Arabica Coffee Bean Plant -4 pot- Grow & Brew Your Own" Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered two of these for my boyfriend for Christmas '09. They arrived very quickly, and were packed very well: In individual cardboard boxes with little packing peanuts all around to cushion them. The containers they were grown in were taped well to prevent the dirt from spilling out. They came with a photocopied information sheet, but no real instructions on how to make them really thrive. One thing that impressed me was that I know they were delivered early in the day on a very snowy, below freezing day, and they sat outside by the front door until I got home later that night. I was afraid they were going to be ruined, but they were packed so well that they popped out looking fresh and perfect.
Anyway, we've had them for a couple of months now, and have repotted them, using "Tropical Plant" potting mix. I guess I should mention that they had some brownish spots on some of the leaves, which turned out to be "scale", and we had to pinch off about a third of the leaves on each plant. Since we have no other houseplants, I assume these came with the "scale", but it was easily removed, and the plants have recovered and sprouted many, many new leaves. They are about an inch taller and much fuller than when they arrived.
Coffee plants are tropical, and usually grow in the shade of other plants, so diffused, very indirect sunlight(almost shade) has been best for them, in a room that stays about 70 degrees. We've kept the plants moist, and have fed them once with general purpose houseplant food. I'd say that they are thriving and looking better every day. I hope we get to see some coffee beans on them, but they are really beautiful plants, just how they are. They have lovely medium green foliage, and the new leaves are a bright and shiny apple green.
I have talked to the horticulturist at the Crohn Conservatory here in Cincinnati, and she gave me a lot of tips on how to care for them which have obviously worked. Since this isn't a usual houseplant here, I'd say do some research before you buy these and expect to have them grow beans. We almost lost them to "scale", and had no idea.

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The original home of the coffee plant is Africa. The first coffee plant of economic importance was Coffea Arabica. It grows to the height of 2-3 feet but the cultivated plants are cut to the height of 1-2 feet to get more width. The leaves of the coffee are lustrous dark green with lighter underside. The flowers emerge from the branches together with the leaves. The white coffee flower has five petals and a scent resembling that of jasmine. The coffee berries are cherry-sized and green at first, turning dark red later on. The ripening takes eight months. The coffee plant can simultaneously have flowers and berries in all stages of development. The coffee tree requires temperature of 65-80 degrees F. Thus, the coffee tree is a tropical plant. The plant you will receive is growing in a 4" pot and is about 8" tall. There are multiple plants in the pot.

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Oxo Good Grips POP Storage Containers Review

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(More customer reviews)Overview:
I have purchased many of these storage containers, in various sizes. As with most OXO products, I have been extremely satisfied with them, and I would buy them again. More importantly, my wife appears to be equally impressed with her gift.
That being said, I don't think they would work as well for everyone, as they do for us. They are expensive, and they are not necessarily the best choice for a home with small children. As such, I will provide you with my observations, and leave it up to you to decide how they would fit into your personal lifestyle.
The pros:
They seal flawlessly, and with great ease. I believe they are the best product available for keeping the freshness in, and the bugs out. They stack nicely, and their clear siding permits easy identification of the contents within. Their rounded corners make pouring a breeze.
These containers come in a variety of sizes, and meet all of our kitchen dry-storage needs. They work for everything from baking goods, to cereals and crackers, to bread. Yes, the two largest container sizes can hold a normal-sized loaf of bread, and keep it fresh for much longer.
They have really helped organize the pantry, which looks great, and makes it much easier to evaluate how much of a product requires replentishment, prior to shopping.
The cons:
First, many of them (especially the larger sizes) are not packaged well for shipping, and they have arrived in broken condition. Fortunately, Amazon Customer Service has promptly replaced them, without delay. To me, the long-term convenience far outweighs the short-term frustration.
Second, we have not broken any of them after delivery, but we are also quite careful in their handling. I'm not sure how well they would do with small children, so be advised before you invest. I suspect a single drop on the hard kitchen floor would result in a damaged container, but I am not willing to test my hypothesis at this price.
Third, they are not dishwasher safe, except for the silicon sealing ring. For us, this has not been a major issue, but it may be a problem for others. Personally, we have found their non-pourous construction to be easy to clean, so we don't mind hand washing them.
Pre-purchase planning:
Be aware that for stacking purposes, the containers come in three shapes (from the top view): small-square shape, large-square shape, and rectangular shape. While you can sometimes mix them for stacking, in general, I find that it is best to stick to one shape (for a particular stack).
Also, be aware that you get more bang-for-the-buck with the larger sizes. The relationship between the price of the container and the volume of storage is indirect. In short, less storage costs you more money.
In general, I find the large-square shape and the rectangular shape to be the most beneficial. They permit easy access, and they allow the buyer more options regarding what to put in them. That being said, understand that the prepackaged sets tend to come with a lot of the small-square shaped containers.
The smallest sizes have limited functionality, but can be useful for storing raisons, small candies, etc. As for the spices mentioned by the manufacturer, spices usually come in a bottle. For those that don't, I believe there are better (and cheaper) products available.
Summary:
For those willing to deal with the shipping issues, the risk of future breakage, and the hand-washing, I think this is by far the best product on the market. With care, they will save you money in the long-run because: they keep things fresh, they keep the bugs out, and they make it easy to avoid the over-buying or the under-buying of groceries. They are a quality product, and they make the kitchen look great.
Whether you want to buy many of them or just a few, I generally recommend the larger sizes. They provide the best bang-for-the-buck, and permit greater flexibility. Specifically, I would start with a few of the large-square types to see if you like them as much as I do.
Thank you for those who posted before me. Much of what I have said consolidates what you mentioned before, and really helped with my purchasing decisions. For those of you still stuck in the decision-making process; good luck! I hope this helps out a little.

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Easily keep dry foods fresh and the kitchen organized with this airtight, space-efficient storage container. Offering a 5-1/2-quart capacity, it works great for bulk cereals, pretzels, chips, and more. The container provides a square shape for maximum space efficiency, and its corners make for convenient pouring. Even more, its unique push-button mechanism creates an airtight seal with just one touch. The pop-up button also serves as a handle to lift off the lid, which comes apart for thorough cleaning. Designed for modular stacking, several together allow for efficiently organizing the countertop or pantry. The storage containers can also be used in the garage, sewing room, play room, or in other areas of the home. Available in a variety of sizes, the 5-1/2-quart container measures 6-1/4 by 6-1/4 by 13-1/2 inches and all parts are top-rack dishwasher-safe.

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