California Brugmansia - sick?

This cutting grown plant (Charles Grimaldi perhaps) was beautiful the past few years. Last year we moved it across to the other side of the garden - before it was full sun, now it's almost full sun but the roots are in shade. The leaves are very quilted and turn splotchy yellow, then completely yellow then fall. We've had some blooms this season, but not as many as previously. I see no indication of spider mite. There are holes in the leaves, but that's normal and we can live with that - snails and/or caterpillars - we coexist. But the plant looks sickly. Does anyone have any suggestions? Fertilizer perhaps? Could it be a problem that the top is in sun and the roots in shade?

G_S, I don't have that particular brug, but I have three established brugs, that are huge, with very large trunks that are not blooming to the max, for no apparent reason, no bugs, disease and they have wonderful soil, water, etc. Mine winter outside and next spring, if our winter doesn't kill them, I intend to chop them off if they do not Y within four feet - I will cut them back to three feet. Don't know if it will help, but it cannot be any worse than it is now, they are so healthy, lovely leaves, two have not bloomed and one just has occasional blooms. My other option is to dig them up and move them to another location. I'll decide next spring. I'll look forward to seeing what you do - good luck!!!

Hi Garden Space. Welcome to the brug forum.

I wouldn't think that would matter. Lots of mine have their roots in the shade. I bottom plant a lot. I can't see any black circles on the branches at the nodes. So I assume they are not there.

It looks to me like not enough regular watering and fertilizing. Perhaps your soil is lacking or the PH is off. You could test it or do what I would do. LOL, which you may regret. Though my brugs in the ground are lush with leaves. It is the potted ones that seem to be able to look like yours more easily.

Do you water it regularly and fertilize on a schedule? Brugs are heavy feeders and like water, especially in your zone. I would dump a few bags of cow manure around it and water it regularly and abundantly if the soil is dry. And I would fertilize with Miracle Grow every week at least.

And just to make sure it has no spider mites, I would water it well one day, and the next I would spread Bayer Rose food and systemic insecticide, a few handfuls evenly all around the base about 11/2 foot out and water it in. Skip the MG that week. Or if you have access to Disolfoton, it is better for it has no fertilizer just the systemic miticide and it doesn't burn like the Bayer can.

I wonder if your dirt there is iron depleted. I do not use the Ironite brand for straight iron. I have read some troubling things about it online. You can do a search on it if you want.

Also I have started using the tree spikes fertilizer. I like them so far. They have all the miners in them and iron too.

Good luck. I hope if you go my way, it doesn't kill it. LOL So far I haven't killed any of mine this way.

GS, both Sherry and Kell gave you good advice. Let us know what you do. We are interested.

Jeanette

Thanks everyone for the advice. We watered well yesterday. Today will apply Bayer systemic fertilizer and water that in. Will make sure that we water and fertilize more frequently. Hopefully can send a photo of it blooming beautifully before the season's done!

Let us know. In your zone you shoudl have a huge tree in no time with 1000 flowers, you lucky duck.

If you kill it after listening to me, please do not tell us. LOL

I've already fed with Bayer Systemic..........now I'm asking myself - Should I have listened to a Northern Californian? ..........LOL for a long while.......

LOL......... it usually is the other way around!!! You know what we think of our southern neighbors. LOL. Then again we have San Francisco so close so I best not talk. LOL

Fun to share, isn't it? Like most overprotective parents, I keep looking at my Brug to see if the systemic has had any effect - - - I'll keep you posted!

Kell, please elaborate ????

Huh? You mean there was a war between the north and the south in California? I thought we were the land of fruits and nuts all over the state. Equally weird, wacky, yet wonderful all through the State. LOL
I love it here! They'd have to drag me, kicking and screaming, to get me to leave Southern California! (Not a pretty picture)
Mary

I've never been any place in CA that I didn't just love it!!! A wonderful state with lots of variety, never a dull moment...

Really!! What other place can you surf all morning and snow ski all afternoon!!

Looks like I started a California discussion on the Brugmansia forum! Just for the record, we live in SoCal and love it and my husband is from NoCal and we love that also - any jabs at either end of the state are not with animosity, but with great fondness. We wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here, in the land of fruits & nuts! (and sunshine) :-)

By the way, I think my sick Brugmansia (that started this whole thing) is looking better already!!!! Thanks, Kell

I can never figure out why everyone doesn't live here. Though at times it seems they do. LOL

I am glad Garden Space. Where you are, they must get to be huge trees. You lucky duck!! Do you see them all over? Hang around here and you will pick up some real different ones and be the talk of your neighborhood!

Kell, thanks for your feeding tips - I fed with Bayer two weeks ago and with Miracid this week - it seems to be standing straighter with greener leaves - a few blooms will soon be popping out, so I'll send a photo soon. I'm giving it extra water too - we're having hot, dry days here in SoCal lately.

GREAT!! We would love to see it.