Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Let's Chat, "Mid At" ! Whatever, whoever, yak away, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Holly---
Wise??? Wonderful???? Bless you""" What gives?????

I have found that the tip cuttings of a Brug are not the best to root....they are "green"
It may not make it.....It is like a "Green" cutting vs, a somewhat "woody" cutting.
A true stem cutting will root the best and grow the best----just remember to take your cuttings
ABOVE the "Y"--or yo may not see blooms until the plant itself "Y"'s...
NO "Y"--NO blooms!!!!

I have been through all this--the water--the "bubbler" method----etc..Mine often just rotted out....

Woody--or ALL wood--works best....You could take a section of the main stem and stick it in a pot--
and it will root. Just prepare a 5" or 6" pot of fresh potting mix and stick the cutting in it--
ALL the way to the bottom. Rooting hormone helps--but I don't think is essential....
Place the pot in bright light---Keep it barely moist until you see new leaf growth.
Do the "tug test" to see if it is rooted....It will happen very fast....

As the leaves grow--they will use up more moisture--and require more watering.
Go by feel--as to when they need watering.....you will know....

Holly--I cut my Brugs back every fall as i am about to bring them down to the Shop for
their winter's snooze....
At this time--I am soon going to bring them out to the "World"--very carefully!
Shade for a week first----then part sun---then brighter light----
You will be amazed how fast the recover after the winter's dormancy period!

If you have never grown Brugs before---here is my "primer" on Brug care.....

I warn you--they are addictive!!! Then you start hating them for their needs and cate....

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Re Brugmansias-----...
Spring and Fall and Winter care….by Gita

I plant my Brugs Pot-in-Pot...By that I mean---get a black, or other cheap, plastic, 2-3gal. pot and cut 4-5 1" holes around the lower half of the pot (for the roots to grow out of--if they need to) and then sink THIS pot 1/2-3/4's of the way into a much bigger Patio pot, or in a flower bed--leaving the rest of the smaller pot sticking out above the soil level.

This provides the Brugs with the cooler temps the roots like---keeps them from drying out as quickly--and also keeps them from blowing over in windy storms. Still--I have had even the bigger pots of Brugs blow over if they were Pot-in-Pot above ground---like on a patio. Their leaves act as parachutes...BAM! Over they go!!!!
I put 2-3 bricks on top of the pot to try to counteract this...Works sometimes???? Sometimes NOT!

When it comes time to bring your Brugs in for the Winter--lift the smaller pot out of the big pots--or the flowerbed-- YES! You will have to sever the roots that grew out those holes and trim off any remaining roots sticking out— NO HARM DONE!
Put a plastic bag around that pot for the winter--to keep the exposed roots from drying out--and haul the whole thing into your basement. Light is not necessary—but OK
if you have some. I have NO light to speak of, and they make it OK.
Unheated garages are not the greatest--unless you can run a small heater in there--just to keep the temps above freezing...Water just a tiny bit during this dormancy period.
You can also remove most of the leaves before bringing the plants in,
as they will fall off anyway. Leave the leaves on the stem-tips be!

IF your Brug has grown all wide and big during the Summer--you will have to prune it back--just try not to prune below the first "Y" of the stem...Brugs HAVE TO "Y" before they can bloom! Simple as that!
Rooting cuttings taken from above the "Y" will guarantee sooner bloom the following year. Stem cuttings taken from below the 1st "Y" root just as well--but you will now have to wait until that stem cutting grows tall and “Y"s on it's own before expecting any blooms from your new Brug. Sometimes this won't be before October.

The trimmed stems can be cut up in 6"-7" pieces and rooted--right into a 5"-6"pot of fresh soil mix. You can use Rooting Hormone on the ends if you like...
Shove the cutting all the way to the bottom of the pot. Keep it barely moist for now.

I have found that stem cuttings root so much more easily--compared to tip cuttings. In a matter of weeks--do the gentle tug test...There WILL be resistance...That means it has started to root in. Celebrate!

When new leaf-growth nubs start to appear--you will need to water a bit more regularly...Keep it just moist, though until leaves appear. Watch for wilting!
Let the plant tell you when...:o) Also a weak fertilizer might help here at this point...like--1/2 strength MG. The 7 drops to a quart kind--in the green bottle--for Houseplants...

In the SPRING--
When I bring my Brugs out from their dormancy --I keep them in shade for about a week...then in filtered light for a week--and then in the bright light they will be living in...By now--most of them are back to normal and growing already.
Usually--they don't even "blink"...just turn all green and march on...

About every 2-3 years--you will need to root-prune the root ball. Trust me--It will NOT hurt the plant!!!! Brugs are nearly indestructible!

To root-prune--pull out the Brug from the smaller pot it has been growing in--get an old, sharp, kitchen knife---and just slice away. Cut off the outer part (rind) of the root ball--maybe 1"-2". Don't be shy! It won't hurt the Brug..
Cut off the same amount from the bottom of the root ball. Doing this will be VERY invigorating to the plant!
Re-pot in the same “holey” pot--adding fresh soil mix, with maybe some Osmacote
(slow release) type of a fertilizer mixed in, and fill back around the now smaller root-ball with this soil mix –do the bottom first--- then the edges and a top-dressing as well.
Water in well.
NOW-- You are set for a whole new Season...Not so hard!!!!
***Brugmansias like a bright, sunny spot, but need a bit of protection from the searing, afternoon sun.

Hope this helps all of you “newbie” Brug-growers. These plants are tough!
Feed them weekly and keep them watered. In hot weather—every day!
Literally—sometimes 2 gallons a day! If they wilt—they will come right back.
Later in the season—yellowing leaves are of no concern. This happens….
Just remove them.
***NOTE***Brugmansias are toxic if ingested!!!! Be safe!
Wash your hands after working with them!

The only thing you will need to look out for is Mites on the leaves.
This could happen overnight. Leaves will look mottled. A sure sign you have them.
Spray the whole plant with “Neem” or other insecticide that lists Mites, especially the undersides of the leaves and the new growth. Repeat as needed—every 2 weeks.
You can also use Systemic Granules (Espoma makes it), applied to the soil and watered in, which should help. Systemics are absorbed into the plants “system”, making all the juices toxic to sucking insects. It also kills any bugs that have crawled into the soil.
I would suggest you print this out and save it...for future reference.

Gita


Even though this Brug has been all cut back in prep for taling it down to my Shop
for it's Winter's snooze--you can see what a "Y" is allabout.
See the "Y"s at the top of the stems? Your Brug will not bloom until it "Y";s...

Once it "Y"s it will keep on "Y"ing. A cutting taken from below the "Y" will have to re-grow to
the point that it will "Y".....Therefore--treunk cuttings will root OK--but you will have to wait and wait
until the new growth "Y";s before you will see any blooms...

I take all my cuttings from above the "Y"---so as soon as it is riited and under way--it will
produce bloom buds....

here is the "silliest" example of how soon a "Y"'ed cutting can bloom.....

Chuckle!!!! Gita