Brug problem

Ok, folks, I need help again with a brug. It is a pretty good size plant, in a pot. It has a lot of new growth, several tops that appear to be Ying. But now, each one of those tops are starting to split vertically, about 8 inches or so from the top, in green, fairly thick, stems. The splits are up to 5 inches long and about 1/8 inch deep. No scabs, no sign of anything that would cause it. They all look like they are going to do that. And one even has 2 or 3 of those splits, different lengths, side by side.

While taking this picture I found 2 little white grub type things on different places on the stem, not close to the split, About 1/8 inch long. About 2 weeks ago I gave it some rose systemic.

Does anyone have a clue what is causing this?

edited to add: I can spray it with BT, but are those little grubs the problem? Would they be inside of the plant?






This message was edited Jul 8, 2010 8:29 AM

Did the Brug experience any drastic changes, such as from relatively dry to very wet, very little fertilizer to lots of it ... anything that would cause a sudden growth spurt? That split looks like a growth split on tree bark and fruit where the interior grows faster than than the non elastic exterior so the bark or skin splits to accommodate the new width.

It looks clean so far, but to be safe, I would spray all the splits with a fungicide and keep an eye on it.

Regarding the "grubs". They are probably small caterpillars. I would just hand pick them if there are only a few. If you have a bigger problem, then use the BT.

looks like an increase in water.. accompanied by heat.. causing the plant to try and accomodate increase..
have you had alot of moisture there.. are the splits on the southern side of things there..

All during late April and May my DH hauled my brugs outside during the day, mid to high 50s, and back in at night. During that time I only fertilized them a couple of times. Then in June, we repotted them and with this one we cut the roots back, then potted it in a holy pot (either a 12 or 14 inch pot with 2 inch holes all around it) and then in a muck bucket. It is a 15 to 20 gallon. and then at that time we left it out on the deck on the North side of the house with temps in mid to high 60s. It just got into the 70s since the first of July, and today was 81 high. During this time, since we repotted it early June, I have fertilized it 3 times, once with MG, and 2 with Space City, which has a lot of trace minerals etc.

Watered at the most, every other day. A couple of days, each day if it appeared warmer. I am thinking you are right. It kind of reminds me of a tomato whose skin is too tight and splits.

Sooooooo, what to do about it? What kind of fungicide do you recommend? I have never had a need for any. Really. Then hold off on any more what? Water and/or fertilizer?

I doubt the increase of heat (LOL, it has been so cold and wet) would have caused it.

Thank both of you soooo much. I was shocked to say the least. This is the brug Betty that was mushy. Remember? Each time I cut the mush off it would mush some more? Teresa in Canada told me it would stop on it's own, so not knowing what else to do, I left it alone, and it did stop at the next new growth.

It is so healthy looking and then this. It looks like each of the shoots is going to Y.

Just suggest a fungicide and I will be so pleased with both of you for your help.

Jeanette

MMMMM the pot was in a bucket..and it's been cold and wet..there.... yes... likely it was under water in the bucket.. they do like water.. but they also don't mind the dry.. even to the point of wilt.. evidence the fact that they perk right up without stress.. once you water them again.. after drying out ..

LOL, no, no, no Gordon. Not in a bucket. A muck bucket is a 20 gallon or so tub. Not full of water, I planted the plant in it, inside the holy pot. One inside the other. LOL, nooooooo water. It did not sit in any water.

I guess the word muck bucket is maybe misleading. It is like a big nursery tub that trees come in. I planted it in it. It didn't sit in there with water.

Orrrrrrr were you funnin' me? LOL

Janette,

I use neem oil as the fungicide. It is a relatively safe pesticide and pests don't develop a resistance to it. Safe around pets, too.

Hi Betty, I have always used neem as a pesticide but never thought of it as a fungicide. I will use it.

BTW, if you need any neem oil, there is a pretty good coop on now for 100% neem oil. It closes Sunday I think she said.

Thanks for your help. I think we are right on with the reason for the splits. The new growth that is above the splits is smaller and longer growth. Wonder if it is going to fill out.

So what do you think about more fertilizer and water? Our temps are going up into the 90s finally. I hate to hold back water.

Jeanette

I would fertilize it about twice a week. You don't have to hold back on water if the temperatures are that high. As long as the potting mix drains well, you don't have to worry much about root rot. Rot occurs when the weather is cold and the potting soil doesn't drain fast enough or the roots stand in water too long due to poor drainage. Poor drainage can occur if the plant is planted in a very large pot. Since most of the soil doesn't have roots in it to soak up the water, what little root system is present is deprived of oxygen and dies. The best way to avoid that is not to overpot or to keep the plant slightly dry until roots grow into the new soil. You can tell when that begins to happen because the Brug suddenly takes off, growing quickly. Brugs are naturally scraggly, but as they age they send out new growth from below the ground. So as they age they will look fuller. You can also take a cutting that includes a large number of branches and root it to get a fuller look.

Maybe I will give it some hydrogen peroxide next time I water. Which will be tomorrow. I didn't water today. Nothing since early yesterday. Wow, fertilize twice a week? With what? I am using either the Space City (do you know anything about this?) or MG all purpose. Or to fert twice a week, do you mean a weaker solution?

I think, but wouldn't swear to it, but I think I gave it peroxide the last couple of times I watered.

I use Miracle Grow all purpose, the one with all the micro-nutrients simply because it is cheap. I did try Space City's Hibiscus fertilizer, but with the number of Brugs I have, that got expensive very quickly. It does, however, have the N-P-K ratios recommended by Monika Gottschalk.

I don't know that hydrogen peroxide does much good in a soil environment and could do some harm if used in high enough concentrations.

Well, I'll go ahead with my fertilizing schedule and kick in an extra one if you think.

Thanks, Oh, yes, I can see where it would be expensive. I just don't have that many brugs and have this big container of Space City so might as well use it up. It was sent to me by rj in Texas a couple of years ago.

Veronica... I'm glad you mentioned Monicas favored ratio..I was just thinking about it.. and did a quick search for it.. but hadn't come across it jus yet...
so what was her recomendation...I was going to see if there wasn't one like it in one of the new Algoflash formulas..

Gordon, why are you asking about fertilizers? Looks like you've got it down pretty good. That is beautiful. What is the variegated plant that looks like a dracena?

I think besides the ratio in the Space City was the trace elements and minerals. rj did some pretty extensive research on Monica's fertilizer and that is how he came up with Space City fertilizer. Don't know where it is distributed or mfg. I can look tomorrow if you are interested.

Gordon,
I bought my Space City Hibiscus Fertilizer from Southwest Fertilizer http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/3704/

This is the fertilizer's analysis:

Jeanette, you never said which brug it is. I know that peanut and some of her off spring need to be kept on the dry side. Peanut will split quickly if given too much water.

Sorry, I don't know. Some how all the labels came off. No idea how it happened. I had 7 of them and lost 2 over the winter. It is amazing that all but Cypress Garden lost the labels. But, it could be Salmon Perfection, Pink Smitty, can't remember the rest just off hand, will have to check my records. I got them all from JT.

So, until they bloom I don't even know which ones I lost.

Jnette what is BT? My brugs are looking very straggly, one in bloom and one coming but I wonder if I should cut them back to see if they become more bushy. Also mine have no fragrance at all, they are peach in colour but I don't know their real names. Sue

hi Sue...
well a little bit of shade in the afternoon helps them be bushier.. are you feeding them lots..
and keeping them cool... there might be more flower activity there.. in the fall or even winter.. with a summer dormancy of sorts during the heat..
In Panama... you'll not often see the brugs growing wild down near the coast at all...but the plumerias are everywhere.. it's hot and dry.. any they are in treir element.. growing down at the oceans edge.. and as the prominant growth on tiny rock islands looking like they are 1/2 in the water...
in the higher elevations there, where it's cooler and moist.. you'll not run across a single plumeria.. but the brugs grow and flourish as large lush trees..
both blooms and fragrance is stronger in the cooler months... and you understand there's no fragrance at all during the day on these beauties.. it's just turned on during the night.. to attract their night time moth friends.... so before it cools down.. maybe as late as 9 or 10..pm.. there's nothing going on in the fragrance department..
so some shade.. out of high winds.. plenty of food and water.. good rich soil.. ( manures are great early on.. horse.. cow ...chicken.. or what have you.. composted and allowed to cool down before applying for good leaf growth ) plant sprays.. and folial feeding is helpful.. on a regular basis..
BT is a fungal disease.. it shows a brown spot on the limbs and stalk..
leta see some pictures of the plants and where they grow...

Wow coco, I sure am glad I wasn't home. You got such wonderful information from Gordon. I never knew all the stuff he wrote. It is so interesting where you live. And zone 10a!! Wow, it must be a wonderland.

Thankyou Gordon. Loved it.

cocoloba,
BT stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, is a bacterium and represents a series of BT-based insect specific pesticides and is used mainly against caterpillars. It is fairly safe and is good to use if you have a heavy caterpillar infestation. I've never had a heavy enough infestation to warrant using it. Although, if I had know I had a tomato hornworm on my Katie's Sweet Sixteen, I would have used it. I usually look at the underside of the leaves if I start seeing missing bits and pieces. Most caterpillars are small so you have plenty of time to pick them off before they do much damage. Have you ever seen a tomato hornworm? They grow very fast and get very large, very quickly. Two days ago my KSS was 2' tall and had gorgeous leaves. Today I found 2 short leafless stalks and one huge, fat hornworm.

Gordon, great explanation.

Thanks Veronica. I forgot she asked about the BT I was so interested in what Gordon was saying.

thank yoou veronica.. I short circuited with BT I looked at it and it was SB.. and as far as anything you might read.. look around.. there's more than one take on everythig and lots of paths through...
and you can change any microclime.. but you can't ignore the one you have/give
BT is in the mosquito dunks,, you break up pieces of them.. and you can place them in ponds or saucers.. if you have some big ones that have standing water.. and remove the risk of mosquitoes breeding there.. it's a naturally occuring condition for these insects... that gets them sick to death..

This message was edited Jul 16, 2010 9:47 PM

Thanks guys, I am just heading out but will take some pictures tomorrow, I have so little resource for garden stuff here but will try to locate the BT stuff... maybe I am not feeding them enough also, am using a bloom boost any other tips for feed? Sue

I know some people use Bloom Booster which is high in phosphates. Because of the way Brugs grow and produce buds, they really need more nitrogen and potassium than phosphates. Hibiscus fertilizer with micro-nutrients comes closest to the ideal fertilizer for Brugs. Specialty fertilizers, however, are generally more expensive. If you have only a few Brugs, the expense it not bad and getting hibiscus fertilizer is worth the expense. If you have lots of Brugs, the extra cost can add up quickly. So any all-purpose liquid fertilizer plus micro-nutrients with a low phosphate number (the middle number) will work almost as well.

To fight pests the easy way, you might consider using a systemic pesticide, such as Bayers 3-in-1 or the 12 month tree and shrub. Available in granules or as a liquid.

Thanks BettyDee, as I said there are hardly any nursery's/garden centres here could you possible give me names so I can try to bring them in please? I only have half a dozen brugs but I do have a lot of hibiscus that seem to neeed a lot of attention, mostly mealy bug. Sue

yes... the bloom booster.. while not ideal for brugs.. is a good way to get some flowers going.. better than the balanced or high nitrogen types.. but this should be introduced after the plant has established a good form and lots of leaves.. otherwise you're locking the plant into a small / few leaf situation.. in favor of flowers which the plant almost isn't strong enough to do justice with... so however early they arrive.. it's a shallow version of what it might do with a good growth first... developed by the organics.. manure.. and continued with a balanced food../ with the micros... till plant development is in a maximun growth mode.. then to hit it with the flowering type.. to turn this growth into big time bloom production

Ok you guys, I am going to do that with mine. I just got some of that with 55 for the phosphates for something else and now after you just described my plants to a tee Gordon, I am going to use it on my brugs. I swear they do not need any more leaves. Now is this high phosphate stuff, Green Light Super Bloom 12-55-6, going to make my branches split more????

Is this stuff what I would give a Hibiscus just started from a cutting?