I have two or three brug cuttings (well rooted and 1-2 ft tall) that are leaning left. What's the best way to straighten them out? Do I just sort of adjust it when I pot them up to a bigger pot? I'm afraid if they keep this up they'll all be tipping over or worse ... I'll get a sore neck from leaning left to make them appear straight.
Leaning left
You will get help from those more expert than I , but my brugs lean at times too. It can happen with a lot of plants as they lean toward the strongest light. If the plant is in a pot has no roots creeping into the ground, turn it around every week or so. I have a few under shadecloth and those at the edges nearer the brighter light will always lean .
Sometimes a nearby plant will shade them or an overhanging tree branch.
It doesnt seem to affect the growth and if it is in the ground, do what I did and stake it .
Jean.
Ang,
Are the rotted cuttings indoors or outside? If they were indoors, didn't get much light and fertilizer, the new growth is spindly. Also some Brugs, because of their genetic make-up naturally have thinner branches. If they are ready to go into a new pot, then you can straighten the new grow when you re-pot. A better solution until the basic scaffolding is nice and thick is to stake the branches up. You may need several stakes. Use the velcro garden take or the soft plastic tape. Don't use the thin plastic with the thin wire. That one cuts into the branches.
Thanks for the replies ^_^
Mine are still indoors because we are getting frost. They are sitting in front of a south facing window and I try to rotate them daily or when I remember to. I hate when plants lean to one side so I try to rotate regularly. I have stakes I bought that I can use. Question about "ties", can I use twine, jute or ribbon for now? The only reason I ask is because I have that available. Will look for the tapes you mention bettydee.
Isabella and Cupid will be ready for a new pot soon. I'm trying to find the perfect pot for them since they are in a deep 6" diameter pot.
Bettydee, how often do I fertilize them? I have an indoor/outdoor fertilizer by grow more. I do 1/4 strength right now and I'm not sure if I should be increasing it. I'm also not sure if there is a better one to use. (Can't use miracle grow.)
Ang,
Use ribbon or something similar. Don't use anything thin because it will cut into the tender branches.
Use any liquid fertilizer that contains all the micro-nutrients (Just don't use fertilizer meant for acid loving plants.) that has a N-P-K ratio of 3 N - 1 P - 2 K. So it can be 12N - 4P - 8K, 15N - 5P - 10K, 24N - 6P - 12K, etc. Brugs are not happy with too much phosphates. They will reward you with yellow leaves that fall off. Are you using organic or will any fertilizer other than Miracle Grow do? The important thing is to get one that has the ration mentioned above and contains all the micro-nutrients.
Fertilize once, but preferably twice a week. I would stick with the 1/4 strength fertilizer until just before they are ready to go outside. Then you could go up to 1/2 strength. Once outside give them full strength fertilizer. Leach the potting mix every so often to get rid of used salts left by the fertilizer.
When potting use a potting mix mixed with some perlite for perfect drainage in a ration fo 2 parts mix to 1 part perlite. Also use plastic, resin, fiberglass or wooden pots not clay. You get too much evaporation through the walls drying out the soil around the edges of the rootball.