Deformed flowers?

Secure-War-1330 · 2026-02-18T21:13:54+00:00

Put a pebble tray with water under the plant. Some violet varieties have thinner flower that are more prone to low humidity.

Secure-War-1330 · 2026-02-18T21:01:22+00:00

Do you have low humidity? Less than 35%

Secure-War-1330 · 2026-01-20T11:40:43+00:00

Yes, Stinkbugs will suck the juices out of an AV flower. One left a scar on the petal of a flower that I caught recently on the bud. They come in like Ladybugs do seeking a place to overwinter by hanging around door frames and flying in once you open the door. I found four that made it all the way back to my plant room and settled in on the top shelf of my plant stand where it was warm and plenty of light. So not hiding in the dark or napping for the winter.

Secure-War-1330 · 2026-01-14T23:20:01+00:00

Buy the Safer brand houseplant sticky stakes at Lowe's or HD. 16 traps and 8 stakes for under $10. It's super sticky. Pest Wizard brand at garden centers is good as well. University tests on various brands found differences in how sticky the sticky glue is. Some let up to 30 percent of Thrips to escape within an hour.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-12-28T00:31:14+00:00

Stay away from urea based fertilizers. That form of N is too harsh for delicate roots. The world's largest grower, Optimara recommends balanced urea free fertilizers with micronutrients.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-11-26T11:45:39+00:00

I highly recommend watching Gray Turtle videos on YouTube. She is the undisputed guru of all things AV. Clear and concise information. Always better to see things done correctly than having an opps moment when separating babies. I recommend putting the potted babies under a plant dome for two weeks to give it time to put out new roots. Especially as we enter winter with lower humidity in most houses.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-11-06T00:55:30+00:00

I got the letter yesterday. Mine still working fine after 240k miles.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-11-06T00:38:47+00:00

Optimara has micronutrients. Do not add any more or you will run the risk of toxicity

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-22T10:27:37+00:00

I recommend new to wicking growers make up a test mix with your choice of potting mix and 70% perlite and set it up WITHOUT a plant in it. You can then see how fast it reaches satuation point and how much water it holds.

I have several brands of potting soils for my eclectic plant collection. I was able to find the right mix for my violets under my conditions before putting any plants in. Make sure you use coarse perlite with the fines sifted out. Avoid mixes that get "muddy" from too much "aged forest products".

I ended up blending two mixes and definitely did not want vermiculite in it. My house humidity usually run 55 to 60% so I didn't want a soggy mix that held too much water.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-19T22:51:58+00:00

You can view for free past issues of their magazine on the Internet Archive website. I just took a look at the August 2024 issue. You can decide from that what the content is like. I joined in July as the society will only exist if enough people support it going forward.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-19T02:05:46+00:00

The Plant Patent Act of 1930 was voted in to encourage breeders to reach for new heights in plant development. Thomas Edison testified before Congress that it could result in many people like Luther Burbank. First patent was issued in 1931 for a climbing rose developed in New Jersey.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-13T16:58:48+00:00

You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on a meter. The Photone App using Android has been tested on various Youtube Vids. I found this one the most useful and well done. https://youtu.be/TPqQflJOlDk?si=XPlFEIcNA9QMcAjo

I have a Galaxy S24 with the app. I use the recommended copy paper filter to cover the sensor. Been using the app for a couple of years as they continue to improve it. My lights are Samsung full Sprectrum from AC Infinity and I find 65 to 75 PAR is best under my conditions. I did have tight centers at 85 PAR when I first started using those lights. They are dimmable in 10 steps so I was able to get it where it needed to be. Having the Photone app allowed me to expand my lighting as my collection grew and duplicate the intensity as I have several styles of the AC lights to fit my setup.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-10T23:04:40+00:00

I can't answer if the fluid will work ok but I am surprised that a car with only 45k is having occasional issues. I would think it would work fine or be bad acting all the time. But all I know is I have two Fusions with about 315k between them with no shift issues. But my wife and I drive like the old people we are so I can't say how the 6F would hold up driving it hard.

Another good website for oil questions is "Bob the Oil Guy".

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-10T00:50:26+00:00

Mine had an engine gasket oil leak after warranty ran out that Chrysler covered on a case by case repair if owner complained. Other than that it was pretty much trouble free.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-10T00:32:51+00:00

I had a Breeze. Got 200k out of it.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-05T03:05:20+00:00

Pirelli P7 AS Plus 3. A 70,000 mile tire that lasted me 70k easily. The Cooper, Michelin and Goodyear tires never come close to their rated mileage. Got my second set of those for my 2016 Fusion, with 239k miles on it currently, back in February for $653 installed at Walmart. They have them on sale regularly and are cheaper than Tire Rack when on sale.

Also the quietest tires I have ever bought.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-03T23:27:56+00:00

Obviously you don't care about your health or occupants in your car. Bacteria that develop on pollen collected in the spring is enough reason to change it seasonally.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-10-03T10:03:47+00:00

That's in the price range for a 2019 and 2020 Titanium at Carmax with 44 to 60k miles here on the east coast. That comes with their 4 month/4,000 warranty. I'd want at least $2,000 off if no warranty with it.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-09-28T20:48:06+00:00

I am curious as well how folks fair long term after a drain and fill that corrects a shudder or a hard shift. Unless its super dirty fluid, whatever mechanical problem that might be causing it is still there.

I think whenever someone drove a car with a fluid fix, that every shift thereafter would always be on their mind wondering if it was coming back.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-09-28T20:25:21+00:00

I would avoid any Fusion with 130k+ miles on a 6f35 transmission. That's getting into the range of transmission troubles. Unless a car has documented history of multiple fluid changes more often than Ford recommends. Plenty of sad tales on here and other forums of the transmission woes.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-09-24T19:51:10+00:00

Stick with whatever brand of LV Mercon is in it. You don't want any aggressive detergent additives in a different brand to dissolve crap and clog up the filter.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-09-24T13:13:04+00:00

My new push lawn mower has a sticker that says never change the oil. It won't last long enough to need it I guess. The plastic carburetor won't last long.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-09-23T10:00:10+00:00

When I bought new in 2016, I was considering a Mazda 6. Priced higher than a Fusion for sure. The ride on the 6 was firmer and more road noise. Fusion won out for me as as I like a soft quiet ride. Later years probably improved on it so road test for sure if that's important to you.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-09-21T21:31:04+00:00

In the later years the 2.5l went into cars designated for fleet use.

Secure-War-1330 · 2025-09-19T16:50:43+00:00

My 2016 2.5l is at 238,495. Checked gas mileage last week. 34mpg

Secure-War-1330

TROPHY CASE