height question

if a brug Y's at 3', will the Y always be there, or will the trunk still grow?

I have noticed on mine that the trunk doesn't seem to get taller but the Y branches keep getting taller and Y again and again

My Dr. Seuss that I planted in the ground two months ago has Y'ed several times. It is about 12 ft. tall already...think it is on steroids. Has over 100 blossom buds on it right now.

Must Be!!! What are ya feeding it, Owen????

"eyes"

to rephrase. If my brug Y's at 3', will that be the tallest the trunk (without the Y) gets? What about next year if I cut it to the ground?

I've never really watched for that, but my guess is that the trunk will stay at 3 ft. I have a Suess that I cut off above the Y last fall and the main trunk appears to be staying the same height right now. If it is a versicolor, they don't ten to get as tall on the trunk portion. If not, I'd probably root a section of the trunk this fall and see if it won't get taller next time.

Forgot to mention that I wasn't using my head when I planted my brugs in the garden and a lot of the shorter varieties are in the back and not visible. However, here is another reason for keeping good records. If we knew the background on some of these, we would know if they are going to be short or tall. At least that is what I think, for what it is worth.

This message was edited Saturday, Jul 27th 1:38 PM

TiG,

I suspect that wherever the Y occurs is the limit of height except for what grows above. I read on Ms Harding's website that is one reason to grow brugs from seeds in order to get tall plants to make trees. However, I also think that if you get growth coming from the stem at the root/soil level, allow that one to grow and propagate. It will then have to go through an entire growth phase to produce a tall tall and Y again.

A couple of mine put out shoots close to the bottom of the rooted piece immediately upon planting it. I guess that means that these will be more shrub like and not trees. They only have about a three inch trunk.

Patricia

oblambert, you never said what you feed them with or how often........ Mine haven't even branched yet

tiG,
The answer is yes....if you cut it to the ground it gets to start all over again.

thank you Gloria!!!!!!!1

I put several things in the dirt before I planted it.....but I think it is in the genetics of this one particular plant; my other Dr. Seuss bloomed once and then lost it leaves....only 2 ft high.

I have taken a few cuttings and rooted them from the larger Dr. Seuss......don't know if they will grow as tall as the parent plant. If they will, hey I have super genes in them:) I got the baby rooted plants from Glory back in January or Feb....marked as JO. Glad they were actually Dr. Seuss; magnificent color and fragrance:)

Oh, I feed my brugs with half-strength Miracle Grow every time they need watering. Lots of horse manure, etc. in the soil just before I planted them.

This is my first year for growing brugs....I have several really nice plants from seeds I planted this spring....a couple of them have just recently put out a Y....am anxious to see what the blooms look like later this summer or early fall. Hoping for a double or a pink one; just a nice one I can name and call my very own unique brug:)

Owen


This message was edited Saturday, Jul 27th 7:37 PM

Owen,

I do exactly the same...except I water full strength each time with Miracle Grow plus nutrients. I sowed the seeds you sent me after you did yours and they are growing great guns.

That's great, Joyce. Glad to hear yours are doing fine also. Just hoping at least one of mine from the LBJ seeds blooms this year yet:)

I also noticed that in this summer weather it is extremely easy to root cuttings. I have a shady spot under my deck where I put them in water and then into potting soil a few days later. Have not lost a single one yet:) Heat is the secret.

Just hoping I can successfully overwinter some of them in my basement.....

Owen

Gloria, so the Golden Lady that I got and y'd about 3 inches above the ground, which has bloomed 2 times and they lay on the ground, I should cut back to the ground so it will grow?? If so, when should I do this, it is not blooming right now or should I wait until fall??

Dee,
Sounds like you have a problem there. I don't think I have ever had one to do that....how about if I start you another one and you do what you want with that one. OK Anyone have any suggestions for Dee.

I'd pot it up, put it on a pedestal.

tiG,
That's a great idea.

What if I cut off one of the y's and try to make the one left turn into the main stalk???

Owen,
I have 3 LBJ plants from the seeds you sent. One I had my brother plant in the ground, but it didn't do well so I had him come back and dig it up later. I potted it up and now its finally taking off. All three of the plants are VERY different in terms of leaf shape and texture. One has tons of very visible hairs that remain on the leaves. The tallest one has HUGE suaveolens type leaves. The other has long, narrow, non serrated, velvety leaves. I'm sure 2 will bloom before October and the other one is still small but growing much better. I'm finding growing from seeds to be interesting as one will never know what you will come up with.

Dee,
One suggestion would be to take a cutting and plant it in the "Log" method horizontally. In this manner it will send up a single vertical shoot. As it grows you can keep pinching the lower leaves, but leave some on the top. It will however take a full year for this one to produce a tree and Y, but the benefit is that you will have a nice tree instead of a bush. I did this will a couple of cuttings in November and they now about 3-4 feet tall and will soon produce a Y.

joydie, the log method still goes by the above/below rule. I took cuttings above the Y and did them horizonally. I have one foot plants blooming.