Our planting zone here in Northeastern Oklahoma
begins April 15. Lately we have been experiencing
high 60's and 70's.
Yes, I realize a little cold snap may sneak in on us
in the next four weeks, but.
My question is, can I plant the Brugs outdoors, covering
them in the event we have a surprise last minute cold snap?
I am under the impression that Brugs don't mind the cold, but
the freezes and frosts is what gets them. Correct?
As our weather has been so nice, I'm outdoors and tend to
forget about those plants overwintering in the house. They
are drooping hoping I might notice they would like a bit of water.
We are in zone 7-ish, heavy on the ish, as we never have to dig
up what some folks down the road do.
Any suggestions? Many thanks for any assistance,
Karen Marie
Ready to kick them outdoors. Yes or no?
I am fairly new to Brug Growing. I have one that is in the ground on the west side of my house ... we had three or four nights this winter of temp's in the low to mid 30's and a light frost one night. We cover a lot of plants in the yard with old sheets & blankets if it's predicted to get real cold. We haven't had a hard freeze here in 6 or 7 years, but I know it would not survive a hard freeze ... so if we ever have a hard freeze again (which I'm sure will come eventually since even here in Florida, some area's experience the cold at times), I guess I will have to dig it up, or just see if I can protect the roots from freezing? I have two more Brugs I got in trade here on DG a few months ago, they are still in pots but my plan is to get them in the ground here soon!
There is a lady in town who always has Brugs by the road.
For all to see, of course, and indeed they attract attention.
Hers are never dug up, but I have yet to figure out if they
are coming back or if she is replanting a mature plant.
Seems she is never home, so I can't stop to ask, but I'm
dying to know.
:-)
Oh Wuvie ... you must take a photo this year and post it for all to see! I bet it is a sight to see!
Hi Karen, I'd be surprised if she leaves them out all year. I have many that I'm thinking are definitely DEAD and they were in the garage all winter. Most I brought in the house back in January when we had such cold temps and lost power for awhile and they look dead too. Sheesh!!! (You all may see me soon begging for brugs!) LOL I keep thinking something green might start emerging soon....I'm keeping my fingers Xed!
I'd be careful about putting them out and leaving them out for now. I pulled most of my stuff outside last weekend and they are loving it. But they're all in pots and I'll be putting them back in tonight as it's supposed to get pretty cold tonight and for the next couple of days.
BTW, I did have three brugs in the ground on the east side of the house that I left out all winter. And they are definitely DEAD!
If they are in pots, I'd gradually get them use to the wind and the sun. Then you will know when they are strong enough and hardened off enough to withstand the weather. If it gets cold you can take them in or at least cover them. Good luck!
Bonnie
Mine have been visiting the nice weather, but got brought back in tonight while some cool weather and especially some cool nights are going through. I'll probably be lugging them in and out for the next few weeks, keeping them out when it stays at least in the 40s, and bringing them in when colder then that.
Laura
We were in the 60's on Tues and I was so tempted to bring Maya up from the basement. I'm so glad I didn't because we're expecting another 3-7 inches of snow before Sat.
Welcome to the frozen tundra, lol
Just an update, I did go ahead & plant them, they seem to be doing
just fine and growing well. Two of them had a bit of sun bleaching
on the leaves, but they have recovered just fine.
:-) KM
Good luck to you KM! I've had mine out in the ground for a few weeks now. I know my zone is totally different, but I was still taking a gamble.. I just couldn't wait any longer. :) I am over a month ahead of last year...
I put them on the front porch for a couple of weeks before they got their permanent place in the ground.. they hated it at first, but they are doing great now.
I feel for you guyz in the colder zones, I'd go completely nutz if I had to wait much longer! LOL
I"ve got just about all mine outside now and alot of thenewer varieties are planted inthe ground. We had a small frost one night and bit all the leaves on them but they are all coming back strong. That was a severe close call, Too close. I know a lady who leaves hers in pots and never brings them inside in the winter time, although she has 2 greenhouses. She leaves them out and doesn't cut them back. She's in the same area as I am. And hers alway s seem to come back. she has some die back onthe tips of the stems but for the most part the whole tree comes back, I've done this and they didn't come back. Go figure.
kathy
Mine have been outside for about a month now also. The other night we dipped down to 33, I was out digging up my really special one's to spend a couple nights in the greenhouse, but they are back in the ground now. The one's that I didn't dig, did fine at 33-34 degree's.
I expect more cold weather but i have a few that have developed spider mites and I want to get them outside. I have learned that spide mites are often caused by poor watering routine and sure enough, those I took better care of do not have the problem.
Mine are getting planted this weekend.
Laura
MIne too. I cut the 2 from last year back afater the first frost and rooted the cuttings. One of the plants came back from the roots one didn't. I think it depends on the cultivar. SOme are hardy to 8a and some to 9 or 10 so I will try to go by that if digging any up.
I shoved a B B Q thermameter in to the ground - 43 degrees - pot was 54 - I moved pots into yard , but won't plant till 10 degrees or less different - just me .
I have dug 4 holes and turned MT pots upside down warms hole/ground faster and saves time when I do stick in ground . Also crushed some one a day vitamuns and threw in hole for trace vita-minerals .
a plant will grow twice as much at 58 than it will at 40 . 4 times as much at 76 .
This came out of - -
Plant growth Regulators
publication 4047 - UC @ Davis
http://www.ucanr.org/ce.cfm
look under publications
Well, I got mine out today, they look so much shorter out of their pots, lol!
Pics soon. I need to toss in some fertilizer. Is Osmocote OK? I also have some fert for acid loving plants, and I think some for roses.
I also bought some Bayer 2-in-1 systemic stuff this week, will this help prevent problems with insects if I use it on the Brugs?
Laura
Wovi They will drop their leaves at about 44 degrees but will rebound. If it does not freeze you will be OK,
Like the others I have mine in pots and move them in and out.
We still have two more weeks of unknown weather.
Hello All.
Here in Minnesota, there are hints of spring....
In the last couple weeks, all of the dozen or so large Brugs I have in my basement have been putting out lots of new growth. I haven't been watering them more - they just seem to sense that spring is here. Now I'm just trying to buy time with them. I can't put anything outdoors until the third week of May, at the earliest, so I don't want to pull them upstairs yet. I'm hoping I can keep them low key for another couple weeks.
Erick
P.S. Though a TOTAL fluke, it was just over 80F here one day last week.....
It is still "iffy" here too. I have mine in the GH still, but open it all up everyday & leave it open on the nights that are not freezing. Most of mine are in 5 gal & above, except the babies, so it is a big production to do the in & out thing everyday. I'll wait until near the end of April to take them out to where they live all summer. So far, "knock on wood" no spidermites yet. Just a few pesky gnats which I'n spot treating. Everything is looking great! So gald Spring is here, it seemed like such a l-o-n-g winter! Bj
Mine have been out for weeks.. they are all cuttings I started this winter. I am still fighting white flies but they are much happier outside. Temp got down to 39 a few nights ago and they are as happy as can be... no effects. I am going to spray them with messenger today and get a few other cuttings potted up today... I hope.
Tammie
I had mine out from Saturday morning until this morning because of the coldfront we had come in tonight. :( The worst part is, most of them have grown so much, I cannot put them on my shelves with the grow lights because they are now too tall. Hopefully, they won't pout too much between now and next week when I can take them out again.
Poor babies.. you teased them with the great outdoors and they had sooo much fun growing. Guess I am lucky with this new front. Temps won't plumet below freezing... a little close but most of my plants will be fine under the covered walk. My yard is overall very protected which I think really puts it in a higher zone.
Tammie
Great. We're expecting 25° Saturday night.
Will a blanket on those in the ground suffice?
:-( KM
I had already put some outdoors. The weather had been great. Today, they all go back into the greehouse. We get rain and low 30s this week-end. :-(
I've moved those which were still in pots back into the house.
There are a few outdoors in the ground which I might take a chance
on with blankets.
This is a bummer.
And no doubt we'll be wearing shorts again next week.
Just got finished moving in all my plumerias and the brugs in 3 gal or less pots. My father is coming over to bring in the last 4 larger pots I have out. Yea! temp finally reached 50 today. going to get to freezing tonight. Not looking forward to worrying over all my cannas that are growing... pulling out the christmas lights to put under the sheets tonight and through the weekend.
Tammie
Wishing you luck from here Wuvie! I think tonight is supposed to be the coldest night! I hope you have good luck with survival on your brugs in the ground.
Ooh, Brinda, here's to hoping, thank you!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Everyone in town
has blankets, sheets, plastic all over everything. It's
a strange and unusual sight, LOL.
KM
Just an update from last month. I thought they were goners,
but two of those left in the ground survived the frost and the temps
and they are sprouting from the roots, whoo hoooooo!
I promise to take better care of them!
Karen Marie