Got them in, now what?

Waited so long for my first flowers, I'm not letting them freeze. We have a cold week ahead so I brought them in. My little house is so full of sweet smell that I have to crack open the door. I hate to cut it back, but I want to make new plants. When do I cut this baby up and do I start from the top and cut 10" pieces all the way to the bottom? I've read so much and DGs members have told me so much, but, now it's time for me to actually do my first cuttings. I'm scared and need help walking me through this.

put a sheet under them, otherwise you will be picking up alotta leafs :)

It doesn't take long cuttings to make a plant for next year. In fact, I think smaller ones are better. As long as it has a node on it for a new truck to emerge, it should root. I've been using a lot of cuttings that are about three inches long and put them in deep enough that the node is just at the soil line.

LOL BB7551, I'll just get the leaf blower out and open the back door.

Don't you want to grow them next year from these plants? Or just grow them from cuttings? If you are keeping these plants, just cut above the Y. I would leave a few nodes on each part of the intial Y. Then the rest from above the Y could be used for cuttings. They will flower faster than if you cut from below the Y. Below makes the alley tree look, above - the bush generally.

Thanks Brugie, you always have great advise. Do I wait until all the flowers are gone and then strip the leaves and cut from the top, or cut now? I've read you talking about soil or water to start them. After I cut the right way, I'll try both. What do you think?

Thanks Kell, so I don't need to cut the whole plant down? Just cut all the parts above the Y's and plant them. I'm going to be in trouble when I get all the cutting of different brugs from friends and have to keep up with this, lol.

I was on my way to shutting down and saw this. Leave six nodes on each branch above the Y if you want to use the mother plant next year. It appears that you have multiple trunks so I would just take the smaller of them and use that for cutting material leaving the main plant and bloom in tact.

Great idea Brugie! Take your straighter limb in each pot and stake it up straight so you get a straight alley tree a la Monika.

Then with your other limb in each pot, cut it off at the base and cut it up the limb every 6 inches or so. Make sure you note the correct direction so you know which end to stick in the dirt. You may want to mark your cuttings as to which is from above the Y and which is from below the Y. Do you have Monika's book? She has great diagrams in there of how to cut the brug up for cuttings.

Let me see if I can find good directions for you, George.

LOLOL, Brugie, I just read your first post.....can you really get trucks from brugs????? I will take a Peterbilt!!!!! I'll bet you need a really BIG cutting for that. (sorry, just couldn't resist jokin' ya). :>)

http://calastropicals.com/content/page5.html is a nice intro

and
http://www.americanbrugmansia-daturasociety.org/brugcut.htm has detailed photos and info.

I am sure BGI also has alot of info on this.

Anything you do not understand, let us know!

I wouldn't cut them if you don't have to.Once those leaves all fall off you'll find they don't seem to take up as much space...LOL
They'll look bare necket

Its just an illusion........

Mostly I just cut back to make new plants or because of a lack of space or they are too tall for the house....

I can't resist.............

GO DAWGS!


Lovely brugs too ;)

yep, woof woof!!!

Sorry Anna. Most of the time I end up typing the word you instead of your. That is due to arthritis and speed typing. That mistake above was just that...a mistake. I would love to grow you a truck, but I don't think that can happen anytime soon unless some of our hybridizers discover something new. LOL!!

Too bad Brugie, you would have a whole lot of new best friends!

Yes, and then we could use those credit cards without a care in the world. LOL!!