This is my first attempt at growing brugs. Could someone post pictures of the blooms as they develop? You know, from the first indication there might be a bloom until the full bloom emerges? It would be a big help for us newbies.
Thanks in advance - your help is very much appreciated :-)
What am I looking for? re: blooms
I'm sure someone will post a pic for you soon, but in the mean time... What you are watching for initially is for the growth tip of the plant to split (commonly called a 'Y' by us bruggers). Once it splits at the tip, it will begin to develop buds. A bud will develop in the crotch of the first 'Y'. Usually within a couple inches, each of the 2 new growth tips will make their own split and make their own 'Y''s. And it continues, with a new bud forming in the crotch of each new 'Y'.
Hopefully, that's not confusing. I just noticed a couple that are just 'Y'ing on some of mine - I'll get pics tonight and post them for you.
Carter - this "y" can be just a few inches from where it emerges from the ground?
Oy, that's where it gets a little more confusing. If you have a cutting grown plant, you can have two types: 1, cutting from below the 'Y', or 2, cutting from above the 'Y'. A below the 'Y' cutting will follow like I said above. An above the 'Y' cutting has the potential to either follow like above, or it could possibly bloom sooner without making a 'Y'. I know that goes against what I already said, but it's also getting a little ahead. My point is, potentially, an above the 'Y' cutting could possibly 'Y' again and bloom just a few inches above the soil.
Okay - well, I have one brug - supposedly a white one - that is in a very large container and is about 3 feet high now - with lots of bright green very large leaves - and apparently lots more baby leaves on the way. It doesn't get a lot of direct sun - just some morning sun. The other three brugs are babies (Equadorian Pink) that I recently bought. They are in 5 inch pots, but I have already received advice to buy 20" pots to put them in. They are standing in the garden and get lots of sunlight, then afternoon shade. Is it reasonable to expect any blossoms this year? Or am I being unreasonably optimistic.
Michaela
Another sign of impending blooms is to watch the leaves where they join their stem. On newer plants, both sides of the leaves come together at the same place. When the plant is about to bloom, the leaves don't come together at the same place but are offset a half inch or so.
Hope this helps,
Louise
Perfectly reasonable to be optimistic to see blooms this year - but don't be disappointed if you don't. Sometimes cuttings won't flower (or won't flower well) their first year, and sometimes they'll take off like crazy.
Here is a pic of a 'Y' of my 'Snowbank'. This is a brand new 'Y' that is only an inch or two wide.
Here is a 'Y' that is a little further along. You can easily see the primary 'Y' and the secondary 'Y's.
What Louise is talking about is when a brug is about to bloom or it begins a 'Y', it will form what are called subequal leaves. You can see one in this pic - directly above the primary 'Y' spot (and kinda just to the left of the right secondary 'Y'). You can see where the right side of that leave comes down the leaf stem a little further than the left side.
Wow, look at the bloom buds on that plant! .. and you have a Snowbank!!!!! You are doubly blessed.
Tammie
Thanks, Tammie. That second one is 'Gemini'.
Thanks! Now I know what to look for Carter . . . . just ran to check - I have four "Y"s ! I may get a bloom or two yet!
Cheers,
Michaela (who is very, very happy!)
Just an update . . . . I have EIGHT buds! I am soooo thrilled :-)
Okay - now I have 12 buds - but they are all less than 2 inches. How long until flowers? The family goes camping Aug. 3 - am I going to miss all the blossoms? I mean, buds are nice . . . but flowers are better, right?
They *might* open before then - if your luck is like mine, then EVERYTHING will bloom starting the day after you leave for vacation and finish the day before you get back! lol! I have a new one that is about to open either tomorrow or Friday. I'm leaving tomorrow for the weekend. The flower will be faded by the time I get home!
So the flowers only last 24-48 hours? (Never had a brug before - never knew anyone who had one)
I had my first bloom last week and the flower lasted about 4 or more days .. that is days it had a wonderful scent in the evenings.. then one evening with no scent and it was gone the next day.
Tammie
Sean, it depends on the climate and the cultivar. Flowers last a week for some people. I live in Houston, which is has super high humidity and super hot summer temps - both which contribute to making flowers deteriorate faster. In summer, I get 2 days - 3 on a few - tops. They last a little longer for me in spring and fall.
Thanks, Tammy and Carter. :-)
Here are my first blossoms - you guys were holding out on me - the fragrance is intoxicating! Too bad DG doesn't have a way to send scent as well as image :-)
