What am I doing wrong?

I started off back in Nov with great cuttings, and seeds that were sent to me. When it got cold I had them in a cool room by a window. They look good and grew with leaves until IT happened. I don't know if the freezing weather outside got them since they were near a window or if I over watered or under watered them. I lost over half and now have moved what's left to places in the bedroom and den. What is left are dropping leaves and I don't know what to do. More or less light, or what about water? This is my first winter trying to keep them. I don't have a green house and was hoping to have plants for this spring. Anything I can do to save what I have left? HELP!!! Thanks George

Another picture

and one more

Looking at the two bottom photos I see some white crusty stuff on top of the soil. In the bottom photo the second green cutting from the bottom shows the same stuff up the trunk. Do you know what it is? Are you using water that has been softend? If so, the plants don't like that.
If that is left over salts from fertilizer I would say you gave them too much.
They do look too wet. The cooler the room temp, the less water the plants need.

Are they getting any light? Are the drapes drawn all the time?
One thing is for sure, brugs need lots of light to grow well.

One of the top plants looks like it could have spider mites, did you check for that? If that is the case, and it's not treated the plants will keep loosing leafs until there is nothing left.
Check the one with the kind of crinkled leafs in the top photo. You could post a close up of it too.

Most look too wet to me. Just barely water in winter, as they are more or less resting.

Also, check under leaves for spidermites. Use magnifying glass and watch to see if anything is moving.

PoorGeorge, I don't have any advise to give (still learning here too), but wanted to tell you that I really like your name. Some of my cuttings are doing the same thing, yet others are doing really well, they do need alot of light. We had a house in another state that had a long flourescent light under the kitchen counter for night time use I guess. But, it gave me an idea for you.. maybe you can put one under one of your cabinets and use that during the winter for your cuttings. I might do that too since it is kind of sounding good to me too..

poor george, guess that is the right name right now for you. I am sorry for your problems, can't help you much. Mine don't look much better than yours. i know part of my problem is aphis, am fighting them , just about keep even, don't seem to get ahead of them. The suggestiongs above seem about your best bet. Good luck, Donna

It looks to me like the cool temps and the wet soil has cause roots to rot. You might try tipping the plants out of their pots and having a look at the condition of the roots. If you see rotting, trim the roots back to healthy white tissue. Repot them into a well-drained potting mix and keep them in a warmer area. Make sure to water only when they're getting dry.

Ah ha! Too scared to tell me are you?

Listen to the experts, they got it right!
Could they be in a draft? Keep em warm and on the dry side.

I am enjoying these posts - as I just planted my Brug seeds, and can use all the knowledge that you all give, when things happen like this!

Most times when a plant dies it is due to overwatering. In the winter I plant only in a very loose soil mix that dries quickly and in the smallest of pots if it will not be in a fast growing mode. I find seedlings can be in bigger pots for they are rapidly growing esp under lights. Cuttings are not, so I water only when they are very dry.

In the spring when I go to repot all my containers, I use the heaviest mix I can make that holds water. For the first 2 months I water sparingly but as soon as the roots grow out into the pot I am so thankful I do not have to water daily in the summer. By fall, the pot is full of roots and little soil so it dries out quickly again, just in time for the winter and the much slower evaporation and drinking of water.

You can not get away with much in the winter but you can in the spring and summer when the plant is in grow mode.

Thanks everyone, I used very lose potting mix but after a couple of waterings and dry times, the mix got hard and solid. I couldn't find any mites but I might not know what I'm looking for. Guess I could spray anyway. Well, if what I have left don't make it, watch out, I'll be begging for new cuttings for spring, lol.

My thinner cuttings did not do well :( It may just be that they are not hardy enough?

Your thicker cuttings look better to me which is typical of my experience over the past two winters.