Ok, guys lay it on me. I am trepidly ready to expand my knowledge and collection of brugs. This is my first time on this forum, and I have some challenges in my area, but I can't resist any longer as I've gotten just 2 or 3 new ones in my first few seed swaps. Is there anyone who can give me an idea of the different types of brugs? Until recently, I didn't know there was more than pink, peach and white. Hope you have some patience for a newbie! Thank you. F4F
New to Brugs- ready to get the fever
F4F -
Welcome!! I've seen you in some of the other forums that I frequent! :)
I'm a newbie to Brugs (only about 1 year) and can tell you this one, very important thing about them: they are ADDICTING!!
They are easy to grow and very tolerable of some neglect. However, they will out-perform most of your other plants with a little extra love and lots of fertilizer!
Are you in zone 9? If so, you can put yours in the ground (as I do). They may lose their leaves in the low temps but will bounce right back.
I've had only a tad bit of experience so I can't give you as much info as some of these other resident Brug addicts and breeders on here can about the different types. But welcome!!
Thanks Amanda. I am in zone 10. Here they seem to like it a littler cooler than intensely hot, and right now they are pretty happy. I have major soil issues- clay and nematodes. The big pink one we have gets a lot of dieback because of it, but moving forward I will be sure to dig out the clay before planting. I get the usual mite damage and pretty much just wait for them to grow out of it in the cooler months. Sometimes some scale, but usually not too much. I appreciate your welcoming me!
Wow! It's so interesting to find out what other people deal with on their Brugs.
I'm on console right now (obviously working hard, ha ha!! AuntB will catch me!) working with a guy who lives on Merrit Island. Is that close to you?
Pretty close, yes. About 2 hours and some change North also on the east coast. Closer to Daytona, really, but this is a big state!
Wow, yeah, and a pretty state, too. We were getting some bad weather a few weeks back and my coworker was just going on and on about how beautiful it was outside his beach-front property: 80 desgrees and sunny! Grrr...
Well, I try not to go on and on about the weather (my family are mostly in PA). The truth is it will be so crazy hot later on in the year that this is our time to enjoy it. Speaking of crazy.....and weather. I was just outside in the rain planting seeds! You never know what kind of soak time things need....I see that swell and that little white thing poking out- it needs to be planted.
F4F you are not trying to convince a Texan that Florida is a big state are you? LOL
kenboy
(hee hee hee ...)
I drove cross country once. Texas is its own entity, as are many places. There is nothing like the sweeping rain storms that fill the entire horizon on a dime. I have never seen anything like it. I have seen, and loved, many intense storms in FL that come from nowhere.............but its different in the TX panhandle.........its this mighty black cloud that comes from nowhere and covers the whole horizon. In FL, its one big nasty cloud that does all the work.
Fauna, in your initial post you asked about types of Brugs. Are you asking about different Brug species or different Brug hybrids? This link shows photos the different species with further links to species descriptions:
http://www.abads.net/Gallery/species/brugmansia-species.htm
You may also wish to visit this site:
http://www.brugmansia.us/wildforms.shtml
Click on the plus sign to get the list of species.
This site has a slightly different focus. It shows photos of the seed pods. Both sites are well worth looking through for a fuller understanding of Brug species, what they look like and what species will cross.
If you are speaking about hybrids, both websites have lists and photos of hybrids. In December, someone started a thread about heat tolerant Brugs. I took all the info in the thread and turned it into a list. I function best working from a list. Those lists are located near the bottom of this link:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/797671/
Thanks, Betty. Your links are very helpful. This explains a lot, especially why they don't seem to really perform well in a hot environment. I am grateful for your information. One thing I wondered was what chance I have of crossing species or varities......if I want to do future seed trades.....and this helps. I suspect the only thing we grow in FL is B. x candidas, but don't quote me on that! I am just trying to sort it all out! F4F
You should be able to grow B suaveolens, B versicolor and B. arborea in addition to B. X candida. The two that require moderate temperatures and cool nights, B. vulcanicola and B. sanguinea, probably won't grow in Florida. B. vulcanicola is very rare and seldom available. B. sanguinea seeds are readily available, germininate like crazy, but can keel over dead almost overnight as soon as it warms up. Take a look at the lists of named Brugs found at the links I provided. If known, the ancestry is provided.
Thanks Gordo and Bettydee. This is really helpful!
Thanks Bettedee for all the work you put into making the four list of Brugs, I printed them off too.
Bettydee, I actually have cuttings of sanguinea from a trade about a month or more back. Do you think those will die here in the summer? Right now they are on my shade bench where I keep cuttings. I can keep them containerized in the shade, or maybe try to grow them when we grow tomatoes down here- from October to April......
They may not die, then again they may not grow.
B. sanguinea is native to Peru and the Andes. Above 71ºF, there is a chemical reaction that inhibits bud formation. It prefers temperate climates. My experience with B. sanguinea is limited to propagating from seed which germinates very quickly. Started in the greenhouse in mid-winter, the seedlings grow fast, becoming sturdy 12' - 18" plants by the end of April. By the end of May , they are struggling or dying. By sometime in June, they are dead. This a saga that repeats itself every time I try to grow this Brug here in central Texas. I should give up, but I keep hoping for a mutant that will grow in hot climates. LOL
Since you have the cutting, go for it.
Interesting, thanks. I will let you know what happens. My best hope is that it lives, but maybe won't flower until winter. Luckily, its been cool here lately.
hi bettydee ...thanks so much for all the work you put into this forum ...I just wanted to say that we usually have well over 105F often around the Summer here in Australia, but this last Summer we struggled to get to 70F and hovered around mid 60's ...so you never know ...you might crack it for the cooler Summer and see your sanguinea flower in the near future ...you could try misting them with very cold water a couple of times a day if you are really keen ...I have been known to put large blocks of ice around my stone fruit in warm Winters.
I have grown some arboreas from seed ...these are the true white ones ... could anyone please advise me as to what conditions they require? and if they grow from cuttings like the others? I can't seem to find as much information on them as the hybrid and noid types.
Thankyou
chrissy
chrissy, I've lost all of them so far. I feel terrible about killing so many.
I hope you do have the true B. arborea. So many of the seeds sold as B. arborea are not or are arborea hybrids. Preissels' book Brugmansia and Datura doesn't have any specific growing requirements for arborea, besides saying the it is very robust. Other sources have very little. This is what I've been able to find so far: 1) Prefers very rich soils, 2) Prospers best in high altitudes and cooler temperatures, 3) Can handle near drought situations, and 4) Can withstand light frosts. My B. arborea struggles through the summer months, but at least it survives. I may put it in the ground this year to see if that will help.
I remember another question I meant to ask if I have not already. What would it take to get bruggy folks interested in trading cuttings when the time is right for that? I've really taken off in seed trading, but I am able to collect from great sources- right now I don't have return brug cuttings to offer.
Thankyou for that ...I got it from a reliable source and it is different from the other Brugs ...I was told that it has a manderine /vanilla scent and flowers all year instead of in flushes. I would like to share with my friends in the Australian forum but the stems and growth look so different to the other Angels that I was not sure if that is the way to go ...or wait for seed ...the leaves are more round and very furry ...I will post a picture when the Sun comes up. I read that it is uncommon to find it in the gardens ...is that because it is difficult to grow? ...do yours die in the heat or the cold ? ...I was instructed to not use very much manure and fertilizer unlike the others ...thus a little confusion ...my plants are just over 2ft tall I planted them 23rd Dec.So far doing ok ....here is another one I purchased ...first flowers started butter yellow and turned white ...waiting for it to colour up now
thanks again.
chrissy
Ok here is a picture of my Arborea seedlings ...they look hungry but I am nervous about feeding them because I have been told they don't like manures etc ...anyone recognise this and does anyone know if I can use a fertilzer (organic) on them ? as we are into Autumn now I don't want to push them into tender growth.Should I just put them in a sheltered shady place where they won't get frost and just let them sleep through until Spring or should I feed them as the days are still in the 70'sF but nights getting down to mid 50's to early 60F. I really don't want to lose them if possible ...the fact that no one seems to grow them worries me ...sorry for intruding into the thread but as this is for newbies I hope it will be a learning experience for us all.
About propagating B. arborea: I came across a book website that allows you to view some of the pages and found a paragraph about rooting cuttings in soil.
It could be that using too much manure might damage the roots. I did find out that they prefer very rich soil. I'm assuming that means using lots of compost. They are supposed to be the most tolerant of drier conditions so they probably don't need as much water as the other Brugs. Except for the west and east coasts, with few exceptions, the rest of the country gets hot during the summer. That could explain why they are not as popular. Many people go for size and B. arborea flowers are much smaller and white to boot. Mine is in a pot and has spent the winter in the greenhouse. My first one died when I couldn't water my plants this past summer.
fauna, I can't answer for anyone else, but I have on occasion offered cuttings or seeds. I don't mind sending cuttings for postage when I have them. I have tried trades and would rather not do it again. Sending out cuttings on an individual or small group basis, it is no problem although it is a 34 mile round trip to the post office. However, I lost almost all of my plant collection this past summer and have had to start all over again.
If they are true B Arborea (I trust the source) and you can grow them (actually I think my place meets all the requirements) do you folk cross them with named varieties and get results? (I know they are self fertile) ...or should you just keep them pure ...or can you do both.
Sorry to be a drag but I have so many of these plants that I am anxious ...
Oh you lost your plants? I am so sorry to hear that ...I wish I lived closer so I could help replenish your stock ...I hope you will be sent lots of lovely stuff.
Well I really appreciate all the feedback ...you are so kind to put up with us ...I know it must be because you remember the excitment of falling in love with the Angels (Brugs) and to help us discover that same joy is generous of you.I know what is wrong now as it has rained all the while I was growing these out ...I guess I will move them under the verandah so I can control the water until it is Spring.I hope you Spring will bring joy to your gardens :)
chrissy, how long before the temperatures get down into the low 40s? Less than 2 months, I wouldn't feed it anything.
B. arborea only crosses with B. sanguinea and B. vulcanicola. It will self-fertilize though.
Bettydee, I absolutely know what it is like to lose everything and start all over- not just plants, but a lot more than that. In my case, it was a choice as a mother that benefited myself and my son and our quality of life. Anyway, please look at my seed list- I would love to send you something if there is anything you want. You give your time and I appreciate that, and I would be happy to give to you! I know I have a lot of tropicals, but I may be able to trade for something on your behalf also. The trade thing has gone well for me all in all, and I would be blessed to have the opportunity to pass on the happy vibes that have come my way. I also have ordinary old B. x candida (pink one)- I can send you tons of cuttings. I also have extra Brug seeds that I have more of than I can ever use. Thank you for your help and time! F4F
Fauna4flora, I just saw this. It is very thoughtful of you. I do it because I love sharing information. Thank you. I'll send D-mail.
Veronica