I am so thrilled by all of the great advise I've read on this forum. I would have never known to look for a Y on my brugs before looking for the bud. (Well, I look for the buds anyway, but they're only on the Y brugs.)
Here's the question: besides regular watering and fertilizing, is there any way to artificially create a Y? I mean, can I cut a section back and create a Y when it sprouts back out with more than one stem?
Also, there are many baby leaves forming from the main stem where a large leaf is currently growing. Will these be considered Y's when they mature?
Thanks so much!
Create a Y?
Pins, the side shoots can bloom later on in some cases, but the Y will definitely be at the top of the plant. You can't do anything to rush it. Mother Nature will do it all for you with a little help from you by adding the fertilizer and water.
yeah and if you really want it to y it will get s5 feet tall first LOL
Thanks, Brugie. That's what I thought. Springsong, I hear ya. That's what I'm afraid of with a couple of my more vigorous growers. :(
What about the suckers that come up from the bottom as strong branches. Should these be left alone to grow and bloom like the main stem (when you aren't necessarily trying for a standard)?
I am wondering this same question woodspirit. I have a cutting that is growing great, but has is two different stems coming off the cutting. If i cut off one of these will the remaining one grow faster and form the y or will they grow fine together and y at similar times?
In my experience, it just depends on the look you want. If you want a multibranched one, leave the suckers on. I have a huge Cream sickle and it has 3 suckers that have grown up so fast. All 3 have Yed and they have full buds. I really should have cut them off before now for I want the original tree to be an alley tree.
I find suckers are very quick to grow and bloom. I usually will leave it on the plant until it gets the height I want for a tree, then I cut it off and put in dirt. I do cut off all the large leaves except for a few little ones on the top. I leave it in shade after I tie it to a stake. I find it roots this time of year within 3 weeks.
As far as flowering as fast as the main trunk, I think and this is a guess, that it is slower for the suckers to bloom for the main plant has had longer to grow. Just fertilize all of it and they should grow qucikly for you. The more leaves the more fertilizer it can take in and use.
Thank you kell, that's a lot of good info!
Yes, thanks so much. since my space is limited, I may have to grow allee plants next year...
That is what I do Betty. It really helps and then I have all that room under it to plant. Bushes just get too wide for my little garden! But as I recall, you yard is sooooo much bigger then mine!
No, I only have 4/10 of an acre and a lot of that is in trees and giant wild rhoderdendrons. So I only have a small terrace where my bruggies grow. I will definitely grow them as standards in the future and have room for other things under them....
Nice thread, for this newbie, pins!! I learned, totally without instructions, that I apparently did the right thing with my 7 1/2 foot shoot, with a Y, that I stripped and planted recently. I even put it in the shade. Only thing I'm concerned about now is figuring out how I will know when/if it roots.
It will start growing new leaves Sherry.
Betty, what does a wild rhododendron look like?
I am so glad that the yellowing leaves have nothing to do with the health of my brugs. I like growing plants under the brugs. Right now mine are in pots and I have fushias growing under them.
Pins, I've had zero luck growing plants under my brugs, coleus won't work for me, I'm going to try Wandering Jew...
Oh kell, I dropped my digital camera on the bathroom floor at Taco Bell yesterday! It doesn't want to take a picture now. The picture comes out a purple screen with a band of black down one side! I don't even know anyone in our small town that fixes them........