I do think it was set up to keep it separate. I wish it were more noticed than it is. I think Bea's post did help quite a bit. It took a long while before I noticed this side of the forum and even still you have to go to the other side then click to get here, which is inconvenient, but that's the way it is. I think that causes fewer people to do it. I guess just keep a thread bumped to the top is the only way to let others know who don't yet know. I think it's going to be near impossible to keep people from posting non-trade posts, though. When you want to get attention to your post, you're certainly more apt to on that side of the forum than on this. Blessings, Angela

Joanne, You do not have to cut the top off of a leaf when rooting it. I have rooted both ways, (leaves cut and whole) and, to be honest, I don't see much difference. The only time I think it is necessary is when the leaf roots and begins to grow rather than sending out babies. In my experience, it is very easy to tell when the leaf is growing.(it gets big, quickly). Cutting off the top stops this growth and directs the plant's energy elsewhere. (Hopefully into making babies). I just put down 19 leaves tonight and did not top any of them nor do I intend to. Experiment and see what works best for you. You don't need a sucker plucker but I think it makes things easier. I have been growing many years and I just got one last year. You can use anything sharp or even snap the suckers off if they are big enough. A sucker from a plant that is well-watered will snap easier than a drier one. You can re-pot and separate any time, The only reason to wait until blooming is over is that any root disturbance could have a detrimental effect on blooming but it doesn't hurt the plant. Peat is perfectly acceptable and you will find most who mix their own soil use peat in a ratio of 1:1:1 with perlite and vermiculite. Be sure and get Canadian Peat and not Michigan. Michigan is cheaper so it's tempting but it has degraded to the point that it is not satisfactory for violets. Or much of anything else. Bagged potting soil is usually peat based so you are essentially getting the same thing. These also need to be cut with equal parts perlite and vermiculite. Larger pots are for plants not leaves although I am intrigued how your pot was making your mama leaf curl. Got any pictures? Linda

Hello Bill and Beca, Thinking you might be as tired of those bamboo posts on top also I have tried a theory of how to get them down and on their way into oblivion. I think that the reason they stay on top is because they have never been responded to. Imagine posting a thread on a busy day (not likely on our forum) and then having it disappear off the front page before anyone gets around to replying. In order to keep this from happening they stick around on top until they are responded too. At least this is what I think. Usually you bump a post to bring it to the top but I just bumped these to get them off the top. If that is really how it works than this post should be on top because it is posted minutes after the others were bumped. Beca stop talking about your tomatoes:) I'm afraid to go into my greenhouse and see all the damage on my plants after all my water storage and heating pad ideas just weren't enough. Well I have two spindly things in the house, maybe I'll try potting them up in something bigger and bringing them out in the morning and in at night. Some of us will do anything for a decent tomato in the winter, and we don't have fifty pounds sitting around in boxes, baskets and every other container we can find waiting to ripen. Maria

I've seen this other places too. Squidoo is the only one I can think of off the top of my head. It can be distracting, but understand why they have to do it. Providing an option to opt out is nice, but I probably won't - just don't cursor over the words and it's not a big deal for me. With social media (where transparent identities are not only acceptable but expected) competing for attention and even quality content, it's probably getting tougher to maintain a site so it can function and stay relevant.