New to Dave Garden and Brugs

Hi to all out there, I just love this site...I had to join so many good people and answers. I have fallen in LOVE with the Brugmansia this past year. I live in Zone 6 so I have seeds sprouting everywhere in my house, and have also purchased about 7 different types of cuttings. My question is "Do Brugs have to "Y" before they will bloom? I have been doing research and asking advise on different sites and this is what I have been told. I am coming to you all, because I want to hear it from the Horses mouth. Well you know what I mean. I know that they have to be wintered indoors in my area, not to use tap water on them because of the cloriene, and they need a lot of bright light, but not nessaceraly Direct sun. Any other advise would greatly be appreciated. Thanks in advance for the information that I have already found at this site..The picture id of a Tennessee Orange cutting that I have started before I found out about "NO tap water"..it is now pretty and green, strong looking since I started watering it with rain water....Good Gardening.....Marthalouis

Don't forget to fertilize them. Then, don't forget to watch for those nasty little buggers(spidermites). Need to spray plants with oil sprays, Avid etc.

I have heard of Tennessee Orange, never saw the blooms. Please let us see pics when it blooms.

Good luck.

This message was edited Mar 25, 2006 6:26 PM

WELCOME WELCOME Marthalouis!!! We always could use another cheerful erson here.

Sounds like you are already knee deep in brugs at your house.

I had never heard that about chlorine water. And to tell you the truth, with all thebrugs I have, they have to have chlorine water. Though here they have changed to some kind of chlorine that kills fish so you can't use it in fish tanks even if you let it sit out for it does not dissipate. But we are supposed to drink it. LOL

Yes, a seedling must Y before it flowers. But if you have a cutting taken from above the Y, it is capable of flowering real fast! But if below the Y, you have to wait for it to Y again to flower.

Nieghhh Neighhhhh LOL (A horse sound. )

You have to post pics of all your seedlings when they flower!

Welcome marthalouis! Many of us are addicted to brugs, like me for instance. I am in Brugs for almost 30 years. I raise and breed them I think, very successfully. LOL

You can use tap water for watering, when it was stored in a open can or container for at least 24hrs. The chlorine evaporates and afterwards, you can water your plants with it.

Brugmansias need much fertilizer but they dont take about anything, you can throw on.
Overfeeding does more harm, the overdosis is quickly reached and it will burn the roots. 20-20-20 is not recommendable because of its way to high middle component, which is phosphor. A fertilizer with 15-10-20 is much better.
Young/small brugs need a smaller dosis of fertilizer than large/older brugs.

As a brug newbie, I'm glad to see this thread. I recieved 5 different cuttings in trades last year, and they're growing me out of house and home, so I guess I'm doing something right, lol. Living deep in the woods, the only way I can give them enough light is artificially, but they seem to love that. How warm should it be before they go outside? I figured sometime in May for this area, I just hope I can provide them with enough room till then. I'm really hoping to experience the sight and scent of them this year!
Neal

Oh Neal, some how your question got overlooked. Sorry! I leave my brugs out all winter and it gets into the 30s here though mostly it is inthe 50s and 60s in the day and 40s and 50s at night. We do get times in the 70s though which is just great. They do fine!

You might try some out there earlier than May if you need the room and see how they do. Just make sure all danger of frost is over.

You will love them this summer, I guarantee it. LOL

I don't know if it makes a lot of difference, but when I have tropical plants that have spent the winter with me in 70 degree temps, I hesitate to take them out too soon. I believe someone said that when you do take them out, make sure the outside temp is equal to the inside temp so they don't shock. Same thing bringing them back in for the winter. I've been known to take them out during the day and drag them into the garage for the night. The main thing is that you don't put them in full sun or high wind areas until they have been out for a while. Both will burn the tender leaves.

I fully agree with all, what Brugie has said. Just follow her advice.

Don't tell my brugs they can't have tap water, lol. Mine get resaca water, rain water, tap water........what ever is handy! They get whatever fertilize I'm using at the time, usually rabbit manure, but sometimes palm or citrus food.
My brugs lose their leaves if we have a cold wind, or if they get too dry but they recover. Mine flower continually, I rarely have mites, aphids or any other pest.
I think people baby their brugs too much and make them susceptible to all kinds of problems!

Oh Susie, I have finally learned your secret of such garden success.....alligator poo!! I need some of that resaca water!!!

And I think you are right! I read the reason that mites love brugs is because we force feed them to get all that new green lush growth for flowers which sends out calling cards to every mite within 100 miles. It made sense to me.

I am done babying mine for now, though I sure did it. I have some new kids in town who are taking up all my energy and indoor growing space, I even put most of my baby brug seedlings out in the cold. Clivia, plumeria and Ti plants. I am making believe I live in Hawaii. I even wear a PINK lei around the house. LOL Carol sent me a big box of Ti and I am trying to root them.

So I will see this year if the brugs do better with not as much love or as many kisses. So far they are doing just great. So lets all hope. I just wish I had your green thumb and some alligator poo!

My brugs get tap water, too. Sometimes I remember to put in the drops that I use for the aquarium, but mostly it is a quick shower from the garden hose :-)

It has nothing to do with pampering but It makes a big difference, when brugs have to overwinter in the house and dont receive sufficient daylight for several months or if they can be kept outside all year. The brugs, that are kept indoors during the winter, have to adjust again to sunlight otherwise, they will be damaged by a sunburn and it does not only goes for the leaves but also for the wooden stems.

I guess that is where I am so lucky here in that the sun isn't strong enough yet to burn anything. Thankfully!! Even my 2 inch seedlings are doing fine outside and I will admit I was worried about moving them outside esp in this terrible rain we are having. But sadly, I only have so much room indoors. I need a greenhouse so badly but first I need a big yard to put the greenhouse on. LOL A bigger house would be good too.

Sharon, I am with you, hose water is all mine get. But I remember Kristi would use her fish water on her brugs and they just loved it. I almost considered getting an aquarium just for fish poo. LOL What we do for our plants.

I used to grow brugs in a greenhouse, I did it for years. Now I'm so thankful to be able to leave them out and not worry about where to put them come fall/winter.
When I grew them in the greenhouse, seemed like no matter how careful I was in spring, they would get wind torn and sunburned when I first took them out. I used to turn the heat off in the greenhouse in spring(when danger of freezing was over) and open the doors to toughen up the brugs before putting them outside. Then I'd set them under tall trees in part sun till they got used to the stronger outside light.

Cal didn't all of that work? I have a few that I am trying to harden up now. Any suggestions?

Wellcome Marthalouis, This is a great site with alot of good information and great people.
My brugs.have always gotten tap water. I just have too many to try to save enough rainwater and then we don't usually get any rain between May and Oct. so I would be in real trouble.

I just planted most of my larger brugs. outside. I know I am taking a big chance. I guess if I hear that it is going to frost, I will be running out and digging them all back up, but I just couldn't stand it anymore, I had to put something in the ground and I have about 5 flats of seedlings that I need to pot up in individual pots . As long as my brugs. were in the greenhouse, I didn't have the room for the other plants. So I sure hope they do O.K. we have been having an awful lot of rain this Spring so I am hoping that I don't drown them out there. All my seedlings are still in the greenhouse. As soon as this rainy spell breaks, they are going outside too.

I hear you, Patricia. You just have to move stuff out to make room for the new. Though if we get frost at this late date, I am moving! LOL

Do you believe this rain?? I notice all my brugs in pots need some nitrogen fast. I think all that is good has been washed out of their pots long ago by rain. Rain, Rain GO Away!!!


I can still remember
When you moved in next door
I brought you some choc'late
From the corner candy store
When it started raining
You started crying too
That was the first time
I sang this song to you

Rain rain go away
Come again some other day
Rain rain go away
Bring my love a sunny day

We grow up together
And as the years went by
Ev'rybody knew that we were
Sweethearts you and I
Through many april showers
I held your hand in mine
Between the raindrops
We sang time after time

Rain rain go away
Come again some other day
Rain rain go away
Bring my love a sunny day

I went away to college
You said you'd wait for me
Then I got your letter
Asking me to set you free
Tomorrow you'll be maried
There's nothing I can do
But wish you sunshine
Now and your whole life through

Rain rain go away
Tomorrow is her wedding day
Rain rain go away
Bring my love a sunny day

Kell, this is the first time i've heard the whole song. Kinda sad...

At least your having rain. This is what we got for spring, Jake was not impressed. He did sit out in the sun for quite a while, but i don't think it's his (or my) idea of spring.

Yes, kind of sad but so sweet. And the ending is so wistfully loving, don't you think?

I haven't seen you around much, Melissa! HELLO!!! How are you?? I hope Satori is all recovered. I love your picture of Jake freezing in the high desert. LOL. Will spring ever get here?

I may have to knock over my pots on to their sides. The forecast is for rain for 5 more days at least. I am going to garden this weekend whether it rains or not. I have so much winter clean up to do and I rather do that then clean house any day! Though we may be doing a group nursery run ..........................

Kell, LOOK UP @ the address bar! it's pink, it's Pink, it is PINK,!!!

am surprise u never notice it before????

This message was edited Mar 30, 2006 7:03 PM

Hi Ma Vie. I am looking up......shucks.....I see no PINK!!

Kell,
try to clear history and cache. i am using Firefox. above the address bar is the Tools, click Tools, scroll down to Options. then u can clear history and cache.

edited to add:
the flower on the address bar has change from what look like yellow daisy, is now what seems to be PINK brug. i wish u and everyone could see it. i noticed it changed from noon today PST.

This message was edited Mar 30, 2006 7:40 PM

It looks like one of the flowers from the vine that has always been on DG and all of the stuff like the mugs, shirts, etc. Nice catch, MVR.

thanks Shirley! i heard on the news, a tornado hit Des Moine. i hope u are safe and far from harm. God Bless.

The worst is headed our way. Hopefully it will wear out before it gets here. It's been a bad night for people in Iowa. This is our first spring storm. The basement door is open and ready for me to head down if I have to. Thanks for thinking of us out here.

praying for all Iowa and Kansas residents. a few minutes ago, there is a big fire that burn down homes in Reno, Kansas??? praying for everyone's safety and hope Y'ALL are out of harm's way.

sorry Mathalouise, didn't mean to hijack ur thread. DG friends are like family.

I am still gardening in this rain Kell. I have been running out between showers and have planted at least 15 brugs. so far.

tombakk, I would rather have our rain than your snow though. The older I get the less I like being cold.

Hope it misses you Shirley! Do they have a good warning system near you?

There is crazy weather all over. The weather man tonight mentioned that San Francisco is on their 22nd day of rain in a row. I know Oregon got slammed like that earlier this year. The weather on the 3rd planet from the sun has gone amuck.

I'm getting ready to transfer some young ones to a slightly bigger pot since they're root bound. Hoping someone will send the right weather for their growth. I want blooms! Now would be nice!

Thanks Kell for getting back with me. They're a bit more tolerant than I thought, and the farmers almanac says our last frost date is April 15 this year (a whole month earlier than usual-sure hope it's right!).

Now about pots. I picked up some clearanced 14" clay pots at Walmart (2.50ea) that are a little bigger than 5 gallon plastic nursery pots. Do ya'll think those will work well for brugs? I'm hoping the weight of the pot will help keep them from being too top heavy, and that since clay is porus it will help with the quick drainage they like. I'm concerned that they may dry out too fast in the clay, and also wondering if I should use moisture crystals for summer. Can you tell I'm quite determined to have success with these babies, LOL ?

Thanks for the help,
Neal

I found the clay pots dried out to fast in my zone. After spraying the inside of them with the black tree sealer, they held the moisture a bit better. I think everyone has to experiment to see what works best in their own zone. For me...planting in 20 gallon plastic pots works fine. Putting other plants in the pots to help disguise them, makes it more workable for me.

Oh Neal, what a deal. Lucky you!! I love the look of clay pots.

Do you get a lot of rain where you are? Here I get no rain at all even one day, from May thru October so I save clay pots for my succulents. I use those black cheaper black nursery pots I get at Home Dept. I do not like the look but they come in big sizes. Of course we are drowning in rain now so I sure wish I had all my brugs in clay pots.

If I were you I would use the clay pots and when they get rootbound and real thirsty I would move them to a 15 gallon plastic. By then it will be summer and much hotter and your brug will big enough it will be harder to rot it by moving it up to a bigger pot. I tried those crystals once here and I made such a mess. I guess I did not mix them right in the soil and I had a gelatinous mess the entire top part of the pot. LOL. I know some people use them and must like them. I have no opinion on them for I do not have any experience. Maybe someone else will jump in and tell us if they really work.

It has been my experience that you can bring your brug seedlings to flowering size in a 5 gallon but even in a 5 gallon plastic it is a struggle to keep them watered in the summer. In one season on a brug seeding or even a cutting if I want to grow a real big brug,,,,,I go from a 16 oz red cup to a 1 gallon pot to a 5 gallon pot to a 15 gallon pot. Then in spring the next year, I pull the brug out of the 15 gallon pot and it will be root bound, then I trim a very little of the roots off and some of the canopy to shape. I then repot in a 25 gallon pot. I may have to be careful with my watering till the roots fill out a bit, but I find that they grow fast come spring. If where you are is very wet, make sure your plant is rootbound before you move up. You do not want to rot the roots if it is too wet. But I find the bigger the pot, the bigger the brug.

If I do not want the tree to get much bigger, I will pull it out of a 15 gallon in spring, trim the roots by almost half (do this much root pruning only in spring) and then trim about half of the canopy off depending on its shape. Never cut below the first Y and leave as many nodes on each branch as you can. Then I repot it back in the same pot but with fresh good soil. And off it goes. Some people do this trimming of the roots and the canopy in the fall if the brug is in the ground and you have to dig it up for winter.

Here because I have no rain for months and I am very lazy, I use a heavy mix because by mid summer I would have to water every day if I use a light one. And even then by the end of the summer the plant gets rootbound and I have to water every day. even in a 25 gallon pot. Now I get no rain here and it is not hot and humid either. It stays about 75 degrees at most all summer.

You know brugs are very easy. I have kept cuttings and seedlings in 4 inch pots for 2 years, and they will live as long as I water. Now they look just terrible and they do not grow at all but they live. Then when I finally moved them to a gallon can, they take off like I never tortured them like that. I find the pot size determines the size of the plant in a brug. You can keep them growing by fertilizing regularly in a small pot, but it is harder for they get so rootbound and dry out way too fast.

Well that was more than you ever wanted to hear. LOL. So do not forget to post pics of your babies. I think you will find if they do not get mites, they will be easy to grow and get to bloom and you will fall in love. .

I think, the thread below explains it, why I keep my seedlings in smaller pots. I raise many seedlings each year. Many of them are composted after they had bloomed. Good soil is very expensive and for that reason, I keep them in the 1,5 gallons pots. After appr. 4 weeks, each seedlings grows roots out of the bottom hole to establish a good rootsystem in the ground, which requires less watering.

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/436997/

This message was edited Mar 31, 2006 11:48 PM

Thanks Kell. I appreciate your detailed experience. I'm rethinking that perhaps I should start them out in the pots. We typically get good rain till later in summer, so I'll move them around till I know where they're happy and look good. Then at repotting time, in the ground they go. The spot I have in mind for them is in partial shade, and on a north facing hill. It also faces the back of the house, so there is wind protection. The soil is a sandy loam and stays moist, but drains well. Should'nt a brug be happy there?

Since I'll have to bring them in when frost comes, I might as well go for it. With brugs you can think big! I really like that, lol.

LOL Neal! YES you can. I often think BIG and PINK. I am so glad I did not bore you, sometimes I go on too long just in case I might miss something.

It sounds good to me. I know where it gets hot, the bruggies here plant them in morning sun, afternooon shade. They like some sun to flower well. Wind protection is good too, will save some leaves and blooms from shredding.

As soon as you can, plant them in the ground. They will grow HUGE for you there esp. if you fertilize, fertilize, fertilize. I usually plant with some steer manure. And then in fall, you can dig them for inside and they can go dormant. Or take large standard size cuttings and put hem in a bubbler over winter.

Feel free to ask as you go, we all love to help. And after a year, you will be the one giving the advice! Brugs are such fun in that you get results real fast, and they are easy.

Great! The spot I have in mind gets the morning sun, but by late afternoon is in shade. Of course living in a hollow, morning sun is later here than most places, lol. Reminds me of a line in a bluegrass song-"when the sun comes up at 10 in the mornin' and the sun goes down at 3 in the day" (Patty Loveless-You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive).

Monika, thank you for the link-I'd overlooked it earlier. It's good to have guidance from one with so much experience who also lives in a cold winter area. I've read your thread about winter care and taken many notes-great info!

Neal

Kell,
Tori and i have a cold right now, but she is fully recovered from her surgery. It was amazing how quickly she went from morphine pumps and barely waking to home with O2 and then back to school. Two weeks from the date of surgery she was back in school. Children are amazing!

We are starting her garden later today, borrowed a friends little tractor and have a bunch of family and friends lined up to poor concrete in a week or so. We are putting in a raised bed garden room so she can garden from her wheelchair. We have tons of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant started in our guest room, and she and Syd have already got their peas planted outside. I am really lucky because they both love to garden! We got a dusting of snow last night, but it is supposed to be in the 50's today. We are all anxiously awaiting spring...

Are you still getting dumped on?

We will need pictures of all your blooms, Neal!!

Yes, I am Melissa. You mean by rain? Yes that too. LOL. I think it is 28 straight days of rain here. I am expecting fungal outbreaks all over my yard at this rate. Next Wednesday is the first day that does not mention rain in the forecast.

I love your idea of a raised garden for Satori. Do not forget to have her plant some PINK flowers too. Man does not live by veggies alone. LOL. You could even plant some of the edible flowers and add them to your salads this summer. I bet the girls would really love that.

I hope you both feel better soon!!!

Yes, flowers are very necessary. The girls love flowers. Last fall a friend of our bought $25 worth of daffodils for us at an end of the season sale. That $25 got us 1500 of them! So, we have lots of yellow starting to show, and we had planted several hundred tulips, crocus, muscari, allium and a few others. Sydney picks me some every day (especially if I'm not watching) LOL.

The garden will be a big 28 x 28 square, the perimeter will be raised beds and inside will be a patio type place. Little table, chairs, bench etc. There is also one bed within the square that Tori has already declared will be all flowers. Tori and I LOVE dahlias but we lost them all in a freeze, i knew the freeze was coming but Tori was very ill and i didn't have the time or energy to dig them, and at that moment i couldn't care less about flowers. So, a few weeks ago Costco was having a "spring bulb" sale and we bought quite a few. And, yes, several are pink! The girls also got a bunch of seeds from Sequee, and picked some more out at a nursery. I love nasturtiums planted in with veggies, i am hoping they just tumble over the side of the raised beds. I think i am going to get some morning glories to climb up the lattice too. We should be very colourful this summer.

Sorry Martha, didn't mean to hijack your thread. :)