Summer flowers

Haven't pruned it since it was planted 5 years ago. Maybe it will get a hair cut this winter. Maybe. The other one is only 2 years old (Tonto...slightly darker pink) Just planted 2 red and 2 lavender. They add such color this time of year when only the roses, hydrangea, caryopteris, hibiscus and dahlias are really putting out colors. I do feed all my plants and bushes (especially flowering) with Aggrand's 4-3-3, bonemeal and kelp.

Feeding it must be what's doing it

Wow Jen, that Hopi is gorgeous, and waayyy more smothered in blooms than the ones we've got at work. It actually makes me think I might want another Crape Myrtle again.. Hmmmm.... Your Cardinal Climber is really lush looking also, Yummy!! =) Love the colour of your Echinacea as well.

There are tons of crepe myrtles around here and pretty much all blooming well. I doubt most people around me take half as much good care as Roses does. My sister has crepes in FLorida and often has poor bloom, blaming it on shade, But one year they bloomed great after a hurricane drenched them.

Brugs- pretty awesome if you can stand the hassle!

Very awesome!

Sally---
My Maya is also blooming--3rd flush--I believe. Maya was NOT affected by the S.M. Odd...

--Behind it is the pink NOID--still nor fully open--but will be tomorrow.
--Remember--this one starts yellow in bud--then opens milk white (tonight?) and tomorrow
will be all pink. Notice that it barely has any leaves left on it....
--And here is Dr. Seuss--doing its "Umbrella thing"--sprawling all over. Leave have re-grown. Looking good.
--Red Zinnia
--And--remember we talked a while ago about the Zinnias with NO petals?
I have these in 3 places--and they all look the same. Weird! Also--interesting....
It is just the way they are growing. Big buttons.. Anyone have any info on this?

edited to say--I forgot to change the Macro setting--so now all the pictures above
have a slightly hazed over look. I was wondering WHY???

This message was edited Aug 13, 2012 6:13 PM

Roses--don't mean to correct you--but I will. What you showed is NOT a Kopper King Hibiscus.

The KK has dark, reddish, bronze leaves and the large blooms are pink with a magenta throat.

I have a white one like the one you posted. I think it is called "Luna". Not sure.....

Here is a KK Hibiscus picture so you can compare

"--And here is Dr. Seuss--doing its "Umbrella thing"--sprawling all over."

~"doctor doctor, gimme the news, I got a ...bad case of loving you!"~~~~

Gita those brugs have bounced back and giving it all they got!

Gita, what are those LOVELY green-and-wine(?)-leaved pretties to the left of and under your Brug in pic #3? Such a gorgeous compliment to the Brug!!!

Gonna have to peruse the site for threads on Brugs, 'cause the more I read about them here (and see the photos), the more I have questions! =)

Either the Kopper King hasn't bloomed for me yet, or this one had an erroneous tag on it. Either way, I like it. I'll continue to look for "Kopper King" to bloom some where, Gita. It sure has a beautiful flower!

RRR, I agree with Gita, Looks like a Luna to me. I have a very dark pink Luna and Ric found a damaged white one like yours while on vacation. It was one of the plants we brought home with us.

speedie--

All the way to the left? That is the now out-of-bloom Endless Summer Hydrangea.

If you mean the one more on the right and under the Dr. seuss Brug--that is a Coleus.
This particular one, and my favorite, is called "Alabama Sunset". Very appropriate!

Gita

Gita, that coleus is absolutely gorgeous. I'll be getting Alabama Sunset next year for sure!

SS--

It may be a Sun Coleus....not sure. These would be sold as individual plants for around $3+,
In other words--not one you can pick up in a market pack.

If you are willing to "baby" this Coleus all through the winter--I could bring a couple cuttings for you.
They would be in a small container in water. I think Coleus can be kept as houseplants?????

I have rooted many a Coleus over the winter using my light set-up. I just stick them in fresh
potting mix and water them in. Having them under lights helps a lot....

Speedie and Gita.

Coleus 'Alabama Sunset' is also known as 'Texas Parking Lot' ! Should give you some idea of this old variety's tolerance/love of heat , sun, and drought!

Coleus need nite temps above 50 . Cuttings will root easily now but become progressively harder to root as we start to cool down to winter. Keep flower buds pinched off. Take some cuttings now and stick 3-4 in a 4" pot of potting soil and they will be nice plants by swap time. Also while temps are still warm, larger, longer cuttings can be taken and will readily take. Water from bottom...even set in saucer of water...for one to two weeks, til roots take (ie don't let dry out).

Can anyone guess why my screen name here is coleu p ?

Thanks for the pointers Coleu p!

Gita, I'd love a couple of cuttings!

I kept 2 cuttings alive all last winter. I don't have a light set up, but they did well by a very bright south facing window.

Coleup, all the other coleus cuttings got a fungal infection of some sort. I'm going to be really vigilant this year about keeping them alive!

SSG- I did the same thing. Rec'd a handful of cuttings and only managed to keep two alive. Lol.

I took some coleus cuttings just over 2 weeks ago and stuck them in containers of water and sphagnum moss. They have a great root system and will go out into the gardens in the next few days.
The HGHA had a speaker come in that roots begonias. He talked about rooting plants in water and sphagnum moss instead of just glasses of water. The roots grow stronger, although I'm not sure you would want to put a bunch of them in the same glass like you can with just water.

FYI During June July and August any coleus or begonia (like 'Dragon Wing' that happens to break off even up to two feet long will easily root by just sticking the stem about two inches deep into the same pot it broke off from! Or any container or pot that has some room. The Life Force is strong in these plants.

The bummer is that there is an uncurable viral disease as well as a Downy mildew that has infected much of the seed and cutting grown stock of coleus world wide. Very similar to that devastating impatiens(INSV)..and roses (rose rosette disease)

rden.com/community/forums/t/1006673/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/664279/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1006673/

So, if you have healthy coleus this would be a time to redouble your efforts to overwinter some to be insured of future healthy stock. All of my usual coleus sources this season displayed for sale plants clearly 'infected' so many growers and suppliers to our area haven't caught on to this or are hoping it will 'go away' on its own.

I personally lost my collection of over 100 named varieties from an infected shipment of new varieties from a reputable on line source.

Judy--

SO sorry to hear about all the Coleus issues you talked about.
You have seen pictures of mine--I hope....I do not know their names....but I will be glad to replenish
your collection of varieties with cuttings at the Swap. OOOPS!!!! You will not be there.....:o(

I had quite a lot of cuttings doing great in 2009 and 2010. My HUGE rooted stock was a wonder to behold....

Last year--I tried to take cuttings to root--but i think it was too late in the season. Not all of them made it....

Thanks for the reminder to take cuttings NOW! Yes! August is also recommended as the time to take Brug cuttings.
What makes the latter so hard is that--in October the Brugs usually put on their best bloom flushes.
They just like the cooler weather--and take a fresh breath....
SO--If you took cuttings now--you would be giving up the greatest bloom flush of the season in October...

We all have to consider the price we are willing to pay......Gita

Gita- where did you get your brug?

Gita, thank you so much for your kind offer, but I will "pass", ONLY because I am so new to Coleus that I'm not sure I'd be able to do them justice for over-winter, and it would be so disrespectful of me to get a gift and then accidentally kill it. < =x Oh, and, YES!! That was the plant that I was referring to above. It accents your Brug so beautifully and perfectly!!
I'm pretty sure that Alabama Sunset are available from our growers, so I'll just look for them next Spring.. space in my basement is sooo limited, especially space that gets good sunlight.

I was also wondering (like TERP), where you get your Brugs from. According to some books we have at work, they are not "supposed to" be hardy in our area, not even the Dr. Seuss, but seeing as you all prove otherwise, I'd rather take y'all's word for it and try one next season. First though, I think I need to take the time to figure out where I'd put it, LOL.

Oh Coleup, Aren't you going to the swap? I was so hoping that I would get a chance to spend a bit more time with you at this one since I wasn't hosting. I also thought you might like a Pup from the Banana you gifted me.

Speedie and Terp---

I have been propagating the same Brugs forever.
They are NOT hardy!!! I bring mine into the lower Shop level where they spend the winter in a
"suspended life"--with almost no leaves...No light...and very little watering.

bring them out in early summer--and....BAM! They strt growing.

I have been on DG since 2003. Before that, I spent about 2 years on "Garden Web"
where I was introduced to Brugs by some people there. Probably got my 1st couple ones
because someone sent them to me.

I have had different ones--but some did not make i--got some creeping crud or such.
I used to think water rooting was the way to go, but I never had much luck with it.
You have to, diligently, keep the water clean. Even tried the "bubbler method"--
and, again, there would always be some kind of mold or fungus that got the cuttings.

Now I can confidently tell you that sticking stem cuttings straight into fresh potting mix works
every time.
As you can see my Brugs grow wide and tall. I do not have room in my Shop for such big plants.
So--I cut them back before bringing them in. That is how I propagate them and have new ones to share every year.

I don't "get" them from anywhere....They are all "children" of themselves...

Gotta get ready for work. Talk to you all later..... Gita

1--This is from Sept. 2009. This is a "Maya"--it grew to 7'x7' that year (NOT from a cutting. Had it already).
After 2 weeks of begging--Cylburn Arboretum accepted this monster plant and came and got it.
Thy have been propagating it from cuttings and selling them on their :market Day"...

2--This is what I had to do to it the previous fall (2008) so I could get it into my basement.
It was hard to cut it back--as it was in full bud and ready to bloom.
I guess it liked being cut back--as it grew into the monster in pic. #1 the next year.

Wow. Beautiful gita!

Thanks for clearing THAT up coleup(Judy) !!!

Oh great I am so glad you will be there. Yes, The swaps are always so much fun and such a rush that you never get to talk to everyone you want to as much as you would like.

OK! Judy (Coleup one)---SOOO? Do I still have to bring you a jar of pickles????? HUH???

I have already made a lg. container-full for the food table. A bit early--but I had them and wanted to...
Now--YOU want ME to make YOU a separate jar of pickles?????.......:o) OH YEAHHHH!

AHHHH, coleup,---I would be happy to do that. ALL yours! Hide it in YOUR fridge and don't let
anyone else mess with it----Your SO is allowed to have some, though. I really liked him!

Just call me the famous "Pickle Lady"!!! aka---Gita

Great Googley Moogley, Pickle-Lady, that is one MAGNIFICENT Brug!!!!!!!!!! Approximately how warm is the shop where it over-winters? I'm thinking I could do that, my basement is the only place inside I could over-winter anything, but it sure doesn't get much light, if any at all, unless I open the blinds... then gotta remember to close 'em in the evenings. =/ I think I need to start checking out more online gardening shopping. =)

This message was edited Aug 17, 2012 6:05 PM

speedie---

My house is a 4-level split.
The lowest level used to be my Ex's Shop. It is about 80% underground.
It has no heat registers down there--and the only window is a small.maybe 2'x18" at the back end.
The only light down there is a shop light--IF it is on. It is not--unless I am down there.

Te temps down there may be in the high 50"s???? It IS part of the house...

That "Magnificent Brug" just outgrew its quarters and I had to find a new home for it.
I tell you--the "Maya" is a VERY hardy specimen.
Even the Spider Mites this summer never attacked it....even if they chewed up the other two to no end...

I have a new "baby" of it growing. Hope this one does not become another "Godzilla" Brug...:o)

Here it is--on the landing in front of my shed....Cute! AND--blooming away!

Wow, your baby suuuure is growing up!! =) And I love that pot it's in! The whole plant looks like the happiest little umbrella ever!

I've already begun looking through all our grower's lists and availabilities at work, but have only scratched the surface. Gonna see if I can find one that carries Brugs and get BossLady to get me one, or 2... (or more?) =)

Speedie---

Come a couple more months--I will be cutting mine back to get them in the house.
Will be glad to mail you some of the stem before they are put in pots to root.
You should get them in less than 2 days. Just for postage, OK?

You have seen the 3 I have at this time.
You can also go to the Brugmansia Forum and see what people have to offer there.
Just brace yourself---they are not as congenial and friendly as we all here...some may be.....
They talk a lot about cross pollinating and what new varieties any one has created...
Growing Brugs from seeds, etc.....Lots of pictures, though to drool over...

Brugs are perennial in many of the warmer States.

Here is the link--- http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/brugsetc/all/

Remind me please! I will make a note--but I tend to forget--as my mind is always going in
10 directions at any given time.

This message was edited Aug 18, 2012 7:31 AM

Gita, Here are two pics of the Dr. Seuss Brug you so kindly bestowed on me this spring. It took a long time to get growing and I wonder if it will bloom? All growth is from beneathe the soil and nothing on old branches. The old branches do a great job of holding up the new growth!

I'm hoping that you will not be offended if I offer this specimen to Speedie for her to try overwintering as I will be unable to do so? What say you Speedie? It will be waiting for a winter home at Sally's swap

#3 Hardy begonia

#4 large sedum, (very pale pink flowers) remind me of ice crystals

#5 hen and chick

coleup---
Heavens NO! Once I give yo something--it is YOURS!!!! What you do with it--is none of my business....

You have a generous Soul--same as me.....Sharing is in our blood.....

I am sure "Speedie" with love the Brug....I will have more cuttings this fall--unless i tire of all this
rooting stuff. Hate to throw them away, though...and so my compulsion to root everything thrives....

Gita

Cool Gita, my very favorite "Pickle Lady"!

Gita, that is such a kind and generous offer, I simply cannot say "no", so I'll say "yes, please, and THANK YOU". One cutting will certainly be enough, please, IF there's no one else in line waiting before me. I will trust you to choose a nice cutting that is easiest and most convenient for you, whatever you choose will be wonderful. I'll try to remember to remind you (LOL!) and will gladly cover LOTS of shipping, in advance if you prefer. =)

And, while I'm being greedy, Coleup, I will also say "yes please, and THANK YOU" to your generous offer of the cutting. I've already got a spot in mind in the basement as home for my over-winters. =) What size container should I put it in? I've got 1-gallon, 3-gallon, and there's a big 5-gallon growers pot at work just sitting around waiting for someone to give it a home. ;)

I did some more cleaning up at work the other day and have MORE containers to bring to Sally's next month; I sure hope y'all need pots! < =D

I'm sorry this has taken me so long to reply to, have had computer problems that I talked about ... errrrr... around here somewhere. ;)

Speedie----

SOOOO??? Which cuttings of which Brug would you like me to send you?

If Coleup is giving you the Dr. Seuss---than the other two I have is the "Maya" and the
NOID pink one.
The "Maya" is still very small--and the tip cuttings, which I would be pruning off, will not be
good rooting material.
Am am sure you have seen the monster it grew into in 2009. Nothing little about it!
That would leave the pink NOID--a VERY robust growing, pink Brug.

These cuttings would be mailed to you asap after I cut back the Brug.
I do VERY good packaging and you should get these on good shape.

Do you mind telling me WHERE "somewhere in MD" is???? Just curious....
Seems, by your zone 7a, that you may be a bit north or West of Baltimore....

I live in the Perry Hall--White Marsh area. Right off of I-95---exit 67B.

Gita