Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Neck of the Woods CHAT Summer 2013, 3 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
wind--

I have never grown a Plumeria--and do not know its growth habits. I think Chantelle may know...
So I do not know how it would relate to a Brug.
I will concentrate on answering your questions on the Brug.

When I cut back my Brugs, to bring them inside for the winter dormancy, I never go below the "Y".
Since I root the cuttings--I want them all to start blooming as soon as possible.
Brugs will NOT bloom until they "Y"--so taking cuttings from ABOVE the "Y", in ,my opinion,
will give you bloom much sooner. Maybe it is "genetics"--above vs below.????

I have learned to keep the "Y"'s short when cutting the brug back--keeping the top 2 parts ("arms") of the "Y" short.
Otherwise--the new growth will be too sprawled, as it will grow from the tips of the 'arms"...

You may have new little shoots or leaves coming from the stems, or trunk below--but they are not branches.
Sometimes, a Brug will send up a whole new stem from the bottom from below the soil.
This will be a new stem and will have to "Y" in order to bloom.

I hope this answers your questions.

*****************************************************

RRR--

You are in Z-6. I do not believe any Brug planted in the ground will live through your winter.
Hence--you will not have any new cuttings to take from it. Are you saying you will 'sacrifice" the mama brug?

Your cuttings will grow into new brugs, which may, or may not, grow big enough to take cuttings from later in the year.
My 1st year Brugs are usually small enough that it is easy to just bring in the whole pot.

Your full-sized brug CAN be kept indoors all winter IF you have a nice sunny window--or a sun room.
It will grow and bloom, and could become a source of new cuttings.

For where to cut, above the "Y", stay away from the new, soft growth. They do not root very well. Too green!
Always take a nice wood cutting--any diameter. I would stay away from the real skinny ones--3/4" -1" diam. is good.
You could even root a section of the main trunk if you like.
I gave one to Terp last year. We called it the "Monster Cutting'....

Did this answer Your questions? Gita

1--From 2008. Cuttings rooting. all from above the "Y"--with smaller "Y",s above.
***Once a stem "Y"'s--ALL subsequent growth above it will "Y" as well.
So--the cuttings below themselves are from above the "Y"--but the subsequent growth akso "Y"-ed.
So--now it looks like I took a straight cutting from below the "Y"??? Nope! It is a "Y" further up from the 1st "Y".
Does this make sense?????

2--Here is a very large Brug (Maya) cut back severely. This grew into a monster the following year.
7'x7'. I had to give it away to an Arboretum. (2009).

3--This was beautiful--but bizaare. No way I could ever take it inside. This is the "Maya" brug.
Never before--or after have i seen any brugs grow to this size.