I had asked this question on another thread and was asked to post it as a topic so we could get more input for all of you. So here goes:
When you grow a brug from seed how do you know its a "Keeper" or not. What do you base your decision on. Flower, fragrance, heat tolerance and such are probably all included but what else? What all should you take into consideration when making a decision?
Dee
Is it a Keeper?
http://www.brugmansias.org/evlseedlngs.html That just about dose it :)
I like to watch for the earliest bloom time from seed.
Plant structure might be something to look for too.
Strength and height of the plant and how well it Y's and what kind of umbrella it forms. However, some of those things can be improved upon by the way it is cut back for the next year's blooms. JMHO!
Sure does........LOL.....got that answer PDQ......
Dee
I look for good color, long tendrils, how color holds up in the heat, if it is an easy bloomer. Hope this helps.
Dee, here is more information.
http://brugmansiaregistry.com/naming.htm
To me the #one factor would be that there was not another one in any data base anywhere that looked closely similar to it. There are far too many look-a-likes already. Then other attributes, such as color, scent, shape of bloom production of flowers, etc. I am not saying that I would not keep a brug that was special to me even though it was not unique, . . for instance, one that my grandaughter pollinated possibly. But if it did not meet the standard of being different, then it would only remain special in my yard. This is only my opinion and the best that we can do is follow some of the guidelines written by others that are far more expertise in this area. Maybe posting a picture and asking the experts would be helpful and tell them you would like an honest critique of your plant.
If you get a double pink, believe me it is a keeper!! LOL
Dee, sometimes a Brug is a "keeper" to use as a parent for further breeding, also! Maybe it is a great new color, but other characteristics are not so good... Keep it and use to cross to another Brug with the tendrils, or fragrance, or form you'd like to see with the new color.
You will eventually evolve your own hybridizing goals, and this will help: are you looking for better peach colors, or more fragrance, for example.
John
Hi Dee,
See, I said you would get good input in separate thread. LOL
All the above are great advice (o:
I try to breed for all good characteristics.
And for me, it has to be truely different from what is out there.
Alice
While I usually agree with Frannie,I disagree on this one.
I think it is desirable to keep similar appearing Brugs and here is my reasoning.1...each new one has it's own set of genes to contribute to the pool.2....it could be useful in breediing to similar"look-a-likes"to help establish a color line that would breed true to color.and 3...older varieties
sometimes become so infested with virus that it is no longer profitable to use them as breeder parents.In that case it would be nice to have a similar plant to use for breeding.Just my 2 cents worth.
JT, thanks for the extra input. What you said certainly does make sense. I knew that there would be others far more experienced than I am that could add to this thread. I agree with you about making a better brug such as EP and some others. Good to see you here JT. Visit more often.
Actually BN,I come here every day for a few minutes.I am going to take the time to do more posting in the future.
I too often let other things get in the way of smelling the roses.
gone2seed brings up a good point, that each cross has its own gene pool, even if they appear similar... so my thought is this: similar-looking plants might be worth keeping for reasons stated, 'unless' they have the same parents (thus the same gene pool). What do you all think? This brings up the idea of a 'keeper' versus a brug worthy of naming and introducing as a new cultivar.
I think you all have good points and I am going to bookmark this thread for further use. Your comments are well recived and I will certainly keep all this in mine. Being new there is so much to read about Brugs by the professionals but there is nothing like hands on experience.....I am keeping up with this thread daily and have recived some e-mails from some of you personally that I appreciate.
I will later try polinating my own Brugs and doing some crosses and need your input as do other new growers.......
Thanks so much and please feel free to post any experiance you have had and any conclusions you have drawn from them. You never know when the least bit of information or an unforseen accident will produce the "Best of the Best".
Thank you all.....just wanted yall to know I am still here and keeping up with this and many other newbies are too....
Dee