I have had an unnamed brug that is probably about 5 ft. high now and I read in here that some people do cuttings. I'm asking info on how to do cuttings (for spring/summer) and is this a plant that you can lift the root ball and wrap to keep in a cool room until warmer weather arrives? I have so many plants in the house again this year and it would be great if I could store this plant to make a little more room for people. Thank you for any help!
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How to winterize a brug?
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/brug/msg0810342819494.html
If you google 'how to winterize a Brugmansia', there is tons of information, but here's a link to get you started.
I've had good success with brug cuttings rooting in just water. Both cuttings of the ends of branches, and cuttings of the main stem will root and grow for you next spring. Cuttings from branch ends make flowers sooner in the spring on a branching shrubby plant, but stem cuttings will grow up into more of a standard or 'tree' form.
When I prune mine, I just take the cut ends, about a foot or so long with a rosette of leaves at the end, and put them all in a jar or other container of plain water. All together, they actually secrete their own rooting hormone, according to an article I read just recently. So it's even better if you have several cuttings in one jar. Don't change the water unless it gets stinky, just add to it as needed. They start putting out roots in a month or less, but the cuttings do need some light to keep the leaves alive. If you keep them somewhere on the cool side, but with good light, they will be good and ready to make nice new plants by next spring.
I'd say yes, definitely you can lift and wrap the root ball, cut the top of the plant back severely (root the cuttings) and keep it in a cool, dark place until spring. Keep it barely damp, don't let it dry out completely.
Here's a picture of one a DG'er sent me a few weeks ago. She cut it right down, kept the tops and sent me the bottom with a little root ball. I potted it, set it in the shade, watered and here it is putting up new leaves already. Note, I am in Florida, so these things stay green, and even keep growing and blooming for most if not all the year. Depends how cold it gets through December and January.
Here's one that I grew from a branch cutting started in April. It's 5ft. high and wide now.
This message was edited Oct 30, 2011 1:07 PM
Got this cutting from the same person also in April. See how it made a 'tree' form because it was a stem cutting.
So don't worry if your stored root ball plant doesn't make it - all those cuttings you'll have will be your insurance.
Brugs are very vigorous, and pretty hard to kill unless you freeze them.
Thank you so much for the info! I'm trying it today....many, many thanks :)
I took several cuttings of stems and they are still looking great! Thank you all for the help on this. I came across a family this summer that had a brug growing in a pot buried in the ground and it was loaded with flowers! We made friends and this spring / summer we will be exchanging plants...I'm so happy! Their flowers were a stand out yellow, they were gorgeous. They had no idea of the name or that it was even a brug. and they had other plants but I couldn't see, wasn't close enough but might be able to help them out with some names, or I will take pics and post on Daves for names. Cannot wait to do plant exchanges this summer!