Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals

Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals

When I was 9 or 10 years old, I bought a tiny jade plant from the local Kmart with money I earned from shoveling snow.  I cared for that little plant for several years and watched with great happiness and pride as it grew from a two-leafer to a sizable 24″ tall plant.  It was ultimately killed by a rabbit while spending a summer outdoors at my folks’ house, but I’ll never forget that little jade plant.  Almost as a form of over-compensation, I’ve taken great care of my dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) for the last 24 years.  Like the jade plant, it also came from a big box store.  I bought it back in 1999.  From the time I loved and tended my jade plant all those years ago, right up through the present, houseplants, succulents and tropical plants have held a special place in my heart.  I’ll be adding more pics to the houseplants, succulents, and tropicals collection here in ongoing fashion, so please check back in to see what’s new.  In the meantime, I hope you’ll like these shots.  Cheers, and Happy Gardening!

Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My giant 'Sun Parasol Pink' Mandevilla vine is finally flowering on 09-23-24. It started a bit later than usual this year due to the fact that I didn't prune it heavily enough in the early spring. These vines flower on new wood.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My Bougainvillea flowering in the rain on 09-22-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
y amazing tropical hibiscus grows bigger, and flowers more heavily every year. 09-16-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My red mandevilla vine is bushy, and has tons of buds. 09-16-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Big, bold, and beautiful: the flowers of my tropical Hibiscus on 09-12-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My mom's polka-dot plant is blooming for the second year in a row under my care. 09-11-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
I love tending Dee Dee's lovely snapdragons. 09-11-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
I love my red Mandevilla vine! 09-06-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
I dig my tropical Hibiscus! 09-06-24
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
The first of my three tropical Mandevilla vines to bloom. 08-31-24. They've gotten a late start this year.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My little bat plant is becoming enormous. 08-27-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My big tropical Hibiscus bush on 08-26-24. Huge orange flowers for late summer!
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
The stunning, deep red blooms and buds of one of my Mandevilla vines. 08-25-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
I love the color of the flowers on my tropical Hibiscua 'Jazzy Jewel Amber'. 08-25-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My big, bushy tropical Hibiscus on 08-25-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
A white Caladium on 08-25-24...
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
...and a red Caladium. 08-25-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Elephant Ear (Colocasia). 08-25-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My healthy, happy jade plant on 08-25-24.

Plants need to eat, including all of those featured here in the “Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals” image gallery.  And, as far as almost every single one of my potted tropical plants is concerned, Espoma Organic Palm-tone is my hands-down choice.  This fabulous organic 4-1-5 fertilizer is formulated especially for tropical plants like palms, cycads, tropical hibiscus, bougainvilleas, and more.  The nutrient formulation of this food, coupled with the beneficial microbe colonies in its Bio-Tone component, ensures that my tropical plants are robust, bushy, and, in the case of my flowering tropicals, covered in huge, vivid blooms.  This is the stuff right here.  Click the #advertisement link to learn more, or to order right here, directly from Amazon.

Espoma Organic Palm-tone

Click here to learn more or to order

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One of my bags of the awesome Espoma Organic Palm-tone. This is the food that all of my potted tropical plants receive. Its proprietary blend of nutrients and beneficial microbes ensures vigorous growth and vibrant good health for all of my tropicals.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Mandevilla bloom and buds. 08-23-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Tropical Mandevilla vines are abundant in my garden. They flower in pots in the summer, and spend the colder months of the year in my living room. Damn it. 08-22-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Big, bushy, and blanketed in blooms... my badassed tropical hibiscus. 08-22-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
There's some question as to whether my hardy banana (Musa basjoo) should be featured here in this tropical plant image gallery. It is a tropical plant, but it's an extremely hardy one. It will survive outdoors through hardiness zone 4 winters. 08-22-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My huge tropical hibiscus bush (pruned into a tree-like form) definitely cranks out some bodacious summer blooms. It's too bad that I've got to lug it into my living room every fall. Who said life was fair? 08-21-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Tropical Hibiscus. 08-18-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
08-17-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
08-17-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
08-17-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
08-16-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Mandevilla. 08-15-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
08-15-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
08-13-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Mandevilla flower buds. 08-11-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
08-11-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Caladiums. 08-11-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Tropical Hibiscus. 08-11-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Dee Dee's geranium. 08-11-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My hardy banana tree is not really a tree, but a giant, herbaceous perennial. It's also definitely not tropical, as it's hardy all the way down to zone 4. 08-10-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My Norfolk Pine. 08-10-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
08-10-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Representative of an ancient race. My Sago palm is a slow-growing, long-lived Cycad with sinister abilities: It produces a number of different types of toxin that are deadly to animals and insects. 07-24-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My dwarf Meyer lemon tree growing quickly in the sunshine on 07-22-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My happy little Bat Plant on 07-22-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My enormous dwarf fig tree, 'Fignomenal', in its new pot. Although it's only in its first year, I'm hoping against hope to see some fruit this year. 07-22-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Geraniums! I overwinter mine indoors every year. 07-22-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My tropical hibiscus is covered in new flower buds. I'm expecting tons of huge, vivid orange flowers over the next couple of months. 07-22-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
The first bloom from Dee Dee's snapdragons this year. 07-21-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Dee Dee bought this little planter not long before she passed away last year. I've done my best to keep the plants alive and thriving. 07-18-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My dwarf fig tree, 'Fignomenal', on 07-14-24. This arrived in late winter in 2024 of 2024 in a 4' pot and has grown wildly and quickly. It moved outdoors for the first time on 05-16-24. It will soon be transferred to a larger pot as it has quickly outgrown its 12" original.

True Organic Citrus & Avocado Food.  This product is the only organic granular product I use that is not part of the Espoma family of organic granular products.  How does it compare to Espoma Organic Citrus-tone?  Very well indeed.  I can’t say that one works better than the other, but what I can tell you is that I prefer to use one on a particular fruiting tree, and the other on a different fruiting tree, although I’m convinced that they would work well interchangeably.  For my dwarf fig tree, True Organic Citrus & Avocado Food is what I typically use (although Citrus-tone would work well, too).  True Organic Citrus & Avocado Food has got an N-P-K ratio of 4-5-4, with 7% calcium and 1% sulfur for maintaining plant tissue structure and acidifying soil, respectively.  It’s got an incredibly fertile organic composition comprised of a number of natural ingredients.  Since figs appreciate a fairly balanced ratio of N-P-K, True Organic Citrus & Avocado Food fits my fig’s bill perfectly.  To learn more, or to order this excellent product right here, directly from Amazon, please click the #advertisement link.

True Organic Citrus & Avocado Food

Click here to learn more or to order

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One of my own bags of the remarkable True Organic Citrus & Avocado Food. My dwarf fig tree gulps this stuff down and then grows like crazy.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My dwarf Meyer lemon tree is growing quickly. It arrived in a 2" pot during the winter of 2024, and moved outdoors for the first time on 05-16-24. It has grown considerably, and I think it's reasonable to expect fruit next year, or the following year at the latest. 07-14-24.

Espoma Organic Citrus-tone.  This excellent organic food is what my dwarf Myer lemon tree eats.  This product is so neck-and-neck with True Organic Citrus & Avocado Food in so many ways, it’s impossible for me to recommend one over the other for general, overall use.  I love them and use them both.  I will say, however, that I believe that Espoma Organic Citrus-tone might be more appropriate for my little lemon tree.  It’s got an N-P-K ratio of 5-2-6, which satisfies the lemon’s need for a slightly higher proportion of nitrogen with respect to phosphorous and potassium.  It also contains calcium and sulfur, which are great for helping promote healthy tissue structure and acidifying soil, respectively.  Since lemon trees prefer slightly acidic soil, and I love using Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier to knock down the pH levels in my dirt, I’m comfortable with the level of proprietary compatibility between the two Espoma products when applied to my lemon tree’s soil.  Citrus-tone also features Bio-Tone in its formulation, which is Espoma’s amazing proprietary blend of beneficial microbe colonies.  To learn more about this excellent product, or to order it right here, directly from Amazon, please click the #advertisement link.

Espoma Organic Citrus-tone

Click here to learn more or to order

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One of my own bags of Espoma Citrus-tone. It's what my assertive baby dwarf Myer lemon tree eats.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My ancient and deadly cycad, the Sago palm, is very slow-growing. 07-11-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Watching the fronds of my Sago palm (not really a palm - it's a cycad) unfurl has been fascinating. 07-05-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
07-03-24. The deadly fronds of my ancient cycad, the Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) appear beautiful and menacing at the same time.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
I can't get enough of my happy little bat plant (Cuphea llavea), blooming on 07-03-24, and attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Tendrils. My deadly cycad, the Sago palm, on 06-26-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
This shot of my Cuphea llavea on 06-21-24 illustrates how this plant got its common name: 'Bat Plant'. This little plant overwinters indoors, and it spends its summers in its pot out in the garden attracting tons of hummingbirds.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My two seed geraniums on 06-21-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My strange and highly toxic Sago palm showing some new growth on 06-20-24. This cycad is extremely slow-growing and very long-lived. And again, it's highly toxic to humans and animals.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My little bat plant on 06-19-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My caladium (left) and one of my soon-to-flower 'Fairy Washboards'.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
My little crew of succulents loves the great outdoors. 06-15-24.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
My dwarf Meyer lemon tree is growing beautifully in the sunshine on 06-13-24.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
My dwarf fig tree, 'Fignomenal', soaking up the sun on 06-13-24.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
06-04-24. My three mandevilla vines on 06-04-24, outdoors on my deck. I busted all my tropical plants out on May 17, and they're really starting to show the benefits of exposure to prolonged periods of natural sunlight. It'll be a good year for all of my tropicals.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
Tropical hibiscus on 06-04-24.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
My bougainvillea is pruned, fed, locked, and loaded for summertime action on 06-04-24.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
My Fignomenal dwarf fig tree (Ficus carica 'Fignomenal') on 06-04-24. It lives its life as a houseplant throughout the coldest months of the year.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
My dwarf Meyer lemon tree on 06-04-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My Aeonium castello-paivae on 06-02-24. This guy is getting massive! They grow up so fast (sigh)...

Espoma Organic Cactus!  An organic liquid fertilizer from Espoma that’s formulated with an N-P-K ratio of 1-2-2, Cactus! is what I use to feed my Thanksgiving cactus and all of my potted succulents.  It can be administered year-round at two or four-week intervals, and its benefits are very quickly noticeable.  My plants have benefitted enormously from the application of this excellent product.  Please click the #advertisement link to learn more, or to order this excellent organic product right here, directly from Amazon.

Espoma Organic Cactus!

Click here to learn more or to order

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One of my own bottles of Espoma Organic Cactus! liquid cactus and succulent fertilizer. The beneficial effects of this food are noticeable almost immediately after application. This is the food that my Thanksgiving cactus and all of my potted succulents receive. I always buy the 2-pack!
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
This little seed geranium is happy to see and feel real sunlight on 05-25-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Caladium bulb sending up new growth after winter dormancy. 05-11-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
The ancient and deadly Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta). This plant is actually a cycad, one of the oldest plant forms on earth. It's sitting outdoors on 04-14-24 here in hardiness zone 5B/6A because, for very short periods, it can tolerate temperatures as low as 20° Fahrenheit.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My Thanksgiving cactus looks like it may have a surprise in store for me. I see flower buds! Pretty cool, since it already bloomed in November through early January. This photograph, and the next collage, are dated 03-10-24.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
The buds on my Thanksgiving cactus are easy to spot in these close-ups. Also easy to spot here is the plant's leaf shape. This "horned and spiked" shape identifies it as a Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) as opposed to the two other species of holiday cactus - the Christmas cactus and Easter cactus.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My little colony of Fairy Washboards, aka Haworthiopsis limifolia.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My Sago palm. Cycas revoluta. This dioecious (separate male and female individuals) plant isn't actually a palm tree, although it definitely looks like one. It's in the Cycad family (Cycadaceae), an ancient plant family more closely related to conifers and other gymnosperms. Sago palms are incredibly toxic, and are potentially deadly if any part is ingested by a human being or animal. Because of its toxicity, I take extreme precautions to ensure that it remains completely and permanently inaccessible to pets, people, and wildlife.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My Sago palm is still too small and immature for sex determination. This ancient, mysterious, and deadly plant requires extreme caution in its growing and care regimen. If, once it's sufficiently matured, this plant is determined to be female, it could produce seeds (which would be sterile in this case, as there's no male plant around to provide pollination services). The seeds of the Sago palm are the deadliest part of the plant. Extreme care must be taken to make sure they're never ingested by people, pets, or wildlife. If it becomes too difficult to isolate this plant and prevent its ingestion by people, pets, or wildlife, I'll make a gift of it to a facility equipped to keep it safely isolated from potential victims. What a plant, huh?

Espoma Organic Flower-tone.  This fabulous offering from Espoma’s family of organic plant foods is an absolutely perfect product for intensely flowering plants that like a slightly higher percentage of phosphorous and potassium in their food with respect to its nitrogen content, like my tropical mandevilla vines, and my extremely hardy flowering quince bush.  Espoma Organic Flower-tone fits the bill perfectly with its N-P-K ratio of 3-4-5 and the sizeable colonies of beneficial microbes included in its Bio-Tone component.  It does work wonders on my mandevillas and my flowering quince, but you can use this amazing stuff successfully on all sorts of flowering plants, bushes, and trees.  To learn more about Espoma Organic Flower-tone, or to order it right here, directly from Amazon, please click the #advertisement link.

Espoma Organic Flower-tone

Click here to learn more or to order

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One of my own big bags of Espoma Organic Flower-tone. Bushes like my hardy flowering quince, and tropical plants like my mandevilla vines, plus many many more, benefit from this excellent food and produce amazing blooms and rich, green foliage as a result of its application.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
One of my peace lilies (a gift from a dear friend of mine and Dee Dee's), blooming in February 2024.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
My little Aeonium castello-paivae. This photo, and the next two, are from February 2024. These little plants make winter more tolerable.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
Haworthiopsis limifolia.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
Crassula ovata. My jade plant.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My peace lilies, blooming in January of 2024.

The Lxyoug Full Spectrum LED Grow Light.  This is the perfect indoor grow light for all houseplants, succulents, and tropicals.  It’s kept all of my indoor plants healthy, happy, and green.  And, it’s proven to be THE miracle cure for all of my tropical plants that suffer from relocation shock when they first come indoors in the fall after spending the warm and sunny spring and summer months outdoors.  Its flexibility, capability, convenience, and proven effectiveness make this grow light an absolute must-have.  Please read my review of this unit in “Help Your Tropical Plants Recover from Relocation Shock.”  I simply can’t say enough about this product, and I am pleased to wholeheartedly recommend it.  I haven’t found a better lighting solution for my houseplants, succulents, and tropicals than the Lxyoug Full Spectrum LED Grow Light.  Please click the #advertisement link to learn more, or to order it here, directly from Amazon.

The Lxyoug Full Spectrum LED Grow Light

Click here to learn more or to order

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Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
One of my own Lxyoug Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights in action. 3 different light spectrum settings, 10 brightness levels, height that adjusts from 15" to over 6' when fully extended, and total ease of assembly, disassembly, and packing make this THE grow light for my houseplants, succulents, and tropicals.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
A couple of my succulents in January 2024. This pic, and the next one.
My tropical hibiscus, basking in the glow of its grow light on 12-18-23.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My Thanksgiving cactus. 12-02-23.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
This image, and the next two (dated 11-02-23): My tropical plants in the process of recovering from plant relocation shock.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My mom's polka-dot plant has just bloomed for the first time ever! 10-08-23. I gave this plant to my mom on Mother's Day, 2022. It was just a tiny plant in a tiny pot. It has thrived and grown, and it's now mine. I will always love it and tend it as my mom did.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
10-07-23. The last full day outdoors for my mandevilla vines. From 10-08-23 throuigh mid-May of 2024, they'll remain indoors.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Mandevillas and tropical hibiscus (next image) in the rain on 10-05-23.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
This image, and the next one, are dated 10-03-23.

Plants need to eat, including all of those featured here in the “Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals” image gallery.  And, as far as almost every single one of my potted tropical plants is concerned, Espoma Organic Palm-tone is my hands-down choice.  This fabulous organic 4-1-5 fertilizer is formulated especially for tropical plants like palms, cycads, tropical hibiscus, bougainvilleas, and more.  The nutrient formulation of this food, coupled with the beneficial microbe colonies in its Bio-Tone component, ensures that my tropical plants are robust, bushy, and, in the case of my flowering tropicals, covered in huge, vivid blooms.  This is the stuff right here.  Click the #advertisement link to learn more, or to order right here, directly from Amazon.

Espoma Organic Palm-tone

Click here to learn more or to order

#advertisement

One of my bags of the awesome Espoma Organic Palm-tone. This is the food that all of my potted tropical plants receive. Its proprietary blend of nutrients and beneficial microbes ensures vigorous growth and vibrant good health for all of my tropicals.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
09-29-23. My mandevillas will soon be coming indoors for the winter.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
09-24-23.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My bougainvillea on 09-23-23. When autumn grips the land here in hardiness zone 5B/6A, potted tropical plants like this one, along with my mandevillas, dragon tree, and tropical hibiscus, help to keep a colorful, verdant, tropical vibe alive in my soon-to-be dormant perennial cottage/zen garden into the early weeks of October. When frost shows up in the forecast, all of my tropicals come inside and remain there until the middle of the following May.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Caladium and coleus on 09-10-23.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Tropical hibiscus blooming beautifully on 09-07-23.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
This image, and the next 3, are dated 09-05-23.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
I love my mandevillas! This photo, and the next (which includes a tropical hibiscus) are from 09-03-23. These will all need to come indoors before too long. Bummer. They look great out in the garden mingling with my cottage garden hardy perennials.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Tropical hibiscus. 09-01-23.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
The very end of August, 2023: this image, and the next one.
Houseplants Succulents and Tropicals
This image, and the next 5, are dated 08-26-23.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
Amaryllis. A Christmas gift from my friend, Kevin Richardson.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
This beautiful bowl garden was a gift from my cousins Carrie Stamos, and Paul Orich and Nykki (née Orich) and Susie (née Orich) in memory of my mother.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
This Zamioculcas zamiifolia was a gift from a dear family friend, Diana Giovane, in memory of my mother.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
I gave my mom this polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) for Mother's Day in 2022 (above left). The Kalanchoe at right is a cutting from an original gift from my sister to my mom. These are my plants now, and I will continue to love them and care for them.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My 24-year-old dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) at left, and our Norfolk Pine (Araucaria heterophylla), which has served as a supplemental Christmas tree for the past several years.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My dwarf fig tree (Ficus carica), once it awoke from dormancy.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My baby dwarf fig tree is a tropical plant that will spend its summers outdoors.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
My baby Meyer lemon tree is also a dwarf that spends the colder months indoors.
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
This is my new succulents garden. I carefully selected various succulents such as jade plants, moonstones, ice plant, and aloe and planted them in four terra cotta bowls. I added a decorative soil covering of stone in each planter to accent the appearance of the plants. I love these little gardens!
Houseplants, Succulents, and Tropicals
On the left, another dragon tree is part of the crowd. These all go outdoors when the weather is warm. My mom's poinsettia (right). I'm going to try to keep it going.

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