My most improtant tip is that all new plants and leaves should be isolated for a mininmum of 1 month before introducing them into your collection. I generally isolate for 2 months.
Fred in NJ
PS I use a bulb syringe to water my minis and semis. They are availanle at drug stores in the baby section.

Using semi-hydroponics has put me back into AV growing.
I now have 60 and am still amazed that I can grow them.
They are so beautiful.

For me, when starting leaves, enclosing them in a clear plastic container almost always guarantees babies.

Xuan

I prepare my perlite way before I ever use it.

I don my mask first and always. Never fool with perlite without a mask.

I line a collander with cheese cloth and dump in some perlite. I rinse with the garden hose (never do this inside), then I spread it in shallow pans to dry in the sun.

This way, I get rid of most of those fine particles and my perlite is ready to use in my Metro Mix.

I buy my coarse perlite at the county Co-Op in a four cubic foot bags so I rinse enough perlite to fill a large Rubbermaid container.

Linda

A small pickle fork is great for removing soil from the roots of smaller plants. A long handled baby spoon without the plastic coating is good for adding potting mix a bit at a time.

Barbara

I use a (new) squeeze bottle for hair dye to water little plants; it has a nice small tip that can reach under the leaves.

One of my most useful tools is my bonsai tweezers; they're 8" long with bent tips that can reach into the largest or smallest plant, and actually does a pretty good job of combing soil from roots.

Korina

'We did it, we bashed them, wee Potty's the one,
And Voldy's gone moldy, so now let's have fun!' ~Peeves