We had our first hard freeze two nights ago; I had brought all my brugs and hibs inside.
They are in a room downstairs (about 68 degrees) under 2 two-bulb shop lights. I want them to go dormant. Without the light there is only an east facing window. If I cover that up with black plastic, and give them all a good watering, will they go dormant? Should I strip the leaves off the brugs? I have a lot of brug seedlings from late spring which are only about 15-18" tall. Will they go dormant too? What should I spray them with? Any information would be helpful.
help with over wintering brugs and hibs
You can remove the leaves, but I would NOT give them a good watering. Without the leaves, they have no way to use up the water around their roots and the roots might rot. Just keep them on the dry side with a little water as needed to keep the soil from totally drying up. Maybe a couple of cups a month....it depends on the humidity in your basement so you will just have to watch and see when they need a boost.
I wouldn't worry about the window. I doubt they would get enough light to make them grow much. As for the seedlings....I've never tried to make them go semi dormant or dormant when that small. They might not have enough strength in the trunk to be able to handle the change. If they are important seedlings to you, you might want to keep them growing rather than taking a chance on them going dormant and not coming back.
Sprays aren't necessary unless you have symptoms. Generally around January sometime, the mites appear at my house. At that time, I do spray with a miticide, but rarely have to spray before that. I hope this helps some. I'm sure others will have some good advice for you. Good luck with your brugs in the basement. Stay warm!!
I brought my young brug in for the winter about three weeks ago. I noticed it had white flies, so I shooed them all off (I thought, anyway, didn't see any more) and all was good until last week, when I noticed they were back. They don't seem to be infecting any of the other plants I have down there, thank goodness (geraniums and coleus, mainly). What is a good thing to use to get rid of the white flies?
By the way, the brug only has four large leaves and smaller new ones coming on. What is the general care that I should give it? It's in my basement with grow lights.
Whiteflies are one of the worst critters that I've had to deal with until now.....and I found that Merit takes care of them and quick. I haven't seen a white fly yet and in the past, they have killed a couple of brugs. They suck the life out of them. I mix up the Merit and water with it and spray them too. It generally takes only one application.
I've never kept a plant growing in the basement that was more than two feet tall, so I hope someone else can help you with your question about overwintering in a basement.
Oh, it's not even close to two feet tall. Maybe a foot.
I'll check on the Merit. Thanks!
I also use Merit, Shirley. In fact, I drench the soil of all potted plants before bringing them into the gh. If whiteflies get a foot hold, they can be a real pain to eradicate in a jammed invironment.
Tussee
I just took it into the garage and blew them, knocked them, wiped them off and took it back downstairs until I can get some Merit. Of course, that's what I did when I brought it in in the first place. *roll eyes*