Brugmansia Friends at Monika Gottschalk's in Germany

Thanks Veronica for helping out to explain, i am adding the picture so all can see how Monika does it. Actually her Standards are in 15 Gallon containers which are then sitting in the 20 gallon Container that are permanently in the ground, in the Spring Monika takes the 15 Gallon standard and sets the same into the 20 Gallon container, she then fill the space between the two with fresh enhanced soil so once again the roots are able to reach out into the fresh soil for the growing Season. In fall she will cut the roots outside the 15 Gal Container with a long blade and lift the Standard out cuts back to several Y's for new cuttings then places the Container in her Greenhouses for the Winter.

Monika has no heavy Equipment to do this, just a dolly and lots of willpower to move the Plants.

Here a picture of her Standard in 15 gal or even larger containers

One more to show, out of the ground ready to go in the GH for the Winter.

Here is a picture of Monika's only Equipment, with a roots cut container lifted from the larger in ground container ready to go in for the Winter.

Christa, Thanks for adding those photos and for the actual size of the pots used. It's been ages since I've seen the actual posts. I keep dreaming ... one day .... one day... I may be able to have a few like that. LOL.

I wish I could plunge my Brugs that way. In fact I've seen double pot sets sold in the A M Leonard catalog. What keeps me from doing so is something nasty called Bermuda grass. One year, I decided to try a variation and covered the holes along the side and bottom of the pots. What a difference it make to have those roots extending out into the ground. Unfortunately, it allowed the Bermuda grass to grow up through the drain hole and into the potting soil. By the following spring, I had to start new cuttings or to remove all the soil and take out every single piece of grass roots. If I missed any, I had to repeat the process. Now I don't dare let the bottom of the pots touch the soil. Bermuda grass is impossible to kill and it's all over our pastures, thus in my yard. :-)

I've been meaning to ask. Does she ever replace the soil in the inner pot? or enrich it?

Veronica.. the inner tap root is likely as big as the trunk as it leaves the pot and likely fills up the bigger pot.. the feeder roots are growing out in her new improved soil.. I don't think there would be much room in the inner pot at all for new soil .. bet you couldn't get a gallon of soil in there with the big root there... which has likely pushed most all of the soil out to make room for the growing big root.. not much to be gained by upsetting it for it's soil replacment .. likely there is a limited time each can grow that way.. maybe 10-15 years.. when the inner root is so constrained it should be released... but we'll have to ask her of the longevity of such a technique..
I' d wager before that time she's developed a hoast of new brugs ... bigger with great colors and form she'd wish to move onto herself..

Thanks for all the info. I, like Bettydee, can only dream. At 77 (and with an aging yard man) I doubt that I can approach this. But, it has given me a few ideas to try. I have an enclosed porch 20 feet by 40 feet where I keep my plants over the winter-------------and, I might try to keep some new and larger things.

Again, thanks,
Shirleyd

Beautiful photos, Christa. Gorgeous, gorgeous brugs.
Monika's place is beautiful. Glad you got to go :)

Veronica to answer your Question regarding replacing the soil of the inner container, yes Monika will do just that, every two to three years, she will take the Brug Tree out of the container and cut some of the heavy tap roots which have grown as large as an arm with the saw to encourage the new growth of the feeder roots then replaces the void with new enriched soil, otherwise without the smaller feeder roots the plant will stop growing and producing those blossoms we love so much. The soil of the outer container is replaced enriched every spring.
Veronica i will send you a dmail .

Gordon you hit the nail right on the head, LOL Monikas Standards are anywhere from 10 to 17 years old and with the method of cutting some of the heavy roots to refresh the feeders they may live a lot longer then that, we just got to do that also it is so rewarding to have to great trees.

Here is the actual Picture of the Mobisu i took 3 weeks ago at 16 years old, which you've seen previously pictured on the Dolly lifted out you may recognize her by the two trunks.

He Alice, maybe i shall take you along to Monika in 2010, LOL

Christa thanks for sharing your beautiful photos of Monkia's garden.. Gald you had a good time.. hope you got to see your family while there.
hugs my friend

Elva

This message was edited Sep 8, 2009 10:15 PM

And maybe I will go Christa .. if I can get away a little while.
You never know, I might be able to swing it ;) lol

I bet that's what heaven looks like. Those are so absolutely Beautiful.
There really isn't enough words to describe it. I love them all But Autumn Treasure
is one of my favorites.
What a dream to go on such a trip.
Thanks for the Dream.
Charleen