How To Apply Php.ini To Multiple Subdirectories?

i have tried various methods, and i'm just getting errors-- and confused. the goal is to put some code into .htaccess in the app's root dir, so that the php.ini located in that same root dir will affect all subdirs. here are 3 articles describing methods to achieve this, but nothing seems to work. i either get server errors, or the subdirs are simply not affected. http://bit.ly/pyOaN http://bit.ly/udgAT http://bit.ly/J0TUM i'm on 1and1 shared hosting. they tell me i have cgi php. here's my info.php on the root dir: http://s219617301.onlinehome.us/cmsms/info.php this root dir contains the php.ini which i want to apply to all subdirs. please help!