New to gardening & brugs and loving it!!

Hello,
I am a new gardener, waited way to long to discover this passion, and I had a wonderful DGer in my area who gave me 7 full size trees. I feel in love with brugs the first time I was at a DGers and saw and smelled the fragrance, like nothing I have ever smelled before. I was hooked. I am going to take cuttings of all of them soon, but I have been holding out to see these buds through. She is labeled Pink Beauty. I have been babying her and I think it is going to pay off. This is a pic of one of the buds starting to drop....

Another bud opening. Two more have started and this one has opened more since the photo....

I have a question. I know you are suppose to take cutting six or seven nodes above the Y, from reading other posts, but what do you do when the main Y has several more Y's on it? Does that make sense? Do I cut only to the newer Y's or can I cut closer to the main Y. These are huge and taking lots of space in my garage. Thanks for any input you have.....

When I picked up the trees, I also got lots of cuttings. I have several bubblers set up. This is one of them. They have all gotten roots now and are ready to go into pots. I have three more bubblers. Some are named and some aren't, but to a new gardener, all are pretty. lol.

I am the same way Pupil I'm just beginning on this new adventure and it does indeed fill me with wonder. That's quite a set-up you have there. I must try something like that myself!

Best of luck,
La

Thanks, Lala_Jane. I just hope I don't kill them. lol. I would cry I think.

If you are short of space, you can make the cuts closer to the original "Y". The plant won't be as dense if you prune more, but should fill out as the year progresses.

What a great set up. I will have to try something like that. Looks like a plastic tub with a fish tank air line and pump in it to keep the water fresh. Is that right? I bet that would work on other types of cuttings as well.

Hi everyone. Thanks Bettydee! That is the problem. I can use all the space I can get. When I started gardening, I went a little out of my mind and have so many plants to overwinter and tons of seeds to start indoors, I didn't know what to do. This gardening bug is dangerous. lol. Add on the fact that you find a couple of plants you are crazy about and everyone at DG is so generous, you can get yourself in a pickle.

Tetley, that is exactly what it is. I love experimenting with propagation. This was shown on the propagation thread. I added some liquid plant feed but the name has gone out of my head. lol. I'll try to find it. Many people have added other stuff. I have so far successfully rooted a tropical hib, hardy hib, hydrangea, and possibly a rose. The rose hasn't blackened off, but honestly, I am scared to check for roots for fear of killing it. The are all in peat pots, so I would have to open it up. There are several kinks I have worked out if you want to start one. It would have helped to jumped a few steps by me knowing. lol.

I can't wait to see this bloom!! I just check on it and it looks the same as it did five minutes ago.

I have another question. If I cut them closer to the main Y, will the cuttings bloom even though the Y they were cut off of was removed. Basically do blooms depend on the first or second Y. Wow, I am confusing myself. Hope that makes some sense.

Thanks!

Cuttings from above the "Y" will continue to product "Y"s and blooms. The first "Y" is the most important because it signals the beginning of the blooms stage. Cuttings from below the "Y", from stems formed below the "Y" or growth from the soil line won't bloom until they form a "Y".

Thanks again, bettydee. You must be an old had at this. I really appreciate the help. Here is a picture of my bloom today. I am beyond excited.

Another bloom. There are three opening. I will be happy if one makes it.

A full size shot of her. Once she blooms, I am going to strip the leaves and cut her back. As you can see, she is as tall as the garage.

This is one of the trees the kind DGer gave me. She is named, but I have forgotten it. She is marked with it. This is the one with Y's on Y's.

Another named who needs cut back

The one on the right is a NOID I bought for $5. The one on the left is another named given to me. Cutting her too.

Yet another named the DGer gave me. Lots of cutting to do on her.

Two more. Can you believe the generosity???

These are cuttings I bought from a local nursery I trust. I have lurked here enough to know not to buy off E-bay. lol.

Do you think I may have gone a wee bit overboard. lol. I have more purchased cuttings upstairs. Is it this easy to become an addict in less than 2 months. I just can't help it when I see how beautiful they are.

Definitely NOT overboard!! Looks like you're doing great there!! Be sure to post pictures when Pink Beauty blooms.
Yep, just wait till next year -- you'll have tons more!! ;)

Oh boy.. it's a wonderful you can have that many.. but more than a few is a whole new world.. Your gonna be a busy momma! How exciting! I'm happy for you.

Indiana_lily, More?!?! I am mad scrambling to find larger pots for the ones I have. lol. I am overcrowding many and about to resort to fashioning pots out of big plastic containers. Won't be the prettiest, but at least they will have room.

Plus I can't possibly cut these darlings and trash them. So, at least add on 50 more cuttings to the approximate 50 I have. I guess I will have to put DD's bed in our room and take over hers for a brug room. lol.

You know what? As you run out of space, you'll find that you become more and more creative! It's amazing what you can overwinter when you put your mind to it!! LOL!! See, you're already starting by moving your DD out of her room. My DD doesn't know it yet, but I think the same thing will be happening to her. ;)

Don't trash your cuttings, go to the plant trading forum, maybe you could strike up a deal there, or enable some friends with cuttings, they always appreciate that!

Good idea, indiana!! I have been enabled so much why not enable others. I should also check out the plant trading forum. But, is it to late to try to ship these? I have read they die if it is too cold. Is there a good way to ship them?

ZZsBabiez, don't I know it. I started out with coleus and the wonderful DGers in that forum loaded me up with cuttings. I am now taking cuttings from cuttings and have over 100 pots, some with two kinds in it. I AM NOT COMPLAINING, as I love this crazy thing called gardening. I am just wondering where the extra hours are going to come from to take care of them. lol.

May I ask another question? I have many cuttings that are established and growing well. Once again, due to area constraint, I am at a loss. Is it too early to let them overwinter or should I try to keep them alive and growing? So much to learn. Thanks for being so helpful right off the bat. I love DG!!

P.S. I will definitely keep you posted on the bloom. This is so exciting for me. One of the trees I got had buds on them and bloomed, but this is MY first. I did it. I feel like I should win a prize. lol

Good going, Pupil! I really want to see the bloom in a couple of days!

Wow Pupil sounds like you are having a ball with all them brugs!!
It must be wonderful.I'll be looking for Pink Beauty :)
Kim

Thanks for sharing my excitement. I have all fingers and toes crossed they don't fall off. lol. If one, just one, makes it, I will be thrilled beyond all means. Well, guess it is time to go look again. I swear I can see it slowly dropping. Maybe because I check on it so often. I am having a ball. I just wish spring were a bit closer.

As long as the temperatures are not freezing where you are or where you ship cuttings to, the cuttings should be fine.

You're cuttings that your rooting, are these inside or outside? I kept all my cuttings alive and growing under plant lights last year. And, I'm probably wrong on this, but I think that's necessary to do with cuttings. Established plants you can let go dormant, but not cuttings that have just small, new growth. Hopefully, someone more seasoned will come along and help with this one.

Yep, your very first bloom is the most exciting one! Of course, that means that your very first bloom on each brug is exciting!!

Lol, indiana!! Love the last sentance. I have a feeling you are sooo right.

I have my cuttings inside and underlights. I have got to get my creative pots made because they are crowded in the pots. This just leaves the cuttings rooting in water and the ones I am going to take from the trees. It is good to know I can ship in the warmer climates. I have a couple of people interested, but will need a lot more to get rid of these babies. The problem I have is not a single friend of mine gardens. I am 34. I believe gardening was a lost art on people my age. I will try to enable as much as possible. You have been very helpful and I appreciate it. Can't think of anymore questions right now. Give me time. lol.

Well, thought of one when I went to snap a pic. These cuttings allowed to keep growing, do I fertilize them, as I know they need lots, but should I let them be for now?

Indiana, would you be my brug angel? ;^)

This morning. She has turned a pretty yellow.

Two pretties in one shot.

Way up high on this bloom. That is 3 opening and three not. One would be great.

She really is a vivid yellow. I know, looks can be deceiving. I have been lurking waaay to much.

One of the overcrowded pots. There are three of these. I need to take care of them ASAP.

Is it sad I take so many pics? I have tons more but will only subject you to.......two more.

Last one. This is the top of the previous pot and I have been pinching back leaves.

Please let me know about the fertilizer. Thanks so much.

No fertilizer until they are at least 21! :) Seriously, I don't start fertilizing until it has warmed up enough for them to go outside. And, at first you only want to give them 1/2 strength so that they don't get a terrible caffeine jolt. :) Other people may be different though. But, during the fall and winter, brugs naturally want to go dormant, and fertilizing when they are not in their growing season may not be a good thing. Once they are outside, then you can feed them 1 - 2 times a week.

Yep, definitely looks like you need to separate those cuttings asap before their roots become too tangled to separate.

She is a very pretty yellow! And, look at those tendrils!! Very nice!! You should feel like a proud brug mommy now!!

It's sad that so many things have become a lost art -- gardening, needlecrafts, etc. But, it's people like you that keep things going. I'm not too much older than you, so I kinda have an idea what you're going through. I can't name one person my age that I know that knits, needlepoints, etc., except for me.

So only 1/2 until they turn 21 and then the full shot. J/K. Funny you mention knitting and needlepoint. I don't do either, but since joining Dave's and discovering gardening, I have been wanting to learn soooo bad. My mother use to knit all the time. It is like all these creative thoughts which have been looking for a release found it once I started gardening. I actually looked at sewing machines on Amazon last night.

Now a days, people want someone to come in, remove the dead flowers, put in the new ones, and never touch the ground. To me, digging in the dirt lets me be a kid again. Who needs fingernails when you can have lovely flowers everywhere.

So the tendrils are the stringy things I take it. Thanks again.

:) Yes, the stringy things are the tendrils, and the longer and curlier the better! Well, that's just a matter of personal preference.

Yeah, I try not to contribute to the delinquency of a minor with cuttings or seedlings, but it's hard not to be tempted sometimes.

I can see where gardening would let off creative talents in other areas. You're creating something of beauty in your eyes by planning and making a flowerbed and watching it grow, so you want to surround yourself in other pretty creative endeavors.

Some things will never completely go away...My 18 year old crochets and knits. Taught herself. I'm a cross stitcher and beader myself:-))
Now lots of people in her dorm want to learn.
Been lurking and learning on your thread pupil!
Bev

Great tgg, we can learn together, because I know absolutely NOTHING. lol. I use to do counted cross stitch. I started when I was four, to the amazement of all. Once I figured it out, I got bored. My mother has a piece I did hanging up. It is the outline of a hand with half the flesh color filled in. There is a completed heart in the middle. It was suppose to say, "A mother holds a child's hand for a while, her heart forever". Never made it that far and she hung it up to remind me I need to finish what I start. lol.

I like your mom!! I haven't done anything in a while. I tend to like those extremely complicated pieces that take forever! Too busy gardening these days...and then there's the wintersowing I plan to try this year...Mercy!

That's really awesome, ZZ! Seems like your mom was trying to teach you a good lesson, too!

I taught myself how to knit in high school, and actually completed a cable knit sweater in 3 days. Then, I went onto counted cross stich and needlepoint. I've got 4 kits in a closet that I need to get back to.