i bought a brug on ebay a few weeks ago and it died. got all mushy and everything.
now i have three babies two given to me and one bought and the maya field test cuttings.
what do i need to do to keep them alive??? i fell like i am doing something wrong here.
i fertilize with all purpose miracle grow every two weeks. good potting soil in big pots. not in full sun whhich this past week we havent seen sun here all rain.
the pots dont have bottoms on them so water drains well.
any advice welcomed.
getting scared
Do these have roots? Also, I give mine as much sun as I can find (been scarce here lately).
Are the pots too big? I usually start cuttings in 4 or 6 inch pots, and move up from there.
Marie, I found that my biggest sin was overwatering....I am the queen of drowning brugs as I read they like a lot of water, so I obliged...too much of a good thing.
I sympathize because I have lost many in the past.
I agree with Shelly, the pots might be too big for your brugs early in the season, as it is easier to overwater the roots that way, even with good drainage.
Also, if your weather hasn't turned sunny, move them to a sheltered area so the plants have a chance to dry between waterings.
Hope that can help.
Jackie
I have had cuttings that rooted and were all treated the same and yet one of them got mushy and died....sometime I think it just happens and may not at all be something you are doing. Having said that, I wondered too it the pot was too big and it stayed too wet.
Good luck,
Margie
I use these instructions alot when I first started...you'll get use to your own way soon...just get better hon...be patient :-) I think this came from one of the threads by Kell but don't hold me to it...she does use the plastic bag idea and I've used it with seeds and it works like a charm....Good luck. Shoot some of that rain my way, it just keeps passing us and going up by you!
Julie
To root a cutting.
Esp a green one.
(I find a tip growth is very easy to root, and I think it is because it has its own high
level of growth hormone naturally)
If you received by mail and even if it is wilted,
rinse entire cutting in lukewarm water, gently shake drier.
Cut a sliver of the stem off the bottom to get a fresh uptake of water.
Place in lukewarm water as you prepare pot.
Take 4 inch pot and fill with your potting soil.
Water it well and drain it.
Make hole in dirt to accommodate cutting diameter. Can do so with a pencil by making
stirring motion to enlarge hole.
Take cutting from water, and dip in rooting hormone. (optional)
Place cutting in hole in wet soil. Push soil tight to cutting.
DO NOT WATER!!!!!
Take a plastic bag and rinse with water, drain well. You just want the inside to have
some water beading but not dripping.
Place pot with cutting in bottom of bag.
Blow into bag opening as you have it clasped almost closed in your hands. This will puff
it out and keep the sides away from leaves.This will inflate bag.
Close bag tightly. I find Velcro strips close it well and you can open and reclose easily.
Place in light place but NO DIRECT SUN!!! I keep mine either inside or under a tree outside. Keep in luke warm place so does not steam cook the cutting. Can leave like this for many weeks. When you feel it has rooted, open bag but keep bag around pot so if it wilts you can lift bag back up and blow into it and close for a while more!
I have left cuttings in the bags now for at least 7 weeks, never opened!
You have made a mini greenhouse!