I've read all the threads I can find about overwintering brugs, but I'm still not sure what's best to do. Please forgive me for starting a whole new thread on a subject that's been discussed to death.
I have three brugs potted up. One I've had since late August and two since the first of October. Somewhere I read that newly potted brugs such as these don't do so well being overwintered in dormancy because of their young age and still-delicate nature. Thus the first problem.
Second, is the fact that I have no greenhouse or garage to keep them in. My laundry room or a bathroom closet are the only fairly cool places I have to keep them, and neither place will be below 60 degrees, if even that cool. I don't know if that's cool enough to even try to force them into dormancy. The closet would be completely dark. There's a window in the laundry room, but I could put something over it to keep it dark in there if I need to and would only have the light on when I am actually in there doing laundry. Consider the humidity from showers and the dryer in each respective place.
I have two west-facing windows in my living room that get a fair amount of afternoon and early evening sun that I could put them in front of if I should try to keep them growing through the winter. One of those is directly beneath a ceiling heat vent, but the ceiling is 12 feet high in the living room. (They'd share that spot with a super dwarf cavendish banana, if that matters.) Overall, though, the living room is not a bright room except right in front of those windows. My kitchen is brightly lit with sunlight from south and west-facing windows. There's a countertop in front of the west windows there, but with room for only one brug pot, and it's directly beneath the heat vent in the ceiling. If that's an option, then either one brug would get the brightly lit room all winter or I'd have to rotate them.
How's that for a dilemma? LOL I really don't know what to do and would appreciate any advice you want to share with me.
I also have concerns about insects if I try to grow them through the winter months. Well, apparently that's a problem when they're dormant, too, but it seems not so much so in that situation. So, feel free to share thoughts on that, too.
These plants are only about 2 feet tall, maybe a bit less, so that doesn't leave me much room to do cuttings, either.
And my husband just THOUGHT it was a jungle in here during the summer! LOL
Thanks so much for your help!
More overwintering questions...
Good Morning Raingazer!!
Well, I am also pretty new to this beauties......But if they are only 2 feet tall, I would strip all the leaves, and just sit them where you have room. I say strip the leaves just so the bugs don't get them....I would wait for the pro's to pop in to help.....I know how you feel, cause it took me forever to cut mine....LOL....Your in Tenn right? Do you have a garage? maybe they can go there?
Well, I wish you luck.......My DH isn't happy about all the cuttings I have in the living room, either.....LOL...My Isabella X Butterfly cross was perfect for 3 nice tree forms and they are in a 5 gallon bucket, not counting the 18 other various size cuttings.....LOL
Lucy, going for more coffee,.,,,,,,,:-)
Raingazer
Since I started collecting brugs, I have run out of perfect spaces to overwinter.
I will not ever place any Brug underneath/near a vent, spidermites love the dry forced air......
If you remove the leaves seal the open spots with some shoe polish, or wax, to avoid inviting diseases, or let them drop off on their own over the next 4 weeks, they will. Make sure to pick up the drop offs. I have some in bedrooms , sunroom, pantry and hallway.Varied amounts of light and temps, I adjust the water I give them depending on how much growth I see, if nothing grows water about once a month or so, never a soak.
If they continue to produce leaves and keep going I give a bit more water.Their natural dormancy is Jan & Feb I believe, but it's not a complete dieback, just a little nap.
What zone are you in, Dedda? Jan/Feb seems to be their natural dormancy here in Arky.
Thanks Dedda.....You helped me too.....It sounds like the way it will be here.....:-)
Ack! I never posted to this thread again! I'm sorry!
Thank you so much, Dedda! That's just what I needed to know. I'm glad to hear that I can put them where ever I have room. That will make it so much easier.
As a side note...the day after I brought them in, I discovered that one had Y'ed and had what looked to me to be a teeny tiny bud on it. It turned dark and fell off. Another one has formed, but I don't have any hope for it either. Maybe it will bloom soon after I put it back outside once warm weather arrives again. So it goes... LOL
Thanks again!
Hi RainGazer
I can't help you with regard to the overwintering situation, but wanted to say "Hey, neighbor!" I'm in Huntsville, AL.
Barb
Hi Barb!
We keep meaning to go to Huntsville to the Space Center, but seems like something always comes up. Maybe one day...
Nice to meet you!
Amy
Sherrylike
I am in 7a. Sorry for the late reply, just figured out the watch the tread thingy,
blonde moments and half-zhimers(1/2 of Alzheimers)