Can anyone help me. GGD sent me some lovely cuttings last year. Thanks GGD, At seasons end I cut them back and put them in my cold room. 1/2 cup of water per month. I brought them out and now have 4 wonderful plants. One has at least 20 buds. My problem is that the leaves are turning yellow. What should I do. I think someone said epson salts but I forget how much and how often.
Thanks to any advice
April
yellow leaves
April, if you are fertilizing regularly, it probably isn't a big nutrient deficience. You might want to check the leaves closely for spider mites. They can cause leaf yellowing very quickly. This year the mites have been bad here and they don't seem to want to leave. It's hot and dry right now and they love it. Good luck.
No spider mites. What fertilizer do you use and how often do you feed?
I use a variety of fertilizers, all having a low middle number or at least not higher than the others. I fertilize twice a week. Yellowing could happen due to cool temps and too much moisture too. Hope you figure out what it is. Summer are so short to have to spend our time worrying about why our plants aren't performing the way they should. I want them to be perfect from day one and so many times, that isn't the case. I still think that move to the south might help. LOL!
You are funny. I have a small greenhouse and have kept my babies nice and warm. It has been hot here since I took the plants from the greenhouse. I am the bad person. I have not been feeding them enough. I was feeding only once a month.
Thanks
Allow me to tell you ... about the South. It's so hot this time of year, one can fry an egg on open sidewalk. lol, so it's true the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. lol.
As far as for brugs in the ground. I rarely need to feed them, and they do just fine. Only those in containers that need a little more help with supplimental fertilizer. One needs to be careful, certain potting soil already has fertilizer added, other doesn't. Too much fert. can cause burning, thus result in "yellowing" and dropping of leaves as well as those under-fed. Gotta read the label carefully.
Happy gardening. :-)
I know how hot it can get down south, but we always think about what might be.....LOL!
Over past years, I've been known to double strength fertilize my brugs every couple of weeks and never did burn them, but was using water soluable and that might be easier on them than some of the granular fertilizers. Mine were in pots and at that time, the soil didn't have extra fertilizer added. For about three years, I always did the double strength feedings and then I found that it really didn't do a lot of good, but just broke the bank quicker. I probably had more blooms, but for the time and cost, it wasn't something that I wanted to keep doing. I don't remember who told me that double strength was a good thing..I think my friend from Wisconsin who got me started with brugs many years ago. I was totally eager to learn everything there was to learn about brugs back then, and now I'm kind of thinking that they are a lot of work, especially when it is so hot.
Lily, I don't fertilize the ones I have in the ground more than twice during the summer and then only using a cheap granular fertilizer. I believe I'm getting lazy. LOL! Have fun!!
Thanks for the tips.
April
April, so glad your plants have survived. 20 buds???? WOW! I only have about 5 or 6 on just 1 plant, and that's pretty early for me. MIne don't usually start to bud until August sometime. The others have nothing yet. I fertilize at least once a week with a product called Rain Grow, which is organic. I think it is 3-4-3. Our local nursery uses it, and Butchart Gardens used to use it all the time on all their plants, but not sure if they still do. We buy it by the 5 gallon paijl because it is so much cheaper. We use it on all our plants. I also use 15-30-15 once very couple of weeks. I was told early on when I first started with brugs that you want the higher middle number as that is nitrogen. Maybe someone else can confirm that. I also once in awhile throw a spoon of epsom salts in my watering can and water with that. I believe that adds magnesium.
Some of my leaves are quite yellow right now too, but mostly just on one plant. I thought I had spider mites, but can't find any. So will just try to baby it along and see how it goes.
Glenda
mine do that from lack of water. once in a while either a dripper clogs or I dont set the timer long enough as the temps rise. the plants seem to react by yellowing and dropping the lower leaves more especially when they are in bloom.
Glenda, the first number is nitrogen. The middle number should be the lowest number...at least that is what I was told, as to much phosphorus will keep the plant from absorbing the other parts of the fertilizer. They are listed in this order.......
N = nitrogen
P = phosphorus
K = potassium
Hope this helps.
Ted;
I second your observation, yellowing of lowest leaves, and dropping off is due to occassional lack of water. Bingo!