For all the info on growing Brugmansia, I don't find much on pinching them back. I have a few since December and they are only about the size of a pencil around with mostly leaves on top.They were cuttings. I just thought pinching them would help them fill out. What is the best thing to do, especially since it is winter here in Mi.
They are only about 9 to 12 inches and the larger leafs keep falling off.I am going to try to give them more humidity. Sorry, no camera.Also I have them on the windowsill. They seem pale and I am not sure if I should fertilize them or not since it is winter.Any suggestions?
Thanks, Bonnie
Question on pinching back
I would give them some half strength fertilizer to start, especially since they are pale. As for pinching back...don't!! Brugs bloom on the new growth after they make a Y, and if you pinch it back, you will be delaying blooming. Something else to check for is spider mites and white flies. Look under the leaves and at leaf nodes to find critters. Could be they are dropping the leaves due to bugs. It is the right time of the year for them when growing in the house. I'm generally not bothered until right now. Would rather take a beating than have to fight them in the house, but it happens.
Thanks Brugie,
I guess that is why I haven't seen anything about pinching back Ha!I just never read you shouldn't and it's a wonder that I didn't do it before asking.I'll start them on a little Miracle Grow too.Didn't want to have them get too big too soon. I have been fighting off spidermites and they keep coming back,so I was afraid the spray was doing harm to the plants. After reading the forum I had decided they definately needed fertilizer, but didn't want to do the wrong thing. You've been very helpful! Thanks again!
Bonnie --- Am I right to think that lots of leaves aren't real important this time of the year? I'm trying not to LOVE them to DEATH!Ha
This message was edited Feb 2, 2004 3:59 PM
I was just thinking about striping my plants so they can all get more light and for spraying them. Much easier to spray a few leaves on the top than tons of them up and down the stem. My brugs are so packed in that the smaller ones don't get enough light when the big ones have so many leaves.
pinching back info
BigDaddy.. had you intended on posting a link with this or were you just "bumping" some old info?