Some of my brugs are getting very leggy. Is it OK to just trim them and expect new growth?
fred
general question
Are these mature brugs, seedlings, new cuttings???? Triming can really slow down blooming. Can you post a picture so we can see?
Ok, here's a picture
There is a problem somewhere, not enough light maybe. Cains that tall should be as big around as your arm. First find out your problem, then we can go from there.
I agree with Ken, plus what are you feeding it, what is your soil like? It sure does look hungry. It should have nice big leaves. I would work some compost, worm castings or other organic material into the soil, Make sure it is getting enough light and feed that baby. If you cut those branches back you woill have a long wait for blooms.
That is a lot of shoots. I keep mine trimed to one main trunk, but that is because I like the form and also because I have to bring them in for winter.
The two tallest branches have "Y"ed. If you trim those below the "Y", you won't get blooms until they "Y" again. You have a number of options, but you have to realize that the new shoots will grow without blooming until they have formed a "Y". You can cut it down and start over (Not the best option.). You can leave the two largest branches since they have already "Y"ed and cut the rest completely off. I would gently twist the two remaining branches together. They would support each other and create an unusual standard Brug. You can cut the two largest branches, root them and make two standards out of them. Or you can leave it alone and see what happens when it leaves out.
Wow, I completely blocked out its surroundings. I agree that the Brug is not getting enough light, fertilizer or both. I like bushy Brugs so let mine grow out as they like. It doesn't seem to affect the size of the leaves or blooms as long as they get plenty of fertilizer, water and some morning sunlight.
What's your soil like?
Personally, I'd get a large pot with some really good soil and transplant your brug into this container to see if it improves. For some reason, I'm thinking it may be a deficiency in your soil.
Just thinking out loud. :-)
thanks for all the comments.
I did not treat this brug different from any other planting in my garden, ie no special food or soil preparation. Soil is nothing but sand here. Deeper down it's all limey coral type stuff. This used to be part of the FL Everglades and I realize non-native plants need extra food, but how do I know how brugs do until I tried, right? I already thought light was the problem and cut some of the neighboring branches down to provide more light. At one point I had lots of trumpets hanging from that bush but now it's sad and skinny and the reason I asked for help here. :-)
I have another by my pond which is lush and green and full of blooms all the time. It's also under trees but they are high and plenty of light comes to the plant. The soil is the same there but it gets better care, ie food, as it is in an area I have many other new plantings. Here's a picture
bettydee,
I think you may have hit the nail on the head: missing morning sun. The morning sun is blocked there. It's all overgrown jungle next door. Nothing I can do about that. Is it hard to dig brugs of this size up? Maybe I should move it to a better spot?
Here my other brug again
fredrump, If the soil is sandy, it shouldn't be that much of a problem. Since you have to sever some roots, you will have to remove some of the top as well. You could also take cuttings to be on the safe side. That's a lovely blooming plant. Brugs are heavy feeders. Sandy soils dry out faster and lose fertilizer at a faster rate. Our soil is sandy loam, but there are patches river sand here and there. We can get 3" of rain and not pick up any mud on our shoes. Amending the soil will help. You will have to provide fertilizer more often.