I just can't bring myself to do it. I have Butterfly, Rosamond, Kell's Giant Yella, Logee's Pink Beauty, and a few others just about to open with a HUGE flush. HOW can I do it? SOMEONE HELP, LOL.... I keep checking for frost and I know I'm pushing my luck. I just cut down HG and it had buds- YAHHHHHH. Now I can't bring myself to cut anything else down. I'm having a mental block. Send your words of wisdom. PLEASE
How do you cut down plants that are in FULL BUD???
Put them in the garage until they bloom. May have to park the car outside? With no heat on, they should continue to bloom, unless you have them in the ground, then you have a problem. Good luck!
I think you cut them with a kleenex in your hand and remorse in your heart. LOL
Gloria they are all in the ground!!! What to do- what to do?? Maybe I should have hubby cut them down? Here is Rosamond- I've never seen this one bloom. Pretty even with the light color. With the HORRIBLE wind we had the other day I'm surprised the buds stayed on.
Why not leave them until the frost finally takes them? And you actually got back HG? That's the one so few people have seen bloom in their gardens!
Just put down the pruners...
Kristi, do you plan to dig them or just root cuttings. Some of mine went on to bloom after they were dug up.
I would try to dig and pot them. Trim back any on bottom, so you can get in to the big stem. The less you cut into roots, the less shock. If it were me, I would NEVER cut them back, just dig them best you can, maybe you will see some nice blooms. I am, some got a few frozen blooms/buds, full of water after they frosted, but some went on to bloom. Worth the effort.
Mine that were planted in the garden had a freeze on them. It kind of ruined the calyxes, but the blooms came on out anyway. They looked kind of funny blooming with no leaves on the plants or burned leaves. Throw some blankets over them if it gets that close and hope for the best. I think mine would have kept the leaves if I had covered them. Good Luck!! My PB is blooming right now. Very pale looking, but it is bloom.
Brugie, you mention your PB is very pale looking; could that be typical of Brug blooms when it is this cold (40's)? My 'Rafaella' is either mislabelled or showing that pale effect. I know a few people here had misidentified that Brug also.
I dug some of mine with buds and they are blooming in their pots,I just took all the big leaves off so there wouldnt be so much leaf surface to keep alive while there was roots cut.And they do look silly blooming with few leaves ......
Thanks for all the advice. I did put the prunners down and my daughter and I went walking around Main Street. We had a nice time. Came home and worried about my other house plants. Got the BIG ones in! Now for the little ones and the brugs.
John, the buds on HG were only about two inches long. They never would have bloomed for me. Poppy I'm not sure if I'm going to dig or just do cuttings. That is my problem, LOL. So you got some blooms after digging Shirley anc CC!!! That is good to know. I think I just need to take Desert_roses advice and just DO it. I just DON'T want winter to come. I feel as long as I see all my plants outside winter isn't going to get here. Boy, I'm rambling now. Thanks again.
((Kristi))
John, all of my brugs that are in the pink family are blooming pale now. Even one that is in the house. I'm not so sure it is the cold as much as it is the day length, tho the cold probably doesn't help. The yellows are blooming about like they should and Golden Lady is very colored right now.
Datdog Im in the same boat---have seedlings that are full of small buds from crosses that have produced some pretty ones for others here---*course they are all pretty to me* lol I know Im gonna have to break down n dig em up but, with my lip poochin out this far---I might trip over it while Im diggin. Im afraid winter in nigh---( how do you spell nigh?) hmmm
I dug all mine up and brought the ones with the buds into the house. They are blooming in the kitchen. Hey, I waited all year! No way I was going to miss the blooms! LOL
Good for you Michele. It just took too long this year to get those blooms and a lot of us have just now had a little enjoyment. I hope you had some help with that digging. These brugs aren't the easiest plant to dig up.
Thanks Shirley. I am thrilled and the scent is amazing! Ummm, help? Yes, I dug them all up and handed them to hubby who stood them all in rubbermade buckets so we could drag them around front! LOL
Michele, what we won't do for our plants. I'm waiting on someone to come and dig the rest of mine out to be composted. It is time to figure out a better way to grow the numbers that I like to grow without having all the digging that has to be done in the fall.
LOL Hmmm, I think I had NO brugs and some sweet lady sent me ONE. Then she sent more and other people gave me a few here and there, then there were packages of seeds.... Trying to remember who started me down this road. giggle snicker ahem.
I have the answer to our dilemma. First, we win the lottery. Second, we move way south or west or southwest to say um, zone 10 OR spend a ton of money on a big conservatory! LOL How long is the drive to IA again, like 11 hours??? I do have a tiller. ;)
My hired help is coming on Monday and I told him to bring a shovel. My garden that has to be tilled is about 60 by 60 or somewhere around there. I have another guy that I hire to come with a tractor and tiller to take care of it. First we have to get it cleaned off. I have piles of cannas all over the yard and two buckets full of brug cuttings that are cut, labeled, and ready to pack tomorrow for shipping on Monday. Then I'm done. I have to start thinking more about the cleanup work and actually get it done instead of just talking about it. Now, I'm going to go watch the news and get a little shut eye. Nite everyone.
I think your plan might be more doable! LOL Have a good night and no planting in your sleep. ;)
If my Pink Beauty grows any taller it will soon hit the ceiling of the GH. I don't know how long I can keep it in the GH. And all the seedlings are getting such large leaves, it is hard to spread them out so they all get some light. As I mentioned the one I did bring into the house dropped all its leaves and buds. I'm with the rest of you I don't know how to solve my plant problem!!!! Donna
lololol just say no? lololol