How Long For Blooms?

This question is probably about Brugmansia 101 as it comes, but you all are so giving with your experience and expertise that I really feel no embarrassment in asking. I started my first cuttings a little over a month ago and from all appearances they seem to be doing beautifully. Now comes the patience part.

I've seen posts where people have said they got blooms within months of starting a new cutting and I've seen others that took years. What are the biggest factors in how long it takes a cutting to flower? Is it the cultivar that most determines the time frame? The size of the cutting? The environment? I'm sure there's no cut and dry answer, but I'd love to at least have an idea of how long I'll have to brood over my babies before I see some color.

Thanks as always,
La

The main thig is this, was your cutting from above-or below the Y above they bloom faster below, in my working with brugs, they take about a year, because they have to grow big enough to make a Y befor blooming.


Doris

Doris has mentioned cuttings from below or above the "Y". Are you familiar with what that means? Brugmansias have two types of growth — vegetative and flowering. A seedling will grow as a straight trunk. How tall it gets before it produces a "Y" is influenced by the variety. A some point the growing tip will send out two growing tips instead of one. Shoots that originate from the rootball will go through the same process. That is why these shoots make great standards, tall and straight. If you looked at the leaf shape, you would see that the leaf attachment, on either side of the main leaf vein where the leaf attaches to the petiole, are even during the vegetative stage.

Once the plant has produced a "Y", it will start to produce buds. To check that you have a true "Y", look at the leaf attachment at the petiole. The leaf attachment sides are uneven. Scroll down this link to see photos and a drawing that illustrates the difference.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/536337/

Any cutting taken from above the first "Y", will continue to grow as if it were still attached to the mother plant and will continue to produce blooms. That is why you can find photos of tiny plants producing a large flower or two. Any new growth that sprouts up from the ground starts the process all over again as a vegetative shoot. If you received a vegetative shoot, how soon it blooms is determined by a variety of factors — Brug variety, how much it had grown before being cut, plant vigor, how much fertilizer it gets, whether it remains healthy,etc. Look at the leaf attachments on the cuttings you received to determine which type of cuttings you received.

Thanks for the reply Doris. The cuttings were gifts from generous DGers so I have no idea from where they were cut. (When I was more of a lurker I watched you all talk about the Y and am just starting to get a bit of a grasp on all that). I guess I shall just have to wait, watch, and exercise my patience.

******PLEASE don't let it be 3 years.!**********

Oh THANK you Betty. I'm going to study your post.....and most likey be back with more questions. LOL.

Betty that was extemely helpful! I'll admit that untill I saw your illustration on the other thread I was a bit confused. I kept thinking I was looking for alternating leaves. Of course I immediately ran to my cuttings to see what I've got and I DO have some with the uneven leaves. I'm a little confused there too (are you seeing a pattern here?) because only a couple of the leaves have the uneven appearance while the others seem to be flush where they join. Does that tell me anything or is that just the way it works?

OK now back to the Y. If my cutting came from above the Y does that mean it doesn't have to have it's own Y to bloom, or is a Y required for flowers irregardless?

Sorry for the barage of questions. Geeze, I wonder why I didn't I just ask before instead of lurking around picking up bits and pieces here and there?

Thank you!

I see by the picture that one leaf is growing uneven, that usualy means it is setting buds, keep it warm, and in the light and you may get buds early.

I believe all the cuttings I took were above the Y. The ones that were below the Y were tooooo big to ship. Just an FYI

Thanks you guys I am sooooo excited. I still need a TON more education, but if enthusiasm counts I am already am addict!

we knew that you were already hooked.. LOL we all know the signs.. and welcome you in with open arms... it's a wonderful road to travel, but it's not all easy.. you will earn your blooms my dear!

ZZ (or anyone with the patience to answer my oh-so-basic questions) you stated that you took the cuttings from above the Y. Well of course I've been pondering this whole Y thing and I have more questions. Why would you ever take cuttings below the Y? I assume by the Y that you mean the first Y division of the brug? Wouldn't you be cutting the plant down to nothing if you cut that Y off? Or is that not the Y you're talking about? Oh jeeze, I guess I should go do some more reading. This really IS basic stuff and I could probably find it all doing a Google search and leave you poor people alone. LOL!

(Oh. And thanks for the warm welcome) ;-)

Don't feel bad about asking questions. We all started from the beginning. Books and website don't have all the answers. It's fun sharing information.

I didn't see your other questions until I submitted my post. Over time your Brug will send out side shoots as well as shoots from below the soil surface. Those are the cuts you would take if you wanted a standard (single trunked plant) with a straight trunk.

Hi brug-a-maniacs...lol

I being very very new with brugs... read all the previous post..I get that there must be a "Y" before a flower is produced.

My question is...What if the cutting I receive is below the "Y"?

Linda

Take a look at the first post I entered in this thread for a complete answer, but basically, it will not bloom until it produces a "Y". Some shoots get quite tall before they produce the first "Y". I've had shoots get close to 7' tall. Others only get 3' - 4' tall. It depends on the variety.

thanks Betty