Let me first say I love you all. This is a great place to hang out. I am so looking forward to increasing my brug population from one to many!
Now a question. I have one brug. A Xena from a cutting someone sent me. I brought it into the garage for the winter and I thought it would be dormant. Then I realized that I have the temperature about 60 degrees out there for coleus cuttings that I raise. The brug is also by the door where it is getting some light. I had expected it to lose all it's leaves, but a lot are still hanging in there and there is a bit of new growth. I'm watering it about once a week when it gets dry. Is this kind of in between dormant and thriving state going to be OK? I can put it in the basement where it is darker, but it is warm there too. I just want to be sure I am doing the right thing.
Thanks in advance,
Juanita
Another Newbie Question
Hi Juanita! Everyone IS so nice here, I wish I could come to DG more...let me say your Xena is fine. You will just need to tend it more growing than dormant and you are being a good brug momma. Putting it where it is darker but still warm, it would be okay, just wouldn't see as much growth, and wouldn't require as much water.. I like to keep mine at least green with some show of wanting to put on new growth, they will bloom sooner in Spring. Sometimes their size is a factor as some get over 10-12 feet and my ceilings in the basement are only 8 ft. I have a couple smaller plants under fluorescent lights and they are blooming now. I don't think it normally gets below 50 degrees down there all winter. Either location, Xena would be fine, but I'd keep doing what you're doing and hope for a bloom (and watch for bugs)!
Thanks Aunt B. I was thinking it would be OK. Just sprayed for spider mites and all seems to be well. I'll continue on and look forward to earlier blooms next year. Since this was the first year for me mine didn't bloom until the end of October.
Juanita
I had 4 or 5 my first year, 4 of them had 1 bloom for me before the frost. It's fun learning about them. They're pretty rugged.
Mine are always full of blooms when I have to bring them inside from frost/winter. I keep all growing thru winter, under lights, they are bigger and start growing & blooming sooner in summer. They do not really need to go dormant, just less work for you if you do make them go dormant. They really only need to sleep at night, same as us.
Gloria
I really need to buy another timer, the light unit above one of the brugs is on 24-7 (most of the time), but it is the one with 2 blooms on it right now... Thanks for reminding me Gloria... they like to sleep, too. ;)