I am a newbie and am growing my first brugs (in the ground) this year. They have been grown in pots until now. I hae planted 2 of themin the ground and have 3 more to plant in the ground. I am growing Day Dreams, MEM, Pink Beauty, Ecuador Pink, and Whiskers. I planted them all in pots (they were cuttings) and they are ALL going into the ground next week. I planted them in the ground with Moisture Control potting mix, commercial compost, and the orginal dirt/sand that was already in my yard. Those alreardy in the ground seem to be happy as they are getting ready to bloom and I am seeing lots of new growth. The ones still in pots are also doing well, but I know they would really grow bigger once I get them in the ground.
Questions:
1) What kind of fertilizer do you use to keep them healthy and blooming?
2) Where would be the best place to plant them in my warm zone (9b/10a)? Full sun, partial shade, east side of house, south side, north side. or west side? How much sun do they need to bloom and grow healthy?
3) I have a feeling that they are really going to take off this year. How do you prune them for cuttings? My mother and some friends would like to try one or two in their yards. I don't know the best way to prune them for cuttings to root and grow new trees and to still keep mine healthy and safe from disease during pruning. I plan to prune them in the Fall. Is that the best time?
I know that I will have many more questions, but these are the ones I need answered currently.
Care of Brugs
I have used several different kinds, but usually wind up using Miracle Grow because it is easy to obtain. Monika Gottschalk, the lady who wrote the book on Brugmansias, uses a formula very similar to fertilizer for hibiscus. I bought some, but haven't noticed any differences. It's very expensive and I have to go all the way to Houston for it or order it online and pay shipping charges. I also use epsom salts every so often. One thing that really seems to perk them up is Bayer's 2 in 1. It's a pesticide with fertilizer.
I know some people are able to grow Brugs in full sunlight, but I find mine wilt on hot summer days despite once a day watering. Here in my 8b zone, they appreciate morning sun and afternoon shade. The east side of the house is ideal. Never, never on the west side unless you have a Brug you absolutely hate.
You can take cuttings anytime the branches have matured, that is the stems have gone from green to a light tan, and are large enough they can stand to lose a few branches. Different people have differing ideas on when to prune, but generally, if you live in a zone where your Brugs will freeze to the ground, you prune late fall and mulch. In your zone, they may survive winters without much damage so wait until spring to prune. Of course, you can prune to shape anytime of the year. You can spray fungicide on the cut ends. There are other things you can use on the cuts, but they elude me right now. :-)
I use Miracle Gro Tomato plant food, about 1/4 strength or less in all the water, not full strength weekly. I figure I like to eat every day, so do my plants!
And I have a bucket full of grass and weed clippings soaking in water. This compost water is dark brown and right smelly if you dislike what a cow barn smells like, but it's good for green growth. Makes lettuce grow like mad. I use this half the time, and the just-barely-pink Miracle Gro Tomato water the other times I water. It's dry season now, so that's a lot!
And, on top of that, I foliar spray, especially the younger growing parts, with Spray-N-Grow, mixed per directions and with a little of the Miralcle Gro in the water.
I'm a bit surprised that no one has mentioned Spray-N-Grow anywhere on this whole website. It's amazing. It's a formula of about thirty trace elements, and it makes a HUGE difference in all plants. My brugmansia flowers, I have only one, are much bigger, if I keep the buds sprayed weekly.
Keep a close eye on your plants during a hot sunny day, and water generously if you catch them wilted. Dryness makes them drop buds! Oh no! If they get too stressed, it attracts bugs, especially spider mites. I've built up little dams about a foot away from the stems, around the plants to hold the water. Don't need to feed the whole neighborhood!
Mola
Thanks for all the tips- the Virgin Islands, eh? Can you share some photos, please?
I found this link- this stuff is not cheap but.....................
has anyone else on this forum used this product?
http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SNG&top=3
They need to!!!
Beautiful :)
My gosh! What a fantastic view!