Hi guys. I searched the board for this but could not find where this was discussed. I am a first time brug owner and have a few questions.
I bought a brug on Ebay a few weeks ago. It is about 10" tall and had 6-8 leaves on it when I got it, but it has lost 3-4 of them. They looked a little wilty and one was torn so I am not that suprised. It still has some healthy looking strong leaves so I am not too worried.
I am going to re-pot it tomorrow. I have an urn type planter I am going to put it in. It is about 16" wide and 18" deep. The total height is about 30". I plan on using 75% Miracle Grow Potting Mix, the rest Perlite and Vermiculite Mix with some Sphagnum Moss at the bottom for grainage.
Will this be sufficient? Can I mix in some water absorbing crystals to help with water retention? Do I need to harden her off or just stick her outside? Should I worry about the leaves dropping? How long do I wait to fertilize her? Will she give me flowers this year?
I know that ended up being alot of questions, but if anyone can help I would appreciate it. I will post a pic when I can.
Thanks, Jennifer
What size pot (and other care questions) for my baby brug?
Many e-bay sellers will indicate what size pot they were in. Unless the root system is very large, I wouldn't put it in anything much larger than a gallon container or perhaps one slightly larger, but not the urn. Later in the year when the rootball has filled that first pot, you might be able to transplant it into the urn. The soil in pots that are too large stays wet for longer periods of time. Death by overwatering is the most common ailment. Sphagnum moss retains too much moisture. Don't use it. Use the potting mixture you have in the entire pot. Studies have shown that adding something to the bottom of the pot doesn't help with drainage. It just reduces the amount of soil the pot holds.
I would put her out some place where she could get some morning sun only for a few days and increase her exposure to more sunlight. Give her a few weeks to establish herself before adding fertilizer. Miracle Grow potting mix comes with some fertilizer so it won't be without.You don't want to force top growth before the roots can support it. If the cutting came from above the "Y", you'll see blooms this year. If the cutting is from below the "Y", you might see blooms, but there so many variables that it's difficult to predict.
The plant is a seedling, not a cutting. Does that make a difference. The auction title was "Brugmansia Equador Pink x Sassy Seedling". Here is a picture.
Thanks for the reply Betty :) Do you think I could put her in a peat pot and put that in the urn, or perhaps find a smaller urn?
If you have any 16 oz plastic cup, use it or any container approximately that size. Punch holes in it and plant your baby in it. When the roots fill the cup, transplant it into a gallon container. Once that container is filled with roots, you can transplant it into your urn provided there are at least two months before you have to bring her indoors. Any later than that and the plant won't have time to produce a root system large enough to overwinter in that large pot. The dangers of overwatering in winter are too great if the pot has too much rootless soil in it. Plastic or other non-porous materials are prefered. I would think that peat pots would dry out unevely.
Seedlings might bloom late in the year if it "Y"s. Many may not bloom until next year. It just depends on when it produces a "Y".
Heh BettyDee and Jen
Im so happy I found this thread and Im in zone 8b as well, but live in Vancouver BC. Im still waiting for a cutting from one of the local DG'ers and havent received it yet. Im also a first time brug owner, or will be and she sent a picture and its kinda peach color, but couldn't tell me what variety it was. I can only plant in containers as I live in a condo with a large deck. I have full sun all day long, especially when the summer really hits here, and it does get very hot as well.
Right now I dont even know what kind of cutting or how many Ill be getting so guess Im kinda premature in asking, but just wanted to let you know that I will definitely be following this thread and look forward to hearing any suggestions and tips. I just learned something today as well, didnt realize that LA and TX are the same zone as me. I just joined this site about 1 month ago and love it, learning stuff all the time.
Thanks and hope you have a great day!
Hey Jen, in my early days of of bruggy fever..I 'tortured' my brugs by 'over-size-potting' them. What Bettydee says is gold.
I learnt to use only MGro potting soil, with only perlite in smaller pots. No additional vermiculite as it retains water.
Sydney, welcome to Bruggy Addiction!! Trust me, you won't be happy with just one. I'm also a newbie...one very generous DGer started me with 2, now I have more than 2 dozens, and still adding!!!!
Provide some afternoon shade for your baby once it gets there.
~Jaye
Hi sydney, welcome to the Brug forum. When you have time, browse through some of the older threads. There are invaluable tips hidden there. Many of our experts are no longer posting so you have to dig for them.
Jaye is right in that your Brug will be happier if it receives mid-day to afternoon shade. I've been growing my Brugs in pots because I can keep more of them in what shade I have. A few of them end up with some their tops in more sunlight. They experience mid-day wilt where they lose more water than their roots can take up. I have to water them every day, more often when they wilt during those hot summer days. The leaves will usually plump up late in the day. This does stress the plant and that could lead to other problems. Those in afternoon shade don't have that problem. Using an open weave umbrella would be ideal.
OK, I repotted her today in a 6" pot which is a little wider than the original pot she was in, but no deeper. I used Miracle Grow Potting Mix.
Hi again
Thanks Bettydee and Jaye for your advice and I cant wait to start growing them now. I do have a problem with providing shade however and guess I will have to figure out how to attach a lightweight umbrella to the balcony railing or something, havent figured that part out yet...any suggestions or ideas? Im off duty tomorrow and will be visiting some local nurseries and will let you know what I buy and find out..thanks again and have a great day!