Six, eight and nine-inch pots sound good to me. That would mean a lot less potting soil, too. Thanks for the tip! I could grow a lot more seedlings then. How often do you add nutrients? Gosh Ed, I haven't a clue what you are talking about regarding water beds. Please explain! I wonder how I could keep my water-loving German Shepherd out of them. Here in this restricted subdivision I have to keep my daylily addiction low-key so as not to attract too much attention. Box? The mulch idea sounds really good. That would solve the "white pot" problem. But remember, they do get weeds, even in pots, and these old bones have to bend over and pluck them out. I had thought about getting my DH to build me some frames of treated lumber, with hardware cloth on top but was hoping there were better alternatives. I am open to all suggestions! Keep them coming! Thanks, Nancy

Funny, but my latest horticultural phase has been tropical fruits. I have had had success growing the following tropical/subtropical fruits in the north: lemons, oranges, limes, and kumquats loquats mangos papayas bananas pineapple coconut figs grapes I am currently in the process of adding the following to my indoor/outdoor collection: Mammey sapote Guava Jackfruit Breadfruit So far, only my citrus have regularly flowered and fruited. A friend of mine though was successful in getting a small containerized mango to fruit. So far the the only banana that I have had flower is the Chinese banana (Musella lasiocarpa), but the fruit really isn't eaten. Hope springs eternal. Good luck!

Jsvand, By that you mean soil that does not drain well? I will keep an eye on it and see how long it will take to dry out. man, I wish I could have waited to get the Brogden but at the time, Top didn't have one and Jene's was selling a larger one than I wanted. Stokes was who I was going to go thru but they only sell the 'Day' and Brogden. I am hoping to some how get one. My cousin lives in Tampa and now that the warmer weather is approaching i may ask her to get one for me and send it up. My only problem is that she doesn't know plants/trees. I would worry that she would buy the wrong variety or one that was not in good shape. Hoping to be in FL this summer so I can get one chap. I had my hands on one at the Lowe's down the street. They were dirt cheap but also maybe a foot tall which is perfect for me. Another avocado when I barely have any room as it is! Andrew

Thank you, Michael! I don't need winter hardiness so I plan to get an August Beauty again, and possibly try one or two of the cold hardy varieties you recommended. I have the cool nights needed most of the growing season. I did not know this temp. drop was part of my success, because I was essentially flying by the seat of my pants in meeting the needs of my gardenia. It was 8 yrs. old when I gave it away. I liquid fed it heavily, almost weekly, with a ' bloom booster,' type formula, and once a month fed with Miracid to keep the foliage green. I never really had to spray for Camelia Scale or mites. I did get occasional bud drop, but to no significant degree. Once fall was well under way, just before Thanksgiving, I put my gardenia into cold storage in my fruit cellar, where it hovers around 35-40 degrees F., all winter, dipping to no lower than 25 on occasion. The gardenia did not even drop a leaf all winter. Buds did drop, but not open blooms or advanced blooms showing some white. The latter blooms actually opened in complete darkness. No new growth was made all winter. The gardenia just sat in the fruit cellar in a suspended state. I put it outside in late March. It would still get a few light/moderate frosts until mid-May with no ill effects. Why I gave this gardenia away, I still greatly regret, especially since it didn't even survive a year in its new home. Boy, am I itching to get a new gardenia!