Ecuador pink from Marthas Secrets, which I never ordered from before but it's in my state (SC). Where to plant, seems like it dislikes afternoon sun. I was going to plant in ground. Maybe the northeastern corner of my house? Then how to fertilize? Some DGers post exotic recipes of beer and tea tree oil, oh my! Maybe alfalfa tea? What is alfalfa tea? We have a pet rabbit, can I use the alfalfa pellets LOL! Also have a worm farm and active compost, surely that will help. But these seem so exotic, will my worm castings and leaf/veg scrap compost be enough? Or do to resort to beer? Or miracle grow? This organic veg gardener is prepared to use some chemicals if that's what it takes for the brug, but I'd rather go as natural as possible.
Just purchased my first brug, advice please
Judy, your best bet, is to leave it in the pot for a bit, and sit it around your yard in different spots for a few days at a time, and see where it is happy at. Once you have found the happy spot, then you can plant it in the ground! Most of them do not like full sun, but a few do. Keep them moist, but not sitting in water. Fertilize them more when they start to grow and bloom. I personally use miracle grow, as that is what works for me. Others will have better recipes for you! And if you want to see blooms, don't be temped to pinch the tips. This will make it spread, but it will take longer to bloom.
Congrats on your first brug! May she give you lots of blooms and smiles this year!
My Ecuador Pink brug arrived Friday from Martha's secrets and I potted it as directed. Brought it in for the night due to violent thunderstorm, we needed the rain. It was a little droopy out of the box but by Saturday afternoon looked perky. Scouting out a place for it in the yard, think I've found a spot and now will park it there and see. This is so amazing and yes one is not enough; already a friendly DGer has already offered to send a companion for it so I'm ready for the addiction to begin.
Hi Judy,
You asked about fertilizer. Any fertilizer with an approximate 3:1:2 ratio will work well with Brugs. Brugs are relatively heavy feeders so for optimum growth and bloom, it's important to feed regularly — about once or twice a week when they are growing actively.
One Brug won't break the bank, but as your addiction to and collection of Brugs grows using specialty or organic fertilizers can get very expensive. I'm another one who opts for Miracle Grow because it is one of the cheapest and easiest fertilizers to get. It also comes close to that 3:1:2 ratio I mentioned. The one type of fertilizer you need to avoid is a bloom booster. Brugs respond negatively to high amounts of phosphates which is the main ingredient in bloom boosters.The mature leaves will turn yellow and then drop off leaving you with long bare stems.
You can use the castings and pellets you mentioned, but they are generally very low in nitrogen and micro-nutrients. You would need to determine how much of the 3 major nutrients and how many of the micro-nutrients they provide and make up the difference with another type of fertilizer. Also note that decomposition requires nitrogen so that until the castings and pellets break down they are actually using nitrogen taken from the soil thus depriving the Brug of the most needed nutrient. If you want to use the castings and pellets, add them to your compost pile instead and use the compost as mulch around the Brug. You still need to fertilize though because Brugs also need microtrutients not generally provided by castings and pellets.
Ecuador Pink is a good Brug to start of with. It belongs to the species versicolor which has large and very fragrant blooms. This species has the largest number of blooms open at one time than any other species so the "Wow" factor is really going to hook you. In a mature plant, this display can go on for 2 - 4 weeks. Then you won't see blooms until the next flush. It may take up to 2 months before you see the next flush, but your Brug will be busy growing and forming buds.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/23514/
In the fall or late summer, take cuttings as a precaution because many Brugs will not return the following spring in your zone even if you mulch them well.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Brug addiction!
Oh, now I think I must have an Equador Pink from that wonderful description
Less than a week and I already have TWO brugs. A kind and generous DGer responded with a Dmail and sent me a cutting of her Frosty Pink. What a great group this is!
well if you wish to go organic... nothing kicks them off to a great bloom year like a pile of manure... I spread mine with it a number of times a year..although I do use alot of other fertilizers through out the year... most any of them will be helpful to growth...
My first brug (Ecuador pink) is doing greatnbut still in pot, afraid to commit to final location. Second one, frosted pink, is also still in pot. Both have lots of new growth and are coming along great. So far so good. This week I will dig holes and plant them.
An update on my first two brugs: growing well and in the ground. Just a week after i planted them in ground we had very bad hail. Some leaves shredded but stems and new growth escaped. Whew. Now there is even more new growth and I'm fertilizing with Miracle Grow. The Frosty Pink leaves seem prone to being eaten by something but no lasting damage. Does anyone ever use systemic insecticides? I lean toward not using them.
I use systemic insecticides because it is the only way to protect my Brugs from grasshoppers who can eat a Brug down to the ground. This year catpillars may be a problem as well. You should see the number of butterflies and moths we have this year! The are gorgeous. If they stick to the wildflowers, I'll be happy.
Bettydee What kind of systemic insecticide do you use? I have some Bayer brand liquid that I have used on my roses, I think it has fertilizer included. Think I can try that? Funny that it's only the frosty pink and not the Ecuador pink.
Judy,
Next time I go to the barn, I'll take paper and pencil with me to write down the name. I used to use the pelleted form of Bayer's 2-in1, but had to be very careful because the fertilizer was strong enough to burn the roots if I wasn't careful.
I have my Brugs in pots. After my first few disasters, I didn't dare use Bayer's 2-in-1 in pots smaller than 5 gallons. Given that my most vulnerable Brugs were the newly rooted cuttings in small pots, I had to find an alternative. I also found out that systemic without the fertilizer doesn't burn the roots if you use the recommended dosage.
I use the pelleted form because it is easier to control the amounts used. Plus its easier on my back. Mixing and pouring buckets and buckets of the liquid form would be more than my back can handle.
I know the insecticide I use is made by Bayer. It can be used on potted plants in gallon cans without damaging them. No fertilizer in the formula only insecticide and can be used on trees and shrubs, but I can't remember the exact name. As soon as I get the name, I'll post it.
Unfortunately, today I have to find help getting one of my cows to the vet. I saw her limping yesterday evening.
Veronica