Hi Joel. I have used coconut chips and coir with my orchids. Certain countries, which supply coconut products, soak the coconuts in pits of salt water for a long time to ease separating the husk and softening the shell. One vender told me they soak for over a year in huge pits. It has always been known that you should soak and rinse the coconut chips or fiber repeatedly to remove the salt. Some companies will state on their bags, that their product was prerinsed and only requires one rinse before using. Although I buy my supplies from reputable dealers, I still soak and rinse before using. If you soak overnight, you can taste the soaked water to see if its salty. Good dealers state that they get their product from inland producers who only soak in river water pits. No matter where you buy, it is recommended to soak coir and rinse at least once. I have had problems using CHC with certain orchids. I think it was because it holds too much moisture. As a result, I use it less than I did before. When I use the chips, I only use with plants which like to grow mounted or bare root. I will throw a few pieces in a pot alone. This way, when I water, the chips are rinsed each time in case some salt is still leaching. Again, gardening is so individual. What works for one person, will not work for another. Hope that helps, Jane

If your fern has been in the same pot all winter, you should probaby put it in a bigger pot, shake off all the loose potting soil and replace with fresh potting soil and some organic matter. Ferns are not heavy feeders, but people often forget that they can't keep feeding on the same old potting medium forever, especially if you want it to generate new foliage. Lainey

If you can get an appointment with a dermatologist while you still have the bite/rash; you are better off having them take a biopsy. My hub started with what looked like bug bites around his ankles; he was working in our yard when we 1st moved here. I was too; never had what he had. Next thing he knows; I believe his back & chest with blotches on his head & face. Derm took a sample; discoid Lupus; which is the Lupus rash. He has been fine since having cancer & chemo; has not had a flare since then until late April; early May. He pushed himself; I keep telling him that he has to make sure he eats & sleeps after the cancer. He didn't listen; I'm sure he rolls his eyes when I tell him; but he paid the ultimate price. He was up close to 24 hours one night after he got home (normally he takes a nap); did not get enough sleep; also was skipping meals. He got down to Daytona; he had a lip sore starting. Something told me to ask about his tongue; he said it looked like it was starting to get white. I'll spare everyone how hard it was to find a clinic he could get into with a semi. He did not listen to me with telling them what meds he needs for thrush.... He got his scripts; headed back home. By the time he got here the lip sore & thrush were all over his lips; tongue; throat & nose. Got him into the ENT in Philly who had never seen a case as bad as his. The next month he was sleeping but wasn't eating correctly; ended up home with horrible blisters on his fingers. I called the derm; secretary did not believe me that he had "huge" blisters on his fingers until I told her how large they were. Derm had no clue what it was until she biopsied. Turns out it was the Lupus rash. Please make sure you get a biopsy; that is the only way to tell what you have. By the way; I was stung badly by a Saddleback caterpillar August 23rd. It got me between my fingers & the palm of my hand. Not sure how many of his little stingers went into me; but I'm allergic to his venom. Most painful sting I've ever had. I went to the Dr; who never addressed it. Here is a link that might be useful: Saddleback caterpillar

Here's a remarkable part: Call it karma, sowing and reaping, what goes around comes around, a providential God, etc. but I spent right under $130 on vet bills. This was mostly meds and blood work, btw. Last week, I got an email, unsolicited and a general type sent out from my vets office for 3 free packages of Frontline Plus for each of my "three" dogs. "Stray" was counted as one of my dogs. I called the vets office to find out what the deal really was, they hadn't looked closely at the email but it was legit. I printed out a coupon for each dog and went that afternoon to pick up 3 packages of 3 Frontline Plus for Extra Large Dogs totally free. I didn't get my wallet out. This will last my two small dogs over two years at a savings of about $120 or more.