I'm going to take a leap. After reading so many posts about feeding heavily, I'm going to give my brugs 20-20-20 at full strength three times a week (with lots of water in between) and see if they croak or erupt in blossoms. One has Yed. My fear is that this overfertilizing and might hurt or even kill the plant. Stay tuned.
Over-fertilizing?
The only time it'll hurt them is if it's done in high heat .... or so I've read. I'm lucky if I fertilize once a week this summer, so I'll probably not experience it. I mean to fertilize, but life keeps getting in the way. LOL
What a great experiment andycdn! I will be VERY interested to see your results. As you may know, I am a firm believer in agressive fertilzing during periods of growth. I'll go out on a limb here and state that I am 99% sure that you will see an explosion of growth and blooming as a result of your new efforts. But I will happily concede if proven wrong. Please keep us updated.
By the way, I think the generous watering between fertilzing is critical to not only keep the plants fully hydrated for optimal growth, but also to minimize the buildup of fertilizers in the soil.
Erick
I can't even find 20-20-20 locally.... so I keep trying with a variety of things. I added with fear a very strong application of alfalfa tea about a week ago. At least it didn't cause problems!! I am in a very low heat area, and have a number of blossoms right now, with more on the way..... It seems to vary with your location. Good luck!
Sanna
Huge increase in growth after the first feeding, and another Y. Lots of buds. I'm going to continue this.
I'm using an orchid food that is 20-20-20.
How often are you feeding, dun? At full strength?
I'm using 1 teaspoon in a gallon of H2O two times per month. Too much?
From what I've been reading, you can feed them at that strength twice a week, or even more. I'm still experimenting.
try a m leonard in ohio 937 773 2694 they sell a water soluable
20 20 20 though I have started using a 15 10 15
fish imulsion 3 2 2 1/2 cup per gallon
I think what you do with brugs depends some if not all on where you live I am in
zone 7a see many are from florida and canada (which I assume would have
a much slower growing period and you would need to push the growth)
mine are young plants as they have not v'd yet which I understand that the plant
will not bloom till it had v'd which take a yr or two I started last yr with 8 plants
but know have doubled it and I did have one plant to bloom last yr hope will get
one or more to bloom but it is so late in the season and I doubt it yours ca
Andy that sounds like a great experiment! You should take some before, during and after photos for us.
The only trouble I've had with fertilizer and brugs...was when I first discovered Superthrive and I didn't believe the instructions when it said "a drop" and I did more like half the bottle in 3 gallons of water. My brug leaves kind of curled up and looked deformed for a couple weeks, but of course it bounced back. Lol so I don't recommend that! But I'd say if you haven't noticed adverse reactions yet (and it sounds like the opposite) then I say keep doing it!
And be certain to take some extra cuttings. In case your brugs die? lol
I appreciate all the help but last yr with brugs was a disaster not one single plant flowered and now they sit in the corner of my living room on boards with caster wheels so I can get in and out of the front door think only 1 or 2 of them are alive
I am in zone 7 and hope to be able to put them outside by late march or early april depending on the weather they are in the same pots from 06 and 07 should I repot them this spring and if so would like suggestions on a potting mix with what additives added by you to go with it it appears as if my soil has compacted do not know why I try inside plants as not good at it but will not give up next to orchids these are my favorite thanks for any and all help ca
My experiment worked very well... masses of bloom in several flushes, some blommed all summer until I had to take them in. I keep them in dormancy in the basement, cool and darkish, watering lightly every 2-3 weeks. I pick off any growth, because I know they will take off in spring.
I took cuttings from above the Y and kept them in a bucket of water with a little H2O2 (also in the basement). They developed massive roots. I change the water every 2-3 weeks. I'll pot them up in April and let them start growing. Some aphids, no mites, a little insecticidal soap keeps things under control. I have been picking off the weak growth.
What a great learning experience!
bkdr; I would prune mine (brugs) before I move them outdoor this spring. As far as growing medium, I like Promix, probably Sunshine-8 or the like. I'd avoid using any medium that already has incorporated fertilizer already in them -- for fear of root burns. I'd feed them liberally as suggested, but not to the point of burning our plants. I'd wait a couple of weeks after root pruning before I start out with a deluted fertlizer. Foliage spray of fertlizer to get them going while their roots heal? Kell has posted an excellent thread on the 'Recipe' for brug.....check it out.
p.s. Last year it was a bad year for brugs in general statewide I do believe. We're hoping for better growing season this coming spring.
Best of lucks.
That's cool Andy.. I'm glad you got good results.. I am beginning to wonder if it's possible to over fertilize when they are active and growing!
I try to repot every year. Potting mixes can get real acid in a year or two. Sometimes I wash the soil from the roots and completely start over.
I use Miracle grow with a whole bunch of added perlite, some compost, a dash of greensand and a big handful or two of steer manure and a handful of Osmocote slow release fertilizer.
Thanks for your soil recipe, ZZ... I've been thinking along the same lines about washing off the old mix and starting fresh, so this is great information.
BTW, if you check my journal, you can see before, during and after photos. Here's a link:
http://davesgarden.com/tools/journal/viewentry.php?rid=86150 and a photo:
And another... so nice to see these in deepest winter!
My conclusion, based on last year's experience: potted brugs need watering once or twice daily, and feeding them with half-strength 15-30-15 three times a week brings on great bloom! These all get morning sun for 4-6 hours, and it was a hot summer. Some needed a second watering in the afternoon. No sign of fertilizer burn.
Andy;
Thanks for passing along the tips. I'm a converter, you've made a believer out of me. Great job!
Kim
Wonderful pictures and hints,maybe mine will bloom again afterall :-)
I'd love to be able to re-pot mine and root prune..........however...........they are huge, in 24 inch pots. They are pruned back to about 5 feet; shooting out like crazy AGAIN. I have stripped the growth off twice; really need to do it again. Last summer I fertilized with miracle grow almost every time I watered. If you want to really see them bloom their hearts out, toss some epsom salts in the top of the pot and water in. I put 2 handfuls in the 20 and 24 inch pots. They went berserk.
After seeing my rooted brug cuttings, my mother said, "These are weeds!" A wise comment from a lifelong gardener. Weeds are survivors... even if they are gorgeous.
I'm thinking that I'm going to treat my brugs as temporary residents in my gardens. The cuttings took so well, it's easier to take cuttings and grow them on than it is to get into the over-wintering and repotting cycle.I'm planning to set my over-wintered plants in the ground this spring, let them enjoy the root freedom, and take cuttings in the fall. Then I'll let the in-ground plants succumb to winter.
Where brugs grow naturally, they are trees. from what I can tell. Growing them in containers works for the first 2-3 years, but the natural habit of the plant is to get big. So my thinking is to let them do their best in containers and use cuttings as my main method of keeping them from year to year. It sure beats the heavy lifting!
We'll see how this experiment plays out. The photo shows a cutting after 2 months in a bucket. Now, three months later, they're thick with roots. I refresh the wter every 2-3 weeks and add a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and have no rot.
Hello All!
Andy Ilike your idea very much. This is my first time with these plants... I will not overwinter them like I did again..in a spare bedroom, bugs have changed my mind. I will leave them in the ground take cuttings and put them in a bucket.