Cuttings, help!

This is my first year with brugs and I'm trying to learn how to raise them. My Dr Zuess is about 5 ft. and no sign of flowers. I've read all the sites about cuttings and looked at the pictures that they offered. All showed the potting but none showed where the cuttings came from. If I want new plants do I whack up this stalk into 4-8" sections and root them and when is the best time to do that? And do I remove of all the leaves? And if I cut the stalk, how much do I leave above the ground in the pot and what do I need to do with the plant in the pot? Take it indoors or leave it outside? Any help?????? Thanks. George

If it were me, I'd take that short stalk coming from the ground and root it. The main plant, I'd keep protected until next spring and would plant it out, but either in the ground or a much bigger pot. Fertilize it and watch it grow.

If you chose to chop the plant up, the largest in diameter pieces will generally root the easiest. Yes, on the heavy cuttings you would remove the large leaves. On the tip growth cuttings, leave the tips, but take the other leaves off. As far as what you leave above the ground....just remember that generally the new growth will begin at the top of the cutting, so if it is close to the ground level, you will be able to put it under soil when you plant in its larger home and the old stalk won't show then. My cuttings are generally anywhere from 4-5 inches, but pushed into the pots about as far as they can go. Hope this helps. Oh yes, the left over rooted section needs to be kept at above freezing temps to be sure it will come back next year. I would not cut the plant back if it were mine because you have such a nice start on it. I know, I just repeated myself, but I hate seeing a brug cut up when it hasn't had a chance to prove itself to you yet. LOL!!

Well said Brugie!

george, great advice from Brugie. I would add that at about 5 feet tall your Brug should/might be getting ready to Y, in other words, form a Y shape as it branches. This is where the flowers will form. I imagine if this happens soon, you will have enough time in your area to still see flowers this year, before the frost.

Also, if you have room indoors to keep the entire plant above freezing, but in a dormant state, it will give you a huge headstart in the spring.

Thank you Brugie and Pardancanda for that great input. I pictured the Suaveolens White instead of the Dr. Seuss (which I mispelled above, it was late, lol). I'll probally make all the plans and put together things needed for cuttings, then at the last minute, change my mind on what I'm going to do. But your info will help me to do whatever I end up doing. Thanks again, George