Just received my first Brug and was wondering ... I bought Equador Pink which, according to DG Plant Scout, is hardy to Zone 11. As I live in zone 8b, I'm placing it in a pot so I can overwinter it in my greenhouse. But I've noticed that some are hardy to Zone 8. Is this really true? Can I plant them in the ground? How much protection should I give them during the winter? Would pots still be the better choice?
BettyDee
I've caught the Brug bug
Well,
Mine overwinter in the ground... but they come back from the ground as the limbs die off during cold weather. Wonder if that means I wont get blooms this year, lol.
BettyDee, EP is more cold sensitive than others. But in your zone, some should come back from the roots. Cover them well. I would take a cutting and keep it in your house or GH just as insurance.
crimsontsavo, I guess it depends how fast they come up. And once up, I would keep them fertilized.
My Brug (which I didn't know that's what they are called, always called them Angel's Trumpet) Anyway, mine came back after freezing back.....I'm praying for some blooms.......we live in Southern AZ and I have mine in a large pot on the patio, some shade.....anyone have any suggestions?
Betty -- I live in Bulverde, Texas on the southern edge of the Hill Country. I have about 50 in the ground and many are showing signs of life by sending up new shoots from the roots. Whether or not they'll bloom before they go dormant again, remains to be seen, but I'm guessing that as fast as they grow, if I push the fertilizer to them, I should be blessed with late summer blooms on those that I keep -- I have to make room for another 300 babies and about 30 rooted cuttings LOL!
Oops -- I forgot to add -- WELCOME to the brug forum!
Hi Betty. Welcome to Daves from an Iowa member. I do some of both when planting my brugs. I like them in pots so I can move them around as they bloom at different times. I also enjoy those in the ground because they don't require as much time watering. Whatever you do...I know you will enjoy your new brug and I'm sure if we work at it hard enough, we will have you as addicted to them as the rest of us already are.
Hi Betty. Welcome to Dave's and the Brug Forum.
Welcome BettyDee!
HI...welcome to the neophytes and newbies...one myself. This forum is great...I have never experienced such support and help for newbies anywhere else....
Carol
Thank you all for your advise. Brugie, I like the idea of moving things around as they bloom. Right now, since my Brug is very small, I'll play it safe and put it in a pot.
Kell, my EP is only about 6" tall. If it's cold sensitive, then it's better off in a pot. Do I slowly, pot up to a larger pot or Start with a large pot to begin with?
Crimsontsavo, Madeyln65 I hope your Brugs bloom. they are so lovely to look at.
Ahelms, Shirley1md and AlohaHoya, thanks for making me feel welcomed. This is the first time I've joined this forum. It seemed like such a tight group, I felt like an intruder.
BettyDee
Oh we are a tight group, but we love making new members part of it too! So just jump in.
I would start small and move up as the roots grow. Brugs like deep pots. I start with a 16 oz deep red cup, then from there I go to a gallon can and then a 5 gallon and then 15 gallon. If in the spring and into the summer I may plant up faster for they dry out quickly and they grow so fast so the chance of root rot is reduced. Come late summer-fall, I go slow for I do not want a lot of loose wet soil around my roots all winter. That spells rot fast.
Welcome BettyDee ~ These guys do make a person feel more than welcome! Good luck with your brug(s) as I am sure this EP won't end up being your only one!! LOL
Jackie
Wecome BettyDee! You think the 'Can't eat just one...' applied to potato chips? You're in big trouble now with brugs, especially with the wealth of information, testimonials (good and bad) and inspiration from this group!! I just nosed in here in Nov and haven't had my first outdoors season yet, but somehow I've already got a herd of brugs milling around the house smartly and the DW thinking she needs to start carrying a gun.
Hi BettyDee, You've gotten some good advice here.
Your choice to overwinter EP in your GH is a good one as EP is a versicolor and versicolors are not as cold tolerant as the other types.
If you leave your Brugs in the ground I would mulch heavily to protect the roots if you get freezes.
In order for a Brug to bloom it has to form a Y. When left in the ground in the cooler zones it dies back to the ground. In the spring it has to start growing once again and form a new Y which takes awhile which is the reason for late blooms.
Keeping the plant dormant or growing in a basement or GH gives you a big headstart on earlier blooms.
Hope this makes sense since I'm on my 1st cup of caffiene. LOL
It made sense to me and I haven't had any coffee today, only a glass of iced tea. Terry, I'm glad you are back posting on the brug forum. You have a lot of valuable information to share with people when they have questions. How many years have you been growing brugs now? I honestly can't remember what year I got my first one. Has to be six, seven, or eight years ago by now.
Thanks Shirley. I haven't grown them as long as many here as they weren't the most popular plant in this neck of the woods.Probably 5-6 yrs give or take. There's still very few growing them up here.
Most of what I learned was from my own mistakes and learning from the experts that have grown them for so many years.
I learned much from Monika as she was always willing to share her knowledge with us. I go by her words through the years when I cross my Brugs to hopefully get the best I can out of what I have.
This is my first posting to this forum, but I've been reading your comments for a while. Thanks for the "Y" information. I kept wondering why people got so excited over a "Y". Now I know. You are right about the addiction. I just ordered a varigated Brug from Wayside nursery. I'm a sucker for varigated plants. Thanks.
BettyDee
Ah-hah!! WSG rules! Yeah, I even added one of those to the order. btw it's the Snowbank. Sneaky WSG keeps adding one or two "New" additions to each spring catalogue they send and I swear I've received 4 or 5 since Dec. They added some great Sedum this year as well. If you're familiar with sedum such as Autumn Joy and like the variegated then you've gotta go look at that Oliphant. I never knew one existed like that but already had things like Frosty Morn and Clown. Now more of the burgundy foliage are showing.
Snowbank - we'll see.
I've got to write and get that one added to my Wayside order. Love that variegation.