Container Advice Wanted

LOL Dave. What a kick you are. I had to laugh too at you screwing your pots to the deck. Too funny. My husband was glued to the tube watching football this weekend. Must have been a big weekend for it.

Well all I can say your brug looks fantastic! Whatever you are doing, keep doing it. LOL.

When I water I water till the water comes out the bottom and then I water some more. I have much bigger pots though so I want to get them wet enough that I can skip a day or 2 of watering.

MG has a new fertilizer out with minors. Look for that one. I think it is called Expert or Professional and is 18 18 18 or 20 20 20, I bought it I think, and if I find it I will let you know exactly what it looks like. I like using 16-16-16- or 20-20-20.

I would definitely take a cutting to winter inside just in case. 2 even. You do not want to lose your double pink. If you have room I would over winter the whole brug as is in the garage. But definitely try to keep as much as possible of the top above the Y so you get fast and plentiful flowers next spring.

I'm going to call around for that Expert or Professional MG since I need to buy MG anyway.

My "drastic" 20 inch cut is another case where practicality rules. I want to put it on a shelf in my garage where (1) it will be a few degrees warmer and (2) more importantly, a HECK of a lot easier for me to regularly check and water (sparingly and with no additives). The fact that I got as much as I did with a tiny “Y” cut encourages me to believe that ’07 will match ’06 in size. It’s already big enough that only one such patio brug makes sense even on my 20 X 20 foot deck.

I think that now that I know how to water the darn thing and can give it the “minors” it needs, it should bloom as fully as my brug in the ground. The ’07 pot is much better looking, a gallon larger and eliminates the Monrovia commercial on the test pot that I resent having to look at every morning.

If I get a flush I’m proud of, I’ll bump this thread and brag on it.

Thanks for everything. (Your DH is my kind of guy)

Dave

Kell,

I called Scott (800-543-8873) and found MG Pro Select All Purpose plant food or Nursery Select Plant Food (goes by both names but it's the same product). It's Regular MG plus Iron and Manganese but has been out for several years and you said your's was a "new" fertilizer out with minors.

However, might this be it?

Thay said they had nothing named called Expert or Professional

Sorry to bug you but you got my wheels turning.

Dave

Scotts also makes Peters Professional and Peters Excel. I got their 15-5-15 but I had to buy it in such a big bag that it was pretty inconveinent. I gave big bags of it to my friends.

Does that have minors in it, Mary?

I will have to look tomorrow Dave. I totally forgot to look today. I got sidetracked most of the day socializing with my neighbors.

When you bring your pots in from being in the ground (those really tall ones) do you cut them back or something? After a while I would assume it will be too tall to bring in right? I want to try putting my pot in the ground next year.
Thanks,

Yes, it has some minors in it.

Here's the site for several of the Excel line

http://www.scottsprohort.com/products/fertilizers/peters_excel.cfm

OK I have looked around and I guess I didn't buy it when I saw that MG with minors at Armstrong Garden Center. I probably figured I had enough fertilizers at home and this is the end of the season. I bet it is the same stuff Dave as it was new to me, but could have been around a long time.

However I did find a package of MG spikes with minors I have used for 2 years now. I put one in each pot. I use other things also, so I can't really tell you if it is great or not. But it hasn't killed them and the ones I have used it on are looking so good now.

Mary, I am almost sure I heard great things about Peters Excel. I never found a convenient source so I didn't try it. I am almost sure this is the one Tracey used in her nursery and just raved about it.

I also am using Dynamite, a time released fertlizer this year. I used Osmocote with minors that I paid $100 for a 50 pound bag but soon after I applied it, we had a bad heat wave and I guess it totally broke down and I got fertilizer burn on a few of my potted brugs. One was my very special double apricot and I was not happy!

A well known begonia hybridizer, Brad Thompson http://www.bradsbegoniaworld.com/ ) told me the burn was from the Osmocote for it breaks down with heat. He prefers Dynamite for he said it breaks down from water not heat. Again, I use other things also so who knows if it is good. But Brad Thompson who had plants to die for, thought highly of it. So of course I ran out and bought it. LOL. HD had it!

Here is a picture of Brad Thompson's own hybrid begonias at Kartuz Greenhouse. I am telling you there was not a dead leaf or a dead flower or a plant not in perfect condition. I was so impressed. So I would follow his advice without hesitation.

In this picture is our very own Lali (Begoniacrazii at Dave's), and THE Mike Kartuz of Kartuz Greenhouse.
http://www.kartuz.com/
They opened up Sunday for a personal tour for us because Lali girl has connections. LOL. I was an extremely happy tag-a-long.

We had the best time on our roadtrip south on the hunt for BEGONIAS! LOL!

Thanks all,

This quote was an eye opener:

mpabbott1,

You’ve seen my 11 inch pot challenge – which of these Excel version might you recommend?

http://www.scottsprohort.com/products/fertilizers/peters_excel.cfm and also do you know of any “convenient source” that Kell has had difficulty finding in the past?

Thanks !

Kell, feel free to chime in.

Dave

LOL Dave, OK I went back to my notes and I found what Tracey used who was a GREAT grower of brugs.

TLynn
Matthews, MO
Zone 6b
Jul 5, 2003
8:12 AM OK here it goes, it is 2/3 Scott's/Miracle Grow Excell 21-5-20 and 1/3 Scott's/Miracle Grow Cal-mag 15-15-15, they are getting hit every other day, with fertilizer or at least every third day. I also gave them just a little epsom salt (Mag. sulfate). At first I thought it was just the cross, but then another cross has bloomed and a couple more are ready to.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/387983/

Her brugs were just HUGE and so beautiful.

At that time I emailed Scotts to find a local distributor which I got but it was an hour away and I have not made it down there yet. Twice almost. LOL
Joan.Cloutier@Scotts.com

This is what Joan at Scotts said but remember it is from 7/30/03
Peters Excel 15-5-15 or 13-2-13 are only available in 25 lb. bags at
wholesale distributors. Some of them may UPS a bag. There is no
distributor there in the East Bay but Target Specialty Products (not to be
confused with the Target chain store) in San Jose would be your closest
distributor. They will usually UPS product if not large enough of an order
to deliver. Many people also pick up product at their location in San Jose.
They distribute professional ornamental, turfgrass and pest control
products.

Hope this helps some.

Wow! I'm sure it will, Kell, and I wanted to quickly thank you before I dive into all you've given me. That will take care of all my spare time for a spell (got too much else going that’s got to get done before ’07 planning).

One final favor as long as I'm imposing... could you give me a link to or pic of your "very special double apricot"? I did try a common name search in PlantFiles but drew a blank.

Thanks a million !

Dave

I got the Cal mag 15-5-15 I think it was from:
http://www.southernag.com/pclist-fert-nutri.htm

I had it bookmarked. The shipping was pricey, but it is heavy. I think you can probably find something similar that isn't in a 25 pound bag. My brugs didn't do anything special and wonderful on it compared to regular MG.
----------------------

Did you say Kartuz? That's a half hour away from me. Isn't that a bit of a drive for you guys? It would take a two-fisted triple pink brug to make me drive that far. LOL

Thanks mpabbott1,

Ain’t this science stuff fun !

So Mary that was the Excel stuff? Good to know it did not rock your boat. LOL. Especially since I have not run down to get it in 3 years. LOL I do not know if the numbers Tracey used would make a difference or not. Some people just have the brug touch and Tracey certainly did!

Mary, yes, Vista and Kartuz is very far from me. And another 2 hours further for Lali. It took us 9 or 10 hours I think to get home. We talked nonstop all the way so it went pretty fast. LOL. We went to Santa Barbara first for a begonia show for 2 days then headed more South to Vista. I must say we had the worst dinner I have ever had in Escondido. I am still mad at myself that I didn't get up and walk out. Too bad I didn't know you were so close!!

My double apricot is one of the loves of my life, Dave. She has such dramatic skirts. I love drama. LOL. Here she is not that apricot but does get more so after a day or 2.

I need to get her in the ground to see if she is worth having such a warm spot in my heart. LOL. I will admit this last season was pretty much lost on me. I had other things going on that took my attention from my plants, but next summer I so hope I can concentrate on them and do a much better job.

Kell,

When/if you get an apricot colored pic, please bump and post one on this thread ‘cause I’m not very DG dependent. If I can’t make the 11 inch pot work from here on, I’M the “goof ball” not the brug.

Thanks all,
Dave

Oh I have pics of her as apricot, I just like that photo above better. LOL

The trouble is I usually have torn open the flower before it turns color. Like yesterday I meant to take pics of some double pinks but totally forgot and I had torn them all open by the time I took out my camera.

LOL, not quite as pretty.

Really lovely, thanks.

I know how much hard work goes into something like this and you have every right to be proud.

Dave

I had heard of Peter's Excel being used by professionals. Tried to buy some but to no avail. However, I did find one this year called Peter's Professional Bloom Booster with a breakdown of 5-50-5. I don't see any minor elements on the label though. What is a good with the minors. Is that what a lot of people use osmocote for?
I think I got the Bloom Booster at Wal-mart or Lowe's.
Kell, why do you tear them open?

I'm trying to remember if there's a good restaurant in Escondido. Thinking.....Thinking.......Thinking...... Nope! There isn't. The only thing of worth that you missed in Escondido if the Canterbury Gardens Gift Shop, known for their fantastic Christmas display. (Opening soon - too early is you ask me) There are two nice Italian restaurants in Poway, and one decent Chinese. Not much else. Small town. Nothing like you'd find in San Francisco.
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That middle number is a little high to use all the time Woodspirit1. Might be okay for pushing blooms at the last minute.

Hey, 2 years ago I tried everything in sight. If someone mentioned it, I'd rush right out and buy it. If I had back all the money I spent on 'the latest greatest thing' I'd be moving on up in the financial world. LOL

Well, tomorrow we're supposed to get windy so I'd best see that everything is tied down or we'll all be in the next county.
Mary

This message was edited Sep 21, 2006 7:03 PM

I have very low phosphates here, that's why I thought Bloom booster might work for me.

Dave,

It used to be that I would use whatever water soluble fertilizer that I could find and use a bloom booster fertilizer on occasion too. But last year at my local Sam's Club I found the new formula of (as of last year it was new) Miracle Grow. Miracle Grow used to have the numbers of 15-30-15. But the formula they are producing now has the numbers of 24-8-16. After using it last year I found it to be much better than the old formula. I bought several 15 pound boxes last year, enough that I won't need to buy more fertilizer for a few more years. LOL

Anyway, the numbers on the new formula more closely matches the needs of brugmansia. According to Dr. Rich Sanders you should use a fertilizer within the N-P-K range of: (12-20%) N - (3-6%) P - (8-12%) K.

I saw a very noticable difference in my brugs last years after I started using this product. Something too that helps brugs but is just a coincidence that I have it is, hard water, my water is VERY HARD. Hard water helps with color development and helps to make the cell wall of the blooms stronger also. Here is a link to Miracle Grow's website showing the difference in plants between the old and new formulas.
http://www.miraclegro.com/index.cfm/event/ProductGuide.waterSoluble

Here is a pic of my Pink Beauty from last year. This has been a really bad year for my brugs, so I don't have anything spectacular going on with them.

This message was edited Sep 22, 2006 9:40 PM

What great PINK blooms........so big!! And so round. LOL

Just a couple of weeks ago we had a big discussion on here on oneof the threads about the old MG 15-30-15 verses the new formula, 24-8-16. I have tried the new, 24-8-16 formula for 4 bottles now and I have missed the old zip I got immediately after using the old formula MG, 15-30-15. I used to notice after I fertilized with the old stuff, 15-30-15, how the plants just went nuts with growth.

A few others on here posted the same disappointed growth from the new stuff, 24-8-16, but said how much they liked the 15-30-15, the old formula like I did. So then I had kind of decided I wouldn't use the new formula again but maybe I will give it another try at some point, David, if you like it so much.

It really is so hard to judge because of so many variables as the weeks go by.

Kell,

I have to say that last year, I was able to get the leaves on Whiskers to "green" up good using the new formula.

I would make this suggestion to those who like the old formula better, buy it when and where ever they can find it, since that Scotts is/has changed the formula.

And like you said, there are SO MANY variables it would be very difficult to make an objective comparision between the two formulas unless that controlled studies were done. Which I am sure that the makers of MG have done before they made the decision to change the formula.

I could be wrong, but as I recall someone said they still have the 15-30-15 but under a different name. I mostly use MG as a foliar feed though once in a while I pour it out of the plastic bag onto the pot soil then water for a fast fix. I do LOVE the ease of use of the new set up. How clever, fast and easy!

It is getting late now to fertilize, I may do one more foliar feed for the year.

Davidwv,

I just want to thank you for joining in on this thread and making what I feel is an important practical contribution.

I agree with Kell – your pic is a knockout !

Thanks again for your post and keep ‘em comin’, if you will, ‘cause I have a hunch your experience would be useful not just to part timers (like me) but to “veterans” as well.

Dave

From Dave:

Well, there’s another great commentary on what we all get when we dare call “Customer Service”. And it doesn’t have to be in India to give us a bum steer.

I’m impressed with your memory – did I hear you say that you just turned 27?

Actually Dave, 23 but lets not quibble over a few years. LOL

As I slowly assemble my final report, I first have something personal to say and share.

First, I want to express thanks for Dr Kell’s Patio Brug Diet

Secondly, tho the brug has not yet peaked, I wanted to share with you my private daily view of it as I sit in the kitchen with my morning coffee.

Dave

Happiness is a pot full of brug blooms. WOW Dave, just glorious. So many blooms. I am glad to be of any help.

So are you looking at snow too like Doris? I just can't imagine it.

…uh…….does this mean I’m behind schedule?

OMG! David!!! That is just plain horrible!!

Beware, I'm not too far North of you.

Oh, stop, and stop that nonsensical talk this minute!!! LOL
Your EDW is nice and warm with a reflective grow light shining on it (see post below), and it's bloom has opened up very nicely, will send a picture this evening. Once the bloom is gone, I'll be doing some cutting on it for ya. :)

A new cultivar, a brugcicle. LOL! Oh my, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. LOL. It is a very pretty picture actually. Look at all the snow in the air.

That's the only reason I posted it, Kell, the pretty picture.

The brug was warm and safe at 34 degrees. I stretch out my short growing season by watching the overnight lows that are forecast and last year was rewarded with the most magnificent Day Dream flush ever in my short brug life - on Nov 7 would you believe?.

I'm overwintering my container today since 27 degrees is forecast for tonight but in my short experience the brugs in the ground will survive a night or two of that and still might possibly give me another November surprise.