Lots of questions *G*

I need a little help planning for the brugs I have been giving.. Are the best in the ground or in pots?? What is the best fertilizer for them?? I don't mean brand name but like 10-10-10..what numbers?? What do U do about bugs?? Any suggestions to care will be appreciated. I want to be a GOOD brug mommie *LOL*
Another question maybe someone knows the answer to.. I have some fertilizer that was left over & left outside in the heat & cold.. is it OK still?? How many years will Time released fert be good or does it weaken?? Is grandular, water solible or time released best??
TIA,
Sugar

here's some info to start you out, and then see what questions you still need answered. Don't know about the fertilizer left out? Time released is only good for a few months. Arlene said in your heat she applies it every 2-3 months.
http://www.brugmansias.org/newtobrugs.html

If the fertilizer still is dry it should be ok.I keep mine outside under a roof.

Sugar, if I could I would put lots in the ground. I find anything grown in the ground just does better. It can put out long roots where in a pot they can only go to the bottom of the pot. I find I can water less, fertilize less and they grow bigger and fuller. That being said, I had great luck in pots but I had to water everyday by August. Of course I live where it is not so hot for those of you that water several times a day. The bigger the pot the bigger the brug I will get... or at least that is my experience. They are just more dependent on you for everything.

I put my best in the ground for I want them to grow and flower big. LOL. Everyone seems to have favorite fertilizer. I use a little bit of everything! I am big on foliar spraying also....... with Miracle Grow. They seem to love everything but being over fertilized with granular feed. I have only had trouble with the rose fertilizer with insecticide on the brugs ones in pots. I got leaf crisp from it. I was too heavy handed. I also have killed some little ones with it in pots.

I store all my fertilizer over the winter, just keep it dry.

They are very forgiving so do not worry too much. This one is in a big pot.

oh Kell, it's beauty!!!

TiG that is a helpful site. All of have been very helpful too. Kell what a pretty brug. My pink one that had quite a few blooms last year died. I haven't pulled it up yet but don't have much hope. I had 3 & 2 are up. I hope they bloom this year but I didn't cut them back. The original stem seem to be dead which I now have cut off & new growth is coming up from the root.. I have alloted a space in the garden I can plant the new ones in.. one more question.. How far apart should they be spaced? One of my 2 brugs is planted into a small raised bed. I may get DH to build me some more. It is a little bigger than a large pot but of course no bottom.
One problem no one has addressed is fire ants. I had to put the stuff to kill fire ants around the one in the raised bed. So far it hasn't seemed to hurt it.. Is there a better way to handle fireants? They are sure hateful & hurtful in the garden.

Sugar, I haven't had them in a bed yet, just in pots, hope someone can answer that for you.
Did you get one labeled glory's white??

Tig, No I didn't get that one. I bet it is pretty too. We had so much rain when the swap was over as well as COLD that we couldn't do much. I hope now we can get some things done. We have worked all day in the yard the last 2 days. There is so many weeds. The pasture has weeds & we get some of them all. We only have a acre pasture now & Greenwood keeps it cut down as we have no animals in it. There is pasture on all sides of us though with horses. We have red clover in the yard & this year white clover has been added I see. What ever is in the hay ends up in the yard.
DH is fixing a water system in hope of making it easier to water this year. We sure use a lot of PVC *G*
Kell what is underplanted your brugs? I want to put something under mine if they get tall enough.

Sugar,
I have had no problems using that Amdro around my Brugs.

...http://www.amdro.com/Amdro/

Thanks Glory, I just have to use it in the garden as they are so bad here & love me. I have to sit on a pad to weed & I'm sure that doesn't help me. I don't believe it is that brand but it works. I don't like to use it but what else can I do?

TiG I went to the garden where the rest of my pots are & I have Inis Gold (sp) & Shredded White there. Also some small ones that don't seem to have a name on them.
I hope all of U know U have created another Brug addict *LOL*
Sugar

Insignis Gold (I write in shorthand:) There were seedlings that had tags in them. doesn't matter the cross, you might get something really nice.

That means that Pam has the glorys white (now Lady Gretel)