The very tips were slightly shriveled, but that's about it. We're in the 90's today, so I doubt I have to worry about heating them up. There were no nodes. I'll try the bag and keep an eye out for too much steam. :)
Starting a new Brug
If no nodes you are in trouble. The 2 you showed have nodes, that is where the side growth is starting.
Put water in the bag and then drain so slightly beaded inside. And you can bring them inside to root so they won't cook. Close bag tight.
that's cute! I will do that too, thanks for the photo it helps a lot!
Wow, all of your advice really paid off! Check out my brugs now!
haha, just kidding. I wish it was that big already! Actually I posted this photo because I wanted to ask why the outer rims of my leaves are yellow. Is it a vitamin deficiency? Should I feed it something special?
Oh, and the starter brugs ARE actually growing! Two have definite nodes, one is fast becoming tiny leaves. The smallest one is comfy in his baggy. I'm getting more encouraged. :) I think they were being dehydrated! Once I upped the water they became active again! yay!
This message was edited Jun 9, 2006 7:00 PM
I am so excited! Check out my brug now! This is butterfly. The others are still only showing nodes, but they haven't died so perhaps they're just slow? Even the one in the baggy is now showing a new node. Unfortunately, I now seem to have spider mites - is it safe to spray it with neem oil so early in it's development?
No comments on my exisitng brug with the yellow leaves?
Thank you, Christina :)
I would take them outside to a shady area if possible and spray them with the hose to knock off the mites. If you do that every day, you will get rid of most of them and as they get bigger, use a miticide or something else that works on mites. They will grow a lot faster outside too.
Do you think this one is ready to go back outside? I don't really have an area that is shaded all day. I almost killed them by trying to start them outside to begin with, and they did miles better once I brought them indoors. I only close this window during the couple hours when the sun is beating on that side of the house - i also slant the blinds so they just get light and no sun. My back deck is the most likely place, but it will get some sun and we're in the mid 80's to low 90's back there.
I've used big beach umbrellas and an Easy Up shelter to give my babies a shady place for the worst of the heat. We've lost our marine layer that used to keep things cooler.
Mary
I have seedlings that are only two inches tall, outside. They are in dappled shade, but I got sick of plants in the house. I think if you can give them gradual sun, they will probably do okay and if they start looking wilty, bring them back into more shade. Eventually they have to go out so you can have huge flushes of blooms. They don't seem to flush big flushes for me in the house. May has a good idea there.
ok, I'll give it a go with the strongest one and see. The other two are still barely buds. That is a great idea with the beach umbrella!
Here's another question. I experimented with some of the seeds as well. It's been a month and I finally got tired of the suspense and dug them up. There's not one ounce of life. Is there a secret to growing brugs from seeds? All I did was stuck them in moist peat pots.
Thanks!
I like to sterilize my soil and put the planted seeds, pot, soil, and all, inside a plastic bag. (I press the seeds into the soil, but don't cover them with soil.) The plastic bag keeps the fungus gnats out and more seeds will germinate rather than be eaten. They like around 70 degrees to germinate. It isn't necessary to water them again if you keep them in the plastic bag. Once you see growth, you can start to remove them, just opening the bag, but leaving it above the seedlings, if you know what I'm saying, so they will become accustomed to the air gradually. After a day or so, you can remove the bag entirely.
Thank you for the perfect directions! I'll try it. How do you sterilize the soil? Boil it in water?
Put the soil in a big rag that is lining a large bowl or bucket. Put the soil in the rag or material you use. Pour the boiling water over it and allow it to cool. Once cool, you can twist the rag and squeeze the water out of the soil. It's easy and not really all that messy. Have fun!!
cnswift, you know those big plastic rectangular trays that you buy the spring salad mix in at Costco? They make perfect greenhouses to start seeds in with the lid.
I've got a question for you guys......I'm real new at planting any brugs and have started one. Looks as though something might be eating at it. I need your help in steering me in the right direction. Any advice you might have would be greatly appreciated. I also don't know what kind this is if you have any ideas.....please let me know. This was given to me so I don't know much about them other than what I've read on here.
Sheri
Thanks Brugie, that sounds easy. I'll try it!
Costco trays, great idea! I know the ones exactly.
Sheri, you've probably got snails or slugs as I battle them constantly on my brugs. I use 'deadline' snail killer by making a ring around the stem. This helps a lot. I still get some leaves eaten, but considerably less. I see evidence of my line of death, as there are gooey snail and slug bodies lying all around it! It's poisonous though, so keep away from pets. As for identification, I'll bow to the experts. You may have to wait to see a bloom for color.
Thanks for the advice. I guess you get the deadline snail killer at most any plant store? I'll sure give it a try and see how it helps. I don't have any pets to worry about.....I had heard they were poisonous....thanks. I thought that I had lost the plant through the winter. Thanks for your help.
Sheri
good luck, they're beautiful plants!
Check this one out now! These leaves showed up only 8 days after I saw a new node. Should I keep them in the make-shift 'greenhouse' or is it time to expose them to natural light? This is the brug called 'monster'.
Ironically, of the four I originally started, three have been successes so far. The fourth looked shriveled and dead so as I dismantled my experiment I discovered healthy white roots! I was so amazed that there was life below the surface when all else looked bleak. So I stuck this one back in the dirt and cut back the worst of the dead stuff. I also made a 'greenhouse' for him, since that seems to really speed up the process.
I'm having so much fun with these! Now if only my seeds will sprout, I'll be home free. I owe all my successes to everyone here, thank you so much!
oops, forgot to attach the photo. :)
