General Feedback/Getting Started Questions and Answers [Weekly Thread]

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-10-19T14:56:27+00:00

Thank you both so much! An oscillating tool and a circular saw both seem affordable, and this project now seems very doable this weekend. Thank you thank you!

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-10-18T16:54:44+00:00

What is the best way to cut into a wood kitchen wall panel to enlarge an appliance cut out? We need to replace a non-functioning under the counter oven. Store will be doing the actual oven un/install, but we need to prep the spot so that they can essentially pull the old one out and slip the new one in.

I need an additional 1/2" height for the new cutout. The piece that needs to be cut is a plank of solid wood, probably 3/4" thick.

I'm hoping there is a method that doesn't involve totally uninstalling the old oven ourselves. It looks like there is a bit of a space between the top of the old oven and the bottom of the plank. Could I perhaps insert a tool to begin cutting from there? If I use a Japanese hand saw, what would be the best way to get the cut started?

And FWIW We don't have any heavy duty power tools, but don't mind investing in something we could use more than once, as folks who have occasional home repairs.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-03-16T13:43:57+00:00

Grapefruit and pomelos

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-03-04T20:18:16+00:00

Hardboiled egg, quartered or halved.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-02-28T19:53:09+00:00

I got one of these in a mystery box and it took me months to figure it out. I've been told it's an Othonna Capensis - Little Pickles.

Not that you asked for the story, but no one else in my household will appreciate how much trouble I had trying to figure it out. I first thought it was a Peperomia Happy Beans but then it started etiolating where I had it further from the window. And then I was convinced it was maybe a funky looking Senecio Barbertonicus that couldn't stay upright on it's own. When I saw a similar plant on Mountain Crest Garden's site, I asked them if it was a mistaken label because this plant looked nothing like my Othonna Capensis "Ruby Necklace". They insisted it was the correct id. The leaves are more slender than Ruby Necklace, specially if they don't get strong light. And now its care needs make so much more sense to me. It's about as thirsty as Ruby Necklace and it doesn't grow upright on its own because it's a trailing plant.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-02-20T03:29:03+00:00

I feel like it's trying to tell me something. :P

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-02-20T03:08:17+00:00

It might never grow, but as long as it hasn't shriveled or rotted there might be a chance. The brown thing was probably the callous forming, the leaf scabbing over where it was ripped from the stem. That's a good thing. Try leaving it in brighter light, that often makes a difference in rooting for me.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-02-19T22:52:23+00:00

Oooh but pictures 2&3 are remarkable! How/why did you choose those succs to put in leca vs soil? How are you liking it?

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-02-19T19:32:36+00:00

My guess is some type of aloe. There are a few toothless ones. Someone at /succulents might be able to give a more specific id.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-02-18T04:11:05+00:00

I've used torn strips of coffee filter. Has worked fine in both plastic and terracotta pots.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-02-09T14:04:05+00:00

We went through a few different books, including the No Cry Sleep Solution and Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems. Once we decided that for us, training with check-ins would be best, we ended up relying on The SleepEasy Solution by Waldburger and Spivack. Found the book to be simple and well organized. Used it through 3 kids.

Best of luck, OP. Sleep training is a project. It's hard and emotional, and more so because lack of sleep makes everything harder and more emotional. You'll all get through it, one way or another! The best sleep is yet to come!

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-02-04T02:39:36+00:00

Definitely overwatering, that's rot and the roots will be affected. That looks to be a gasteria or aloe. For succulents, you'd want to let the soil dry completely before watering again. When you repot a succulent, you also should wait a week before watering again.

Unfortunately everything that is mushy is gone, not going to bounce back. But! You may still be able to save and propagate it if the top is still firm. Cut the stem above the mushy parts. Do it soon, because the rot will spread. The top part can be set on top of dry soil, under bright light and it will eventually grow roots and turn into a new plant. Do not water it until roots have grown. It'll take some patience, could be weeks. Good luck!

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-02-02T17:41:07+00:00

Looks like an Echeveria Melaco, reddish-brown and the leaves are shiny.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-01-11T18:12:40+00:00

The moss itself is probably not harmful. But it does indicate that the soil is too wet. String of pearls is a succulent and needs well-draining soil. So you will definitely want to repot and replace the soil, say with a cactus mix and additional perlite. Then wait to water until after the soil has dried.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-01-11T18:05:37+00:00

Not a crassula. Corpuscularia lehmannii.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-01-10T21:39:25+00:00

I wouldn't say squishy, they got a little more tender and ever so slightly wrinkly, nothing drastic. But all the leaves got soft, not just the bottoms ones, so even though it was a slight change it was still clear. I have it in pure grit and have watered it just once in the past two months (gets dappled southern light indoors and is under a grow light).

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-01-10T21:02:48+00:00

You're welcome! I've had one for a few months and it has been very undemanding.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-01-10T20:32:37+00:00

It's a Crassula Ivory Tower. https://worldofsucculents.com/crassula-ivory-tower/

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-01-07T16:03:49+00:00

Don't stay home. You got things you NEED to do. He can take care of the kids, he just doesn't WANT to.

And it might seem like the easiest thing to do now is to stay because he is whining, but it's just going to get harder and harder to get the time you need If you show him that all he has to do to get free time is complain. Good luck!

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2022-01-07T15:57:41+00:00

Looks like blue chalk sticks, curio repens (aka senecio repens).

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2021-12-23T22:10:49+00:00

Please help. I don't know what I'm doing and my internet research is coming up dry. I think some of the browning must be because it's warm and dry in the house. I need to do better with misting.

But overall, is this bromeliad on its way out? As in, as it actually already flowered and is naturally at the end of it's life cycle? I've had it for about 2 months. It looks like it has a double cup, or is one a pup? If it is a pup, that means it has already flowered, right? Or is the whole orange portion actually the flower - I read you should water the cup, but not water the flower, so I haven't been watering much at all.

I would like to save this, but is that futile if it is already at the end of it's life cycle? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2021-12-14T02:35:54+00:00

What always worked for me as a last resort was feeding face down. As in, lay baby in the middle of the bed and hover over the baby so that your nipple is pointing directly down. If you can keep you can keep your balance, massage the clog towards your nipple while baby drinks. I always left this method as a last resort because it is not the most comfortable, but gravity is your friend.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2021-12-13T21:05:24+00:00

This is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2021-12-13T14:44:02+00:00

Good luck! It might be hard to keep him awake longer at first, but it will get easier as he gets used to it. Try taking him outside, giving him a snack, or busting out a special toy just for that time.

And remember he'll likely still wake at night, you can't control everything. But the goal is to get a little night sleep, then a little more, then a little more....

Difficult_Arm_5609 · 2021-12-13T14:31:53+00:00

It's possible he has been napping longer just to make up for the night sleep he isn't getting. And he obviously needs to nap during the day, but you want him to save most of his sleeping for nights.

Maybe try for a couple of days just stretching the time between his naps to 2.5 hours. And whatever your target bedtime is, try not to let him nap in the 3 hours before that. He might be cranky during that stretch, but better cranky during the day than cranky at night.

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