I think we can do it Mike... I plan on using lot's of compost and compost tea : )
Cutting for Postage??? LOL
Sannajane, I haven't seen Bj posting lately, but maybe I can answer some of your questions. My cuttings were about a foot shorter than Bj's and not as thick, but they had not trouble rooting. The advantage of these cuttings is that you leave the "Y" on. So you get blooms faster. You can customize the height of the plant by removing whatever length you want from the trunk or leave it that size. I placed the cuttings in a bucket in a brightly lit place out of direct sunlight. They lost their leaves, but rooted easily. I suggest you support the cutting with stakes until the roots grow out into the potting soil and the plant can support itself.
Brugs in pots need to have the soil renewed every year. The roots grow so quickly and the plants are such heavy feeders that they exhaust the soil and become very root bound. They aren't as vogorous when root bound. You can repot in the same container or move up to a larger pot. If you move up to a larger container, you don't have to root prune, although it's still a good idea to do so. If you repot, you need to remove 2" - 3" all the way the sides and from the bottom. You may want to prune the top at the same time to compensate for the root loss, but it is not necessary in the spring. Don't prune below the "Y" or you'll have to wait for it to "Y" again before it blooms. For a more compact top, prune to leave about 6 nodes from the original "Y".
Would you be able to tip the half barrel over on it's side to remove the rootball later? When I first moved to San Jose, the house we bought had a concrete backyard. So much of my gardening was in pots and half barrels were the pots of choice, being cheaper than clay or fiberglass. I had no problems with the first few batches, but then noticed that great big fungus balls formed inside the barrels. There was not damage to the plants, but the barrels rotted in a few years. I switched to large thick plastic pots or resin pots and was much happier with the results. Getting that half barrel over on its side is back breaking work. Even worse, a barrel shaped rootball has to be whittled down considerably to fit in a regular shape pot.
SJ, I was just playin in the GH today! The largest cuttings are not rooting as fast as the smaller ones. In 05, I just left those two growing in 25 gallon pots & stuck pot & all into the 1/2 barrel, In 06 I planted them directly into the 1/2 barrel then yarded them out with the backhoe, cut the roots so they would fit back into a 25 gal. pot & stored them in the GH, tilted to one side as they were just too big to stand up right. They grew to one side so I had to keep turning the the pots weighing it at somewhere around 150-200 lbs! So this last fall I just cut them off & thought I'd make them a bit shorter & put them back into the 1/2 barrels again this year. They are the last to sprout leaves, I'm hoping they don't die when it's time to plant out! The green hous looks like a jungle exploded! It's still a month & a half before these babies get outside! Glad to hear everyones cuttings are doing good! Post pics when they bloom, it's always fun to see just how dark they bloom in other regions!
Bj
BJ, do you have any cutting left? I'd be interested and what kind of fertilizer and or drugs or you using on those? They are stunning!! Btw it wasn't a jar I dropped it was my jaw.......I just spotted the typo......LOL I believe I can grow those here, I"m in 7b, but with my micro climate it's closer to 8.
Thanks,
Cathy aka doccat5
Cathy, I'm the same zone you are, tho, not near Z8, 7B at the best. I mostly use Miracle Grow, Super Thrive, Epsoms Salts & when I take the time to make it, Alfalfa Tea. I just rotate what I'm feeding, about every other watering. Just depends whats near me when I'm watering!
Bj
Hmmm, I may have to give that Super Thrive a try. I don't use Miracle Grow, but I do use Epsom Salts. Wonderful stuff!!
I would be interested in a trade or postage? James
Hi! If I could get a cutting, I would do the Brug dance! Please and Thank you!
This the wrong time for cuttings, at least for me. I take all my cuttings in the fall when I need to hack them shorter to go back into the GH. Check then OK?
Hello Bj : )
It is almost time for me to put my babies out. They look great!
I was fixing there spots today... I must say i'm a little stiff lolol!!
Hi Bj!!!! Here she is finally about to unfurl : ) I am soo excited!....
Sooo pretty ^_^
I am so happy that is beginning to bloom for you I think you deserve the fragrance. I wonder what it smells like.
James
Hey I just noticed it is one year to date when Bj offered us this beauty!!!!!
James I can hardly wait to get a nose full :^)
Well I haven't gotten mine yet one of the women that will be at the RU this Saturday has one for me.
Still keepin my eye on this one ;)
BJ
She's starting! lol! 'First belle' that is! :) I had to share with you! Very large blooms & very lonnnnggg 'twangers!' Fragrance of a light citrus! And 'yes' - she does great here in the heat of Arkansas!
Mike
'First Belle' - night time!
Night time is the Right time!!!!! Gorgeous!
BJ
And thank you for sharing her with me last fall! :) Hope I've done you proud!
Mike
'First Belle' - day time!
Oh I can hardly wait for mines to open!!! Very pretty Mike!
Kim
You'll love her! :) The bugs love her too! And BJ was so GREAT about sharing her last year!
Mike
Mike, I'm not accusing you of nothing.. but the night time bloom looks different from the daytime (not just night and day light) the bloom seems much wider skirted in the day... she is a show off with those twangers! Wow! and the color is gorgeous.
Hey! Glad she is doing well for you guys. AuntB you are right. FBl isn't that suave looking as the day time pic but right on for the night one.
I have promised a few more cuttings out of this one but I have been having such a time here at home with hubby sick & so much to take care of that I haven't been able to get out the promised ones. Once I get those taken care of (a long time promised too!) Maybe I can send a few more out there.
Bj
I find that the big woody cuttings, now matter how long they are, root much easier than the newer smaller green tips. I would cut that one up into several different pieces.
Am I to late to get a cutting for postage?
Thanks BJ, you do what you need to do there, I've gotten plenty of new "toys" to play with from other generous DG'ers... Wags, d-mail me, don't have FBI, but I might be able to provide a consolation ;)
This post is from last year. That huge cutting never did root, I did get cutting off of her tho. Not sure if I'll have any to send away tho.'They are now established plants, I'll keep ya posted.
Bj
Bj, I was hoping it had rooted for you.. I've gotten the big ones to root over winter... just didn't have anyone to dig (blast) a hole to plant it in, in Spring.