I have 3 large brugs in pots. One might be dead, though I'm hoping to revive it. Just wondering if I should re-pot them to bigger pots. They seem awfully root bound, but maybe they like it like that. ??? This is my 3rd year with them. One bloomed quite nicely last year, but the other 2 have not. I got them from a friend, and they were already a mature, blooming size. I know they like a lot of fertilizer as well. I would like to re-pot with Miracle Grow potting soil. What are other people's thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Karen
Re-pot my brugs?
Ideally, Brugs should be repotted or potted on in the spring every year, but you can repot anytime while they are growing actively. You don't want to repot just before they go dormant because soil without live roots takes longer to drain making the plant more susceptible to root rot. I use Miracle Grow potting mix, but mix perlite into it for faster drainage. I've seen different potting mix/perlite ratios recommended. For the past few years, I've used a 5 gallon can to measure out one can of regular perlite and another of chunky perlite added to one 2-1/2 cubic foot bag of Miracle Grow. I like to use the chunky perlite because it doesn't move around as much as the finer perlite does.
When Brugs are too root bound, there isn't enough room in the pot for feeder roots to form. As the potting mix ages, it breaks down and becomes a poor nutrient supplier. The plants go into decline. On older plants, when you repot them, gently tease out the roots, remove broken and dead roots. Then remove some the the large anchor roots. This will allow the younger roots to send out new feeder roots. Dust the large cut surfaces with a fungicide. Plant the remaining root ball in new potting mix.
Be sure to prune some of the top off to compensate for the loss of roots.
Thanks for the info, Betty. I have some big pots I can transplant them into, which is what I wanted to do, but first had to make sure it was okay. I know some potted plants like being pot bound, but not many.
Karen