I never seem to find my way back to posts so I hope I am not being confusing, I promised to post some pictures of my first brugs that are really not looking happy in the hopes that someone can help diagnose the probelm.
Sickly looking Brugs
#2 pic
#3
Are these the ones you said were getting Bloom Booster? It would help to see close up photos of the leaves, but from a distance, the Brugs look either chlorotic or in need of nitrogen. Some of the leaves in the first photo look as if the tissue between the veins is yellow or lighter in color than the veins as well as mottled . They could be lacking any of a number of things. Need to see more photos. Have you had a lot of rain? The more information you can provide the better.
If you are keeping the first one in a pot, I would place it in a larger pot. It could also be root bound. Get a pH meter and check the pH. If the pH is too high or too low, the plants can't take up the nutrients even if they are present. This chart lists the nutrients and how well they are taken up according to the pH level. Ideally, the pH should be between 5.5 to about 7.5. You should be able to get a pH meter at your local nursery.
If the pH is between 5.5 — 7.5 and you are using Bloom Booster, stop using it and switch to an all purpose liquid fertilizer with micro-nutrients, one that has a N-P-K ratio similar to hibiscus fertilizer. One that has a phosphate content of less than half of the nitrogen and potassium. Right now, your Brugs need lots of large healthy green leaves so they can produce and store the energy needed to bloom.
This chart describes the nutrients and what the deficiency looks like. There are websites that include photos of what the deficiency looks like, but I couldn't find one that was specific to Brugs. If you bought Tonny Surrow-Hansen's e-book, he has photos of what these deficiencies look like. Unfortunately,he has removed the photos from a thread he started on plant deficiencies.
Photo didn't post.Will try again
Thanks Bettydee I will change the fertilizer and see how I go.....I have waitedx so long for this lovely plant that I am a bit sad....Really and truly no proper nursery here at all...have thought of investing int one but would eat up way too much of savings...would make me very happy though...how to weigh up....shorter happier life, or safer longer, not so happy life. Ho hum...Sue
Thanks Veronica for posting the nutrient chart. What a great reference to have!
You're welcome.
I want to add this to my favourites but don't know how? Help please. Sue
Closer pics of sick Brugs.
Another
And Agian
Any advice will be welcomed..
To tag your page within DG, go to the upper right hand corner of your window. Next to the "Search forums" button, you will see a gold colored folder. Click on the folder. It will take you to the Assigning Tags page. That page gives you directions. Then click on the Add these tags button. The down side of this method is that you will have to remember what you names you assigned this page. You will also have to scroll through the entire list of tagged pages as there is no way to go to one specific page from the start.
If I want to bookmark a thread, I find it easier to bookmark it in my browser. Then I go to the Manage Bookmarks feature of my browser and drag the new URL to my Dave's Garden folder. I have my bookmarks organized by types making easier to navigate through my bookmarks.
Will you tell me what you have done for this Brug since you first posted your concern. It would help. It still looks like it is nitrogen deficient, but without other information, I could be giving you false leads.
Thanks so much, not too sure about bookmarking either, been saving them to my favourites in my browser. I fed the brugs a recipe from MaVie, H202, Palmolive soap liquid and 20-20-20 because I couldn't find the 15-30-15 she recommended, made it pretty weak as I was afreaid to kill them altogether :(
Is the recipe from MaVie a foliar spray? Most foliar fertilizers are relatively weak otherwise they would burn the leaves when applied. The 15-30-13 is a bloom booster. Don't use it. Brugs really don't like that much phosphorus. When that much phosphorus is used the leaves may turn yellow. With bloom booster you are trying to redirect the energy from going to produce more leaves and "Y"s into bloom production. A Brug might be able to handle that if it were a large mature plant with tons of large healthy leaves, but a small plant needs to grow first. Right now, what your Brugs need is nitrogen, but it also needs the micro-nutrients that some, but not all fertilizers contain. The ideal Brug fertilizer would be one that comes closest to 18 - 10 - 28 + micro-nutrients with an occasional dose of epsom salt for the extra magnesium. The soil pH should be between 6.5 and 7 to maximize the absorption of the nutrients in the soil.
If you use a foliar spray very often, invest in a small amount in surfactant rather than using soap. If you do use, use real soap rather than detergent and use only a drop or 2.
If you are using a fast draining potting mix, there is no need to use H202. The potential for harm is probably greater than for good. If the potting mix was replaced this year, then chances are are good that it may not be the problem. I would re-pot the Brug into a larger pot. Then start using a low phosphorus liquid fertilizer complete with micro-nutrients mixed according to directions on the container and add 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp of epsom salt to the water. Do this once or twice a week.
I agree with Bettydee: they are starved!
The one in the ground is competing with grass and hedge roots and is very underfed: the grass is no greener near the brug than elsewhere :)
I would kill or remove the grass in a 6 foot diameter circle around the brug and apply a mix of compost, cow and poultry manure (or whatever you can get, but not pure poultry manure) a good six inches deep throughout the circle but not touching the brug base. If the spoil is acid you could add some coral sand or dolomite which will improve nutrient uptake and flower colour. If you have high rainfall you may need to manure the plants twice a year.
Oh guys thanks so much......