It's a process, just as it is with everything... you can read all you want, but it's the hands-on experience that brings it all home. There are so many nuances to indoor gardening... you have to live it in order to really learn... by trial and error. I think back, and this all began with one little bulb in a box, with the same name as my dog. What really clinched it for me was reading that I could grow these bulbs the same way I grow all my other houseplants... that I didn't HAVE to go through the dormancy process. At that point in time, I didn't understand the dormancy process, so finding out that I didn't have to do any of that made the whole thing seem easier and more attractive. I sort of figured that once the Minerva bulb bloomed, it would all go downhill, and I'd be lucky to have the thing continue to grow leaves, never mind ever seeing blooms from it again. Back then, I didn't always check my plants on a regular basis, and I would remember to water when I saw a couple of my plants begin to wilt from lack of moisture. I think it was that neglect that actually kept Minerva alive... she was on the windowsill facing south, in a huge bay window of the Victorian farmhouse we were renting at the time. Imagine my surprise when she began to grow flower scapes the following year! I was flabbergasted, to say the least! From then on, she bloomed like clockwork every February, her flowers bigger and better every year! The first year she bloomed on her own, she only gave one scape... but the following years, she gave two scapes! She even survived several moves, and did surprisingly well in the environments and situations I threw her in. That was my introduction to growing Hippeastrum bulbs indoors. The addiction began when I came here to find out more about them! And ever since, it's been trial and error, learning about those nuances of indoor growing, and learning what medium and what fertilizer are best, and learning exactly when to water. I think Maria says it best, when she tells us that our bulbs will tell us what they want, what they need... all we have to do is pay attention. Having this outlet to help us is one of the most valuable pieces of the process... we're connected with others going through the same learning as we are, and even though we each have different climates and environments to deal with, the basics are similar. It's a huge boost to share this process with others who love it as much as we do! I may seem as though I'm fairly well versed in Hippeastrum growing, but I still have a lot to learn! I'm still growing as a gardener, no pun intended! :-) I think it's through sharing our successes and failures that we're able to grow as gardeners. It's incredibly helpful to get a different perspective from other growers. As I look back at my earlier posts, I feel embarrassed and silly for having extolled the virtues of a soil that turned out to be detrimental, but I think by sharing my enthusiasm, and admitting I made a mistake, I have grown further. What fun would it be if I knew everything already? In conclusion, this forum and its inhabitants have opened my eyes and my mind to new ideas and new experiences, and I can't imagine a better group of people to share it all with! I look forward to new and interesting possibilities in the world of rare, and not so rare, bulb growing! As a footnote... my first re-bloom since becoming so enamored of Hippeastrum hybrids is in process right now! I hope to post photos of Lady Jane soon!

I never used to but have become a nightly flosser the last few years. As a child we took turns going to the dentist so of course, we ended up with lots of cavities and a big fear of dentist. My teeth are soft so I have so many fillings and over the years they have had to be replaced by crowns. I have 8 porcelin (SP?) veneers in the front top that cost me a bundle 10 years ago. As an adult I have always visited the dentist every 6 months but hated the cleanings. I now floss nightly and use an electric tooth brush but I do have to be careful with it not hurting my gums. I have so much metal in my mouth that I now have what the Oral surgeon said is a low electrical current that keeps the lining of my mouth very sensitive. I have dry mouth and if the balance of potassium, calicum and iron get a little off, my mouth breaks out in sores. I have managed to keep it under control with Biotene rinse and when needed a script from the dentist. I think preventive care has made such a difference in dental health. We were pretty poor and like with doctors, you didn't go unless there was a problem. Nowadays, kids go before they even have all their baby teeth.

Despite having had four teeth extracted before braces, my teeth are thisclose together. It's a real struggle to floss. I use a rubber 'pick' to remove plaque, then brush, then rinse. I have few 'real' teeth anyway -- multiple crowns, inlays, etc. Some of my earliest memories are of going to the dentist! (Pre-fluoride Senior here.) BTW I only realized as an adult that I was taught to brush the inner and outer surfaces, but not the *chewing surfaces* of my teeth. Duh.

I had a bad experience with a sadistic dentist as a child. No doubt his methods would get him arrested in current times. For example, he comes at you with a drill without telling you what he is doing., You scream, he puts his hand over your mouth and nose and tells you if you want to breathe you will do as he tells you and shut up. As you suffocate you nod in agreement. You are 10 years old. So although my dentist is a great guy and I see him 2x a year I still dread going. I get nervous for a full month before the appointment. s