First, Trunkmonkey....thanks for the validation on the bickering on the other forum. I really was beginning to take it personally. I've always been nice and respectful yet met with such opposition, contradiction and attitude and never understood where it came from. It's just good to know I'm not the only one experiencing it. I'll be sticking around here, as I feel more like I'm around other adults than, well let's just say...people who haven't matured emotionally or intellectually yet.

Also, the misting factor....I'm new to citrus, and I thought they wouldn't be much different than other plants, but evidently they are.

I do know this...being a "seasoned" herb gardener I know the tender leaf of the basil plant and rosemary (to name two) WILL burn if left wet in the burning mid-day sun due to misting in an attempt to "cool off" the plant from excessive heat. I've seen it happen and it's happened to other herb gardeners I know. So with respect to any .edu studies, herbs have a different experience. It's not due to soil condition, watering conditions of the soil or burning because of too much fertilizer. It's directly related to water left on the plants in the blazing mid-day sun.

Well, more wonderful news about how my tees are dying! Gosh I'm so mad right now, my dad wont leave my trees alone. I dont know how many time I've told him to leave my trees alone! Everytime I tell him, he just tells me back "Your killing your trees, theyre not getting enough water." Like he didnt even listen to me. Then Ill tell him that I know what Im doing and that Ive done my research and asked my questions, and to just stop messing with my money! Hes pretty much throwing away my money. About every several days I find my trees drenched in water and I know someone tried to water them because nothing else is wet except my trees.

Is there anyway to dry out my plants soil quickly? I am leaving for 5 days to my cabin so It would need to be a way to dry the soil exceptionally fast. You can only imagine how happy I am right now, with my keyboard messing up constantly as I type this. And I am sorry, but no. I cannot calm down while my dad is throwing away my money that I invested in this that I had to work for. Im starting to hope my trees die so I can make him buy more trees to replace mine.

wow, i mean, i understand your concern for your trees but you need to chill, gardening is supposed to be fun, and for me its relaxing. but when it comes to you freaking out about it (im not saying you dont have a good reason to be though) maybe you should just consider the fact that your dad is trying to help you and your trees, even though he may be hurting them. so idk i would just tell him that you wish he would respect your time and money and let you deal with your trees and if they die, then maybe you should consider what you are doing as well. but also if they live than ou can have a nice victory dance! ...but by all means, please dont hope your plants die! best of wishes,

The only thing I know you can do is change the potting soil to CHC mix-- Millet says you can't really overwater with CHCs since it is so fast draining.

Hi, I've been reading here for a while, and thought I would chime in. Maybe your dad needs something to water. How about get him a tree of his own, and use the experience to bond with him instead of fight. You can discuss what you have learned, and show him this forum and all of the information available from the experts. Lay the ground rules that you want to follow the experts, and he can do what he wants with his tree, but don't make it a contest. Turn it into an opportunity to learn together. Take it from someone who will never be able to do that anymore with their father, you can only benefit from the experience. Good luck with your trees, and with your father. Barbara