Brugs in my Texas Garden1st time!

Because I'm in HOT North Tx, and this is my first year w/brugs, I need your advice. =) I've got a Versicolor Peach baby plant (about a foot), and a 2ft young NoID brug too. I rooted them, and have had them growing in 4" violet self-waterers all winter. They were fine, 'til I put them out for spring, and now it's evident they want something different! I'm paranoid about cooking them, so they've been on a shaded front porch w/morning sun.

What's the best pot size, location, etc. for these guys? I'd like them to flourish, and graduate myself from Super Amateur Brug'er, to just plain Amateur Brug'er. =)

MKJ

I would move those babies into a minimum of a 5 gallon pot, but 20 gallon would be better. They take a lot of water and fertilizer and the bigger the pot, the easier it will be on you. In Iowa, I water at least twice a day during the hot spells and most of mine are in 20 gallon containers. They are looking good. From the looks of them, I'd say you have already graduated.

Yay!! I'm not a complete Brug Loser?? ;-) Good. Do you keep your brugs in the sun all day? Partial, etc?

I agree that they need a bigger pot. In TX I would keep them in a place where they get morning sun and afternoon shade.
If they weren't hardened off before putting them outside they might be just going through a shock.
After they get accustomed to the sun and outside weather they should be fine and grow into some beautiful plants.

morning sun - afternoon shade? I am planting some and thought in Texas full sun.... now ai got to move the bed I had ready... You can plant in soil you just have to dig up in the fall right? You can store in the garage with some light right??? Can you tell I am a first timer - sorry for stealing the thread Mitch

It depends on how cold it gets there... if it doesn't freeze you can probably plant into the ground and leave it.. (wait til someone else verifies cause I am a complete rookie here and live much further north!)

Dallas area - to 20 below several times a year.

You might be able to leave some in the ground where you live 75154. They will, however, do best if you can give them a little relief from the hot sun and heat. Leaving them in the ground means it will take longer for them to grow to bloom size the next year because you will lose all of the top growth. As for storing in the garage, yes, you can, as long as it doesn't freeze in there. They can go without the light and need only minimal water to keep them alive. Versicolors will need to be kept warmer. Monika has also said recently, that aurea types need it warmer in storage as well.

Ah-ha! I am putting mine into big pots......pretty ones that can be "tolerated" indoors for winter. =) I put them into 5-7 gallons, and with caladiums & coleus underplantings....ok, so I've been peeking at the brug forum postings. ;-)

I'll be trying them out the north-facing end of the house, where they'll get some morning to noon sun, with shade afterwards. And, if that doesn't work, I'll move them around some more! I do hope I'll get to see some blooms........those things are incredible!

Thanks for all of the advice, and I'll be referencing this thread quite a bit. And, hey, 75154, I drive past your neck of the woods twice a month on my way to Waxahachie. Nice to know there's another Brug Rookie out there in my neighborhood!

=) MKJ

big pots here we come - I can sink them I guess. MKJ good to know your out there - nobody I knew of near me grows the things, I am having to grow mine from seed so it is going to take me awhile to get cutting size but when they do we can swap some...? Now to find some big pots I can sink in really easy - any ideas?

If you can find a landscaper close by, you might be able to get some good, heavy, black plastic pots for nothing. Even some nurseries will toss some, but they are generally not the biggest of sizes.

Maybe Freecycle - I love that site. I just got 7 bushes yesterday from them all I had to do was dig them up! They might have pots too - now I am just dreaming... ... ... ...