What is a good brug for a beginner?

I think I've talked myself into trying my luck with one but don't know where to start. Is there a variety that is better for a beginner?
I'm in NC zone 7a I believe. I like the whites or the vivid yellows or oranges. If you have any suggestions for variety or a good reliable source, it would be appreciated. Thanks!

One of the easy to find and inexpensive ones is Charles Grimaldi. Everyone seems to be albe to grow this one easily and it has a nice scent. Colors vary from yellow to almost orange depending on climate.

Thanks, that was one I had been looking at. I think the varying color would be kinda fun. My back patio at my complex has been bricked off with partitions so I have really good wind protection and the heat of the patio and brick walls. The overwintering indoors worries me a bit. I looked at everyones winter photos and they are so sad :( I guess that's just part of parenting a brug, huh? :)

Don't worry about overwintering brugs. I overwintered my first brug this year indoors (and it was a Charles Grimaldi). It did just fine. I ended up putting it under a large flourescent light fixture.

I found Charles Grimalda easy to grow .. not to mention extremely fragrant, too !!

This picture was taken indoors. Given light, fertilizer and water these plants will continue to bloom through winter. I found watering to be the biggest problem. I had the brug in a 5 gallon pot, which turned out to be way too small. I recently repotted in a 10 gallon pot, which I also think is too little. I suspect that another transplant to a 20 gallon will be needed when moving it outdoors.

-- Kenneth

Here is another picture from the basement.. you can see the entire plant in front of my propagation bench.

Hi Kenneth--your plant looks great. What type of fertilizer (xx-xx-xx) do you use or recommend? I think I have a spot to park it in the winter where I can set up some lights.
I've decided I'm getting one:) I'm too impatient to start from seed but I do like watching for growth so I'll get a rooted cutting or a decent sized seedling. I'm sure I'll have tons more questions in the near future. Everytime I see where people have 50-100 brugs it amazes me...that's alot of time, commitment and work. Thank you again for the advice!

Donna

Surprisingly, Donna, you can get blooms from seed in as little as five months, but usually more like seven or eight months and with cooler areas, even up to about 10 months or more. I usually start my seed in Oct. or Nov. and will get 1,2, or 3 flushes of bloom the following summer. It's so much fun to grow from seed because what you see is something unlike anything anyone else has (DNA wise). It might look like another bloom you have seen, or you could get lucky and have something totally different from anything already out there. I'll probably have 50 from cuttings this year, but only about 24 or 25 from seed. I had to cut back some this year. You are right..it is a job. Sure is fun tho. Happy Easter.

I see your point:) I didn't realize that they matured that quickly. I might have to try starting from seed as well. Are your cuttings and seedlings in addition to any established brugs that you have? People already think I'm the crazy plant happy lady:LOL: Well I guess I'm settled on a Charles Grimaldi and I'm thinking a white variety from seed. I'm going to have to go back and look through some of the old posts for newbie questions and answers:) I imagine there will be a few! Happy Easter all!

I only have a few well established plants that I held over in pots. I generally just take cuttings and start over each year. With no winter greenhouse, I have to try to fit everything in the spare space in a garage that doesn't freeze and the house windows. It gets a little tight around those windows by spring. The seedlings are grown under light in the computer room until I open my little greenhouse in March. Everything is looking happy and if the weather would cooperate...they would soon be outside.

I think by this winter my former roomate may have all her stuff finally out of her rooms upstairs (she moved out this past June!) so I'll have some spare space to work with:)
We are in the low 80's this weekend. Two Sunday's ago the low was 40 and people had to cut the heat back on:) What strength fertilizer is typically used for brugs? Last question for the day...do they like to be a bit rootbound or should I size up when potting one?
I can understand about the weather. I used to live in Connecticut and the seasons seemed more typical of what most people think. Since then I've lived in Texas, New Mexico and here in NC, all surprisingly considered Zone 7, but all with definite differences. Altitude, humidity, wind and moisture being the biggest.

I generally pot them into bigger pots as needed without letting them get terribly root bound. By the time they reach a gallon size pot and start filling it with roots, you can easily put it in the pot it will reside in for the summer. I've planted quart size into the garden and they have done very well. Since it is pretty warm, that size would probably pot into a big pot okay. I just think a good root system works better and you don't want to put a small root system into a big pot, especially if the nights are cold. Trial and error is a good way to learn. Jump in with both feet and see what happens. For fertilizer, I used to use 20-20-20 by Peters. Now I use 15-5-15 CalMag, a little harder to find. They will eat just about anything you throw at them including ground egg shells. I have learned that bone meal isn't a good idea if you live in the country where dogs are not required to be leashed or tied out. Dogs love bone meal and will dig anything up to get to it. So...we will be looking forward to seeing your new brugs and later on, the blooms. Good luck. I'm sure you will do well with them.

A late thought....I grow seedlings from quart size pot into three gallon pots and they stay there all summer and winter, only moving them into big pots their second year. So far, so good.

Thank you:) Appreciate all the great info! I'll probably have more questions later...I'm off to get seeds and a cutting!

Oh too bad you do not live here, I have an old CG standard I may have to say bye to for the room. I am being lured by the variegated Japnese Maples once again and need space. CG is a bloomer too, flush after flush after flush with tons of flowers on each stem! Maybe I should keep him. LOL
Mine does get spider mites though, a real negative.

An old pic of him.

I may have to consider moving;) LOL I can understand why though, Japansese maples are gorgeous! When I lived in NM I didn't garden much, I guess I was too busy working, dating, and partying. It was something I did sometimes as a afterthought. Now I just think of all the things I could have grown in the climate I was in :) Bet I could've overwintered a brug outdoors and I would love to have bougainvillea but I'm not sure NC is the place for it.
He is a beauty though! I'm sure you won't have any problem finding a home for him.

There is a guy here on the board from Efland, I'll look for his name and get back to you.
I now have 3 that are doing great . LOL Had to kill 3 others to get this far.


Bougenvillas do great in our area. I can't spell it but I'm talking about your post above.

Lavina

This message was edited Apr 17, 2006 12:28 PM

Dmac, bougainvillea is a fav of mine too. For mass color you can not beat it. I have a huge one I planted 30 years ago that I can see from bedroom window. I just love lying there and looking at it in summer.

I have a rare Passiflora parritae that I need to plant. I am debating planting it next to the purple bougainvillea. I do not want it to cover the blooms though. I have no other tree that is so tall though for it to grow up on. So I am stuck, I think. I was thinking the orange blooms with the purple bougainvillea would be so great.

Picture from
http://www.passionflow.co.uk/parritae.htm

Kell, that would be gorgeous! I love bright and bold color combos. I am looking at a couple of plants now that might have to go at the end of the season because I want more vivid colors. One of my favorite combos is hot hot fuschia pink and a bright hot orange with lime green accents. I ended up with zinnia seed in all those colors. Hope it works out then I'll look for other wild combos. Bougainvillea would definitely fit in!

LavinaMae, I'm so glad you posted:) I had wondered if it would be money down the drain to get a bougainvillea. Knowing someone else nearby has them really helps. I got a Mellingers catalog a few years back and after looking up some photos I fell in love with them. You know how the winters are here....never the same...lukewarm, mild, snow, rain and the dreaded ice--but never predictable:) I'd definitely take any advice on them if I break down (most likely!) and pick up one. I don't want to be a plant serial killer but I will if I have to! Thanks again!

I have a yellow brug Jamaica Yellow, stated to be at least 15" tall, well rooted, growing since spring 2005 (had reached about 5ft tall before trimmed back). I also bought some seed for Insigns White. Might as well settle into a nice long obsession for awhile and get comfy :)

Lavina, do you leave them outside in winter? The usual rule with bougainvillea is, the darker the color the more hardy. I have had the light ones die over winter even here in my zone.

Oh Donna, you are my twin, My new preferred color combo is hot fuchsia pink or purple with bright orange or all of them with lime green ALSO!!! I am about to redo my house, and in my current color mode...........we will have to wear sunglasses inside. LOL The older I get, the more gaud is so appealing. I can see myself in 10 years wearing glitter and sequins during the day. LOL

And Jackie O sunglasses with some T-strap sandals with giant emerald cut fake "jewels" circa 1972! LOL We'd do my grandma proud!

I have a 4 year old peony that has finally come into its own and it may be homeless due to its pastel pink flowers. Along with my bearded iris, I'm looking for all flash. The only glad I bought so far was the one of the green ones. (Dang, I always misspell fuchsia:)
I'm kinda loving India type color schemes...the fuchsia, orange, cobalt blue, sun yellow and bright lime greens. We'll be scaring people on both coasts!

LOL. Have you met Vossner around? She is my sister gaud girl. She and I kept WOWING on the same threads of gaud. We finally had to chat about our intense color preferences. LOL.

I would love a 4 year old peony!! I wonder if you fed it water dyed red if it would drink it up and turn the blooms dark pink. LOL

I am keeping a list of plants that have flowers in pink and orange on the same bloom! I dream I will have a section one day just for them.

Here is a gaud rose, fluorescent orange with a pink under base.

Hey kell,
Remind me this fall and if you want the peony, it's yours. It's Sarah Bernhardt, just your basic fluffy pink. She's got about 7 large buds on her today and a few pea sized that may or may not do anything. Of course...covered in ants already. They don't hurt it but they don't look very appealing.
I used to be all about girly pastel stuff and I have no idea when I started leaning toward all the bright gaudy colors! For some great spring bulb contrast ideas I get the Colorblends catalog. They've got some amazing photos of some wild combos. I haven't done a list yet but that's a great idea...based on the photos alone two roses I was considering were David Austins Molineux (rich egg yolk yellow/golden) and Mayflower (deep rosey pink).
I'm glad I'm not alone!

I D-mailed Horseshoe and told him to come to this thread. Maybe he can help you out.

Lavina

Thank you! Any tips offered by Dave's folks is always welcome. I lurk alot and have a notebook full of tips and watched threads. I like that there's such a mix of master gardeners, pro's, longtime home gardeners and newbies. I can get good info from every level of knowledge.
Oh, I think I'm getting a bougainvilleas for the front garden! Your success has given me hope:)

That is so nice of you, Donna! But I kill peonies regularly. I am wondering if they need colder in the winter. Or maybe they just hate me.

I love the Davis Austin roses, come visit us on the rose forum. We have so much fun over there, everyone is so nice. You will see roses you will just have to have. There are a few David Austin picture threads and we have a DA gal who takes the best pictures of her roses I have ever see, Cottage Rose. You will go nuts when you see her pics. No lurking allowed, you must join in. LOL

I'll definitely add it to my favorites:) Can't have too many right?! I plan to invest in a digital camera this year so I can document all the new stuff I'm trying this year.
I do think peonies need a cold weather snap to get going properly come spring. I love the more tropical plants and I know they can be grown in cooler zones as tender annuals but can't stand seeing the plant wither at the end. I grew some of that sky blue plumbago last summer and I was heartbroken when frost got it. Probably just because I know its a year round plant in some zones!

I'm excited about my brug. I have a spot picked out and everything. Definitely going to be a fun summer!

If you hang out with us for long, you will be putting in a GH soon! LOL. Brugs do bring lots of excitement to the garden! I know you will just love it.

Now you have to come on over to the rose forum Donna! LOL
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/593884/

OMGosh! It's here you guys...and much bigger than I thought it would be...
OK, it's about 2 1/2 feet tall, root to tip, the bottom stem/trunk is about as thick as a garden hose, it has a kinda trident looking branching section about 10 inches up from the base. The tip top was damaged and hanging off from shipping. The root section is a thick pot shaped tangle of white roots about the circumference of a can of Progresso soup. I am never able to judge a pot size:lol:

Now what!? I have a 12" self watering pot available. Is that too big? Any suggestions on soil or any add ins? Should I disturb the root ball any? Keep indoors for a week or so or put on patio (mostly shade during the day but warm). Told ya I didn't have a clue:)

Did I mention how much I really appreciate all the help and laughs? Well, I do!

Good for you Donna. It's too bad the top was damaged. It will probably have to make another shoot to form the top again, if you know what I mean. LOL! A 12 " pot will probably not be big enough in a couple of months. You might want to get something along the lines of a 10 gallon or larger to move it up to later, but for now, it will work just fine. Small pots blow over easily. Large ones will blow over, but not as often. If your nights are fairly nice, I think it would be okay to put it in the shade of a tree and out of the wind. I wouldn't disturb the root ball. It really isn't big enough yet to worry about trimming it yet. Just use a soil that will drain well and some good water soluable fertilizer or whatever kind of fertilizer you prefer. Have fun. You will enjoy your first brug, I'm sure.

LOL Donna.....you are starting out great. Do not worry too much, brugs grow like weeds. It will take off and grow so fast you will be shocked.

Now that you have your brug and are over on the rose forum, you need a camera to show over your new plants and all the flowers you are going to have. I for one want to see your neon bougie too. We all love to see pics! So get one, Lady! LOL How is that for encouragement. Your lurking days are over.

Thanks, I'll pick up something larger tomorrow at work. I only sound slightly manic, huh?
I'm really fairly normal, honest. I'm on the camera mission next:)
Goodnight all!

I love having a digi cam. You will too. I haven't used my regular camera in 5 years. There are lots of good ones out there now and the prices aren't bad. Especially if you don't need to take "perfect" pictures that are not that much better than the average person takes anyway. Donna, you sound just like most of the rest of us. Normal!! LOL! I hope you have fun with your new brugs. Email me some time. I might have something you can use this fall. I've always tried to share when I can. Last year was the exception because I physically couldn't do cuttings. I hope this will be a good year for me.

I've never been a photo person probably because I always took such crappy photos. I've been using the digital at work and I've managed to take a few decent pictures. It will be nice to have a visual record of the hard but fun work I get to do in the garden.
Brugie, thank you for the nice offer! I hope this is a better gardening year for you too. I've had a bad one or two myself for one reason or another, so I can understand.

Just an update, my guy seems to be doing alright. He's in a pot on the back patio near a brick wall. It's been chillier than normal the last few days but it still looks good after a night of 40 degree temps. Shoots are forming at the pruned areas. I bought some Messenger and thought I might give it a try. Thank you again everyone!

Well, just wanted to update...the guy is about 31/2 ft tall and covered in leaves. I've seen a few holes in leaves but nothing epidemic. So far no mites:) The one I ended up with was Jamaica Yellow. And I'm not sure but I think I saw 3 little pre buds buried in the upper leaves. I've treated it a couple of times with Messenger, but mainly have just watered with MG, fish emulsion and occassionally some SuperThrive. I'm not sure what's working but I don't want to screw it up:LOL:
I had to decide to wait on the Digicam because I decided to pay off a credit card. I hate being a grown up! = )

Kenneth, thank you so much for the picture of your brug in front of your growing bins with a flourescent light shining on it. I have a couple of brugs I wanted to bring inside this winter and you have solved the question of where best to grow them.

Tussee

Lol, Kell. Don't forget to adorn the new brown slippers with rhinestone studded bells!

Tussee

Another update:)
Just brought in my 6 foot tall brug for the winter! I didn't get any mites and I got about 4 great flushes of flowers. The house smelled great for a bit till the dropping started. Most of the large leaves have hit the floor. I'm thinking of trying the bubbler thing or some cuttings in soil. It's sort of an irregular shape with three tall fairly vertical trunks coming from one main trunk. Then there are two branches that are coming from about 8-10 inches up on two of the vertical trunks and seem to tend towards more lateral growth.

Could I take the cuttings from the two lower branches? Like almost to the trunk that they are growing from? One is about 2 1/2 ft long and the other is about 4 ft long. I saw another thread on branch cutting that looked like something I could try on the lower length of the branches and then try the bubbler thing with the upper cuttings with the leaf growth. Does that sound about right?

Thank you for all the great advice! I really enjoyed my plant and reading all the brug forum stuff.