of soil saturation. Sometimes, though, that's not a course we can immediately steer, which makes controlling how often we water a very important factor. In many cases, we can judge whether or not a planting needs watering by hefting the pot. This is especially true if the pot is made from light material, like plastic, but doesn't work (as) well when the pot is made from heavier material, like clay, or when the size/weight of the pot precludes grabbing it with one hand to judge its weight and gauge the need for water. Fingers stuck an inch or two into the soil work ok for shallow pots, but not for deep pots. Deep pots might have 3 or more inches of soil that feels totally dry, while the lower several inches of the soil is 100% saturated. Obviously, the lack of oxygen in the root zone situation can wreak havoc with root health and cause the loss of a very notable measure of your plant's potential. Inexpensive watering meters don't even measure moisture levels, they measure electrical conductivity. Clean the tip and insert it into a cup of distilled water and witness the fact it reads 'DRY'. One of the most reliable methods of checking a planting's need for water is using a 'tell'. You can use a bamboo skewer in a pinch, but a wooden dowel rod of about 5/16” (75-85mm) would work better. They usually come 48” (120cm) long and can usually be cut in half and serve as a pair. Sharpen all 4 ends in a pencil sharpener and slightly blunt the tip so it's about the diameter of the head on a straight pin. Push the wooden tell deep into the soil. Don't worry, it won't harm the root system. If the plant is quite root-bound, you might need to try several places until you find one where you can push it all the way to the pot's bottom. Leave it a few seconds, then withdraw it and inspect the tip for moisture. For most plantings, withhold water until the tell comes out dry or nearly so. If you see signs of wilting, adjust the interval between waterings so drought stress isn't a recurring issue. Al

Interesting that some people are having a cow over Hobby Lobby being open but I haven't heard a word of protest about Joann's. Copied from JoAnns' site: Valued JOANN Customers – In these uncertain times, I want to update you on the latest developments as we work to continue offering much-needed inspiration and respite, as safely as possible. I am incredibly proud to be part of a retailer that powers thousands of small businesses and sellers, inspires creativity and learning, and helps millions of people make to give to charity. Now more than ever, it is important that we continue to safely provide what these Americans need to support their livelihood, mental wellness and community giving. As shared previously, we have been taking action to ensure we are protecting our facilities, customers and teams across the nation. We continue to rely on the guidance of public health agencies, including the CDC and local, state and federal governments. As such, we are taking proactive measures to protect all who visit and work in our stores. • Store Hours: To operate safely and efficiently while serving our customers, national store hours will be temporarily changed to 9am-7pm. Some stores may be closed or have further limited hours, depending on local restrictions and recommendations. Please visit joann.com/stores for the most up-to-date closures and hours information. • Shopping Options: We are now offering Curbside Pick-Up at all open locations. Simply make a purchase via Buy Online, Pick-Up In-Store, and call the store when you arrive. We also offer convenient Ship to Home offers at joann.com and on the mobile app, so you don’t even have to leave home. • Store Events: Until further notice, all in-store events, classes and group gatherings are being postponed. All previously purchased classes can be rescheduled free of charge once they are reopened. • Free Inspiration: I am glad to share we are offering more inspiration at home with thousands of free projects, video classes and an offer of 2 months free of Creativebug, a creative learning service with inspiration for all. • Team Member Support: We are doing all we can to support our amazing Team Members, especially those who are cleaning our stores, stocking our shelves and bringing Handmade Happiness to customers. We are providing dedicated daily and real-time updates; offering benefits including a variety of leave options and Employee Assistance Programs; have added maintenance support; and are implementing remote working options for corporate Team Members. Our People are what set JOANN apart, and they are always our first priority. As we’ve reiterated from the beginning of this unfortunate situation, the well-being of all JOANN customers, Team Members and partners is our main focus, and we will do all we can to get through this together -- as a strong, tightknit and caring community of creators. Wade Miquelon President & CEO https://www.joann.com/joanns-letter-to-customers-from-ceo/

Thanks, sleeve. I have an 11 yr old opened BOS of the no vent N95 respirators. Date says (c) 2002 or close. Time flies. I think these were for SARS outbreak. surprisingly the yellow rubber like bare elastic is still good. The exhaust vent types were purchased in early January 2020. No one of my siblings wants any, saying that their too uncomfortable. I mostly stay HOME. We don't socialize, and make very few trips out. But, yesterday was a gorgeous day and I went with a masked neighbor who seems very careful to buy some tomato plants, lettuces, organic milk and deli salads (darn pricy) at at super aware country store. Only a couple people in at a time with masks, distancing and no bags from elsewhere. Half gal milk = $7.75 in glass bottle ($1.50 if return bottle). A cup of bean salad, $4. I will figure out their recipe. I put it through the mass spectrometer in my mouth. I wore an old, non vented N95 and safety goggles. Mask was u o for table and hot. I DID keep messing with it, so was glad I was pretty much in the clean rural woodsy boondocks. (But you never know). When we passed through a working class small city, I went into a store for wine. I had on my gear, the cashier had on a cowboy bandana. A 30-ish woman came into the store, o mask, and barbed into my shelf area. I left For the cashier. She was right behind me, no mask, no distance, no sense. I asked her to please back up (like 5 feet!). She had a bunch of pink and lavender colored toy wine. She looked at me as though I’d told her that there was a deadly global pandemic. Meh. No worries. No cares. My friend encountered a couple of women in a grocery store. No mask, crowding her. She asked them why they were not wearing a mask. They fired back that it was their freedom of choice, blah blah. The State is on MASK rules if outside your home. Oh, and distance. What is with these clueless people. Flyovers are okay, but how about some public service announcement, mini tutorials on infection control? Think I might tell the next maskless fool who won’t keep back that, oops! You e got something stuck on your face! Then disappear as they rubs cooties into their fave with dirty hands. I won’t do it. But what is with the clueless, right to infect others, mask-less zombies? At least they didn’t shoot us in the back of the head (Recent MI news). I spotted a 25Lb bag or organic, unbleached, AP flour for $25. Maybe I should go back to the clean store for it. But that’s a lotta flour.

I have a mask story to add (not a rant , since none of my loved ones were endangered). A few weeks ago, I ran into an old friend. She lives, and works, in the small village where I grocery shop, and we were both there during designated senior hours. She recognized me, although I was wearing a mask, but she wasn't wearing one. I asked if she had a mask, and she said that she had only one, disposable, which she was saving for the days she had to take her father to his medical appointments. I asked if she'd like me to make her a fabric mask, and she graciously accepted. I dropped it off to her the same day, with some shop towel filters, as I was on my way to drop off my father's groceries. Today, as I was leaving the grocery store, she was arriving--sans mask. I jokingly asked why she wasn't wearing her mask, and she said that she didn't think she needed it unless she was in close quarters with others. When I pointed out that by wearing a mask she was protecting others, she responded that she didn't need it because she's "been good." I'm disappointed that I gave her one of my nice, 600TC Egyptian cotton face masks, and she doesn't wear it. :[ At least she has it if she changes her mind.