Linda - No question what you said is 100% true. Just musing here and not at all being critical of your plant or how it's cared for. When we strive to learn, we grow in our hobbies and pastimes; and, the more proficient we become at keeping our plants healthy, the more particular we're likely to become about their appearance. Very rare indeed is the good looking houseplant that isn't programmed (genetically) to be strictly true to a form (think Norfolk Island Pine). This means that unless we provide the physical guidance some plants need to be pleasing to the eye (by pinching and pruning), it's a good bet it ain't gonna BE pleasing to the eye; this, because indoor conditions really mess with a plant's natural growth habit, more often than not to the degree the indoor plant looks nothing at all like in situ plants of the same species. Look no further than a short distance upthread for examples of growers who fully realize their plants aren't looking as good as they'd like because they haven't yet taken control over their plant's form ..... but they're working on it. We all need to allow for the fact that a very high % of hobby growers are thrilled with nothing more than seeing their plants grow and exhibit signs of reasonably good vitality ....... nothing at all wrong with that, nor does it deserve to be diminished. When we reach the stage where we can reliably keep our plants in prime condition, most of us are ready to move on to the next challenge, which might just as well be keeping them pleasing to the eye, too. Every 'AHA!' moment that proves as useful as it was exciting when we first realized or discovered it, elevates the plane on which we interact with out plants, so progress lifts us up and provides lots of personal satisfaction. If we plan on exacting personal satisfaction from any hobby, learning new things and progression becomes an investment instead of a chore. Just the view from here. As always, YMMV. Al

Ok, ok. I'm gonna snip it! Thats what I was thinking. But it also looks likes there is some new growth on the other side, see it there on the top end of the pic? I'm gonna snip below that I think and see if that becomes another "head"... thats what I'm calling it anyway. an a side note, this succulent is super easy to propagate. Pull off a leaf, stick it in the dirt and it'll give you 1 or 2 "heads" 50/50. you can see in the pic 3 of the babies, the two on the left (one is towards the back) have put out 2 heads.

I've been dying to let my color grow off and go natural. But the last time I got about 2" of new growth and saw that ton of grey, I chickened and went to buy a box of L'Oreal 7 1/2A. :) I have been known to tweak on some of my cuts when I get back from the hairdresser's, but I wouldn't know where to begin to cut my own all over. Maybe if I could take my head off and set it down in front of me. How in the world does anyone cut behind their head looking in a mirror. I'd lose an ear or something. LOL Pretty cut/color on a pretty lady Deb.

regarding watering, it's an orange tree (not lemon), but I water about once a week unless it's a heat wave, then about twice a week. I think as the tree ages and the roots go deeper it probably is more tolerant, but while it's young I'm pretty careful. I have a well around it that I've increased the size of as the tree grows. I also put mulch on the ground to prevent the soil from drying out. I never thought I could grow oranges here near the coast, fog and all, but it's a very protected spot in the yard that gets a lot of sun (when it's sunny) and the air is relatively still. The oranges are medium size so far, but taste great - on the tart side. I'm really surprised how well this tree is doing!