Brug Emergency!

I purchased a Brug "Miner's Gold" from Logees and it arrived today. As I was unpackaging my plants, I noticed that my brug's stem was snapped in half, due to a better way of putting it. The break is below all foliage and 98% of the way through the stalk. It is pretty much hanging on by the "skin" of the stem.

Can it be saved? Can I do anything?

I have already emailed Logees, and expect to hear back from them soon with their stellar customer service.

Here is a picture of the break.

Should I try to root the part above the break? Do I tape it back together?

Sorry for all the ?s but I am freaking out a little.

Well... Logees will definately send you another .. no problem there.. rest assured..
now .. first .. I have no real knowledge/experience with Brugs in this situation... like this..the inclination would be to just reattach.. and no one has posted in the last hour to help.. and time is important here..
My first inclination.it to attach it back.. there is a bit that is still functioning.. so I'd go with that idea...reallign it... tape a splint around it... perhaps some tiny toothpicks runing along spanning thebreak.. andsome breathable medical tape around it.. maybe a bandaid or two.. it's plastic but will breathe some.. spray it down and put it in a big clear plastic bag making like a tent.. kept away from the leaves..after watering the soil..
the problem is you don't know how long the break has been open... but it was still nearly attached so it might not have dried out too much.. and see if it seems to revive.. abit of super thrive.. or other additive..perhaps a bit of cloning soluition or dip diluted in the spray.. or some seaweed concentrate .. or humeric acid in the water will help..
myself.. I'd break out a small vile of EPIN..aRussian hormone I happen to have..and is touted as being just for reviving after shipment.. or fortifying before shipment ..and to give general health to the plants..I've only used it once..for general health.. and it did make a marked difference in everyones health.. it is available only through toptropicals.com in this country now..
I'll explain more about it another time..
I was going to post a bit on it ...but this seems it is the perfect applcation for it..
if you don't have anthing like I've mentioned.. just the water misting is the ticket... do it often.. without moving the taped splice...or disturbing the top in it's allignment
I'd like to take off the majority of the big leaves it has.. before bagging leaving only a token few smaller ones.. but do something right away.. although I'm sure you have.. I hope anyway..
this seems better in this case.. than
1) either lopping off the top and trying to root it.. and trying to releaf out the lower 1/2..
both in the same inclosed misting environment..
2) making two fresh cuts and trying to graft them with the same splint.... from scratch
also in a misiting chamber..
but do check for other ideas here...
Good luck... Gordon


This message was edited Apr 8, 2008 12:51 AM

Gordon,

Thank you so much for your post and concern. You should be a brug ER doctor! I am going to spling the stem with a craft stick (popsicle stick) and band aids. I have a gallong bag I can put over and under the plant to keep the moisture in. The break looks kind of leathery if that is a good description, maybe like the break is not new.

I've never experimented with brug cuttings or propagation, and this is only my second one.

I have dealt with Logees before and they are awesome. I do not anticipate one second of trouble with them. I am actually really suprised, I would trust them to package and ship anything!

I am off to mend my new baby.

Thanks, and I will keep you updated.

Jennifer

OK, I tried to splint the stem with my popsicle stick/band aid ensemble, but I don't think it is going to work. The stem is too "flacid" due to lack of a better word. The leathery part in the break does not want to lign up with the other side. I tried not to mess with it too much until now, but it is really "floppy" and I just don't know what to do with it. I have it in a ziplock baggie with some superthrive sprayed over the break and a wet paper towel in the bag.

Bah, this makes me sick. (not at Logees they're awesome)

Jennifer

You may try rooting it! It appears to be a green stem though & there's some who have good luck rooting green stems & some who don't. Either way - you still have the base of the plant & it will start growing again! I'm sure you're upset that it arrived in the condition it did - but I'm sure it will 'bounce' back without any problems! After a couple of months you may not even notice it had been broken! And if Logees comes through with a replacement - so much the better! :) Good luck with your new brug!

Mike

Oh Jennifer...if the stem top and bottom seems leathery..it might be too late for the splice.. and perhaps you should go directly to plan"B"..seperating the pieces.. and popping the top into some water... that's put in awarm place..bagged and misted often..greencuttingsarethe toughest to root... I'm working on one that is 3/4"long now..and one about 11/2 "long.both with two or three of the tinyes t emerging leaves. t hese are the smallest I've attempted..and have had bad luck with cuttings much more substantal.. but it's been two days now... and they look to be starting some callous and perhaps root development on the bottoms...
if they get looking more leathery.. I'd sever the attachment.. and sart working on two plants.. right away..
Gordon

HAY Mike... just who has good luck rooting green stems.. the most luck I've heard claimed was they got some to root .. most will also then tell of the many others lost... but perhaps I missed it.
Gordon

Should I cut the top part shorter? What do you mean by two plants? The top and the bottom?

Sorry I am so helpless.

Gordon

I'm in the latter half of the group! :) I can NEVER get a green cutting to root! Always shrivels away! There are some who are lucky (or have the knack) & are able to root them - but I'm not one of them! :)

Mike

Oh, and should I remove some of the leaves? What type of soil to root them in?

Like IsaidMike... I'venot heard of anyone claimming fullsuccess there.
Jennifer...yes..just cut back above the break in the top part 1/2 "isfine..andput it instantly into some water.. change it everyday..a drop hydrogenperoxide or your super thrive ...or a drop of cloning soluition in the water can only help mist it.. bag it..andtake off the big leaves...if it's lost it turgor... that's the only help... youneed to rehydrate it... and a graft won't do that fast enough..
If it's miners claim you have.. I'd do this and foroget it as it has absolutely no chance of survival
I just happen to be down on that one... having killed healthy plants already... as have a few others here.... Gordon

Oh, never mind you said to put the top in water. Done. The bottom is in a ziplock bag with a water soaked paper towel on top of the fridge where it stays pretty warm.

Should I bottom heat it on my germination set up?

Jennifer...try a bit of water rooting first... for the top

Sure..if it is a low warmth..that will only help.. if it'sworking forseedlingsit should be OK
Gordon

Ok, the top was cut back about 1/2" above the break and put into water with superthrive, and dipped in rooting hormone first. The bottom was put in a baggie with a wet paper towel and put on bottom heat.

Let's keep our fingers crossed : )

Jennifer... that sounds like your best shot at it... good work..
it's nice to leavethe ER and leave it up to the patient.. knowing you did the best with what is available.. good luck with it... misting...warmth.. and a bit of light... you're good to go..
Gordon

Thanks all, I just learned ALOT reading this post! :o)
AnjL

Sorry I flipped out so bad guys, I guess it is like a real life ER visit!

OH>>Dr.Jennefer.. you did great...no onehere in the ER noticed anything but due procedure..
Gordon

jlp, if the bottom is a rooted cutting, I would put it outside some place it where it will get morning sunlight. When you water, mix a drop or two of SuperThrive into the water. It should put out new growth in no time. I don't think the top of a refrigerator is the best place for a rooted cutting and the location is probably too dark. There is enough chlorophyll along what is left of the stem to help it recover, but it needs bright light and a short period of sunlight until it acclimates to its environment. Don't overwater.

The most I've been able to do with green cuttings is get them to the nub stage. Then they start to rot. ZZsBabiesz has rooted tiny green cuttings. Even if the top doesn't make it, the bottom should.

Betty..I think it ended up onher heatmat.. where she sprouts out her seedlings..I'd imagine it's fairly bright there..but there's something about the real sun. that's more intense than that ammount of light. right there..and the whole stem will act like a leaf.. in making food for the roots.. it is a funny balance...so neither part gets carried away with it's self and it's own concerns... the roots make food for the leaves.. to go..and the leaves make food for the roots..
Gordon

I have had nothing good come of using bottom heat with brugs.. I don't recommend it at all.
Betty is right, Light is more important that warmth.. in fact, cool is good for cuttings!
The bottom 1/2 if it has roots, will be fine. Just give it plenty of light and leave it alone for a while.
You may not get the top part to root after it's gone through so much trauma.

Good luck Jennifer! We've all needed emergency care for our Brugs at some time. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but you have had excellent advice! Best wishes!!
Bonnie

The top is sadly gone. It was severed too long to survive and is just wilty leaves. I still have it in the "cocktail" I made up last night, but I think it's a goner.

I have the bottom in a east facing window on betty's suggestion.


Thanks again guys!

Jennifer... OHam I too late... go dig it outof the garbage... take all of the leaves off... cut it in 1/2 and put the top part in and under the water...waite 4-6 hours... and take it out...did it regain any of it's turgor, stiffness... some times that works for me.. if it is stiffer..put the lower end back in the water.. continue rooting...
what do you have to loose...go dig it out... ( if you like and can stand more disappointments )
Gordon...

I didn't trash it yet. It is still in a vase. I will try submerging the entire thing when I get home.

put it in a jar with 2 inches of water and a couple drops of peroxide. place it in a sunny window until it gets white bumps, then plant in good potting soil.

There's more at the store. Sometimes, heroics are better spent on the rooted half. If Logee's is sending you another, just give the bottom half a comfy home and wait patiently for the new baby to arrive. :-)

well..No doubt Logees will send another.. they are just that way.. I did miss my annual midwinter visit there this year... I usually go when the parking lot is all ice.. and the endless greenhouses are a steamy tropical blooming paradise. [ without the long tropical plane ride.] but like you said..not a lot to do with the bottom 1/2 but to make it comfortable..it will either releaf or not..while you await one strong healthy replacement... so time to try some herotics on the top..
Gordon
It seems I might have lost my 3/4" cutting... got to get that aeroponics chamber...the1 1/2 "one is doing real well now..

I broke one of my seedlings, and just left the rooted bit, so far it looks better than it did originally, and growing very well.

Most of the time, a stock that's had the top sheared off will regenerate offsets from either the rootstock or the roots themselves. I've had countless Brugmansia react this way after trauma. Generally, there's enough moisture left in the rootstock and enough motivation from the roots to get a couple of pups emerging. This is especially true of Brugs well into their Spring and early Summer growth spurt.

I've had about five, most precious and special cuttings expire on me in the past few months, so I understand the disappointment. I am, however quickly consoled when the day is cool and sunny, and the amaryllis are in bloom! :-)

My first attempt at rooting green tips failed the first couple of times. Then I kept trying and I've had success. Jordankittjo's method works for me. Certain type of brugs are hard to root with green tips, but those that are known to be vigorous grower such as Charles Gimaldi brugs (I had success with), and currently I've this Versi color X? seedling that grew from last summer. While transplant them out to a bigger pot, the green tip broke off. I was determined to save it since the break was after the Y's formation (where the new flowers will be more likely). So here, the tip is saved, and it's now ready to be potted up. This one being so tiny, I may try to have it in a hang basket, incase if it will produce flower, that way it can cascade down the basket. I've gathered all these ideas from gardening here at DG and many generous DGers that posted in this thread and the Brug's forum. ^_^
Kim

This is the mentioned Versicolor X. brug's tip that broke off several weeks ago. I kept this on my windowbox above my kitchen sink with bright light. Humidity from kitchen usage, and light. No heat mat likes Betty's mentioned.

A close up pic. of the roots formation on the broken green tip.

The Versicolor brug continues to flourish outdoor after the broken branch, new leaves are already sprouted at the broken juncture...

This is the Y-formation where the green tip broke off...notice new growths.

Lily, did you use plain water? I've only had success with one small green branch, but not with water. After my disastrous loss last summer, all the survivors suddenly becamse more precious. My Knightii survived, but was down to two small sticks about 6" tall. With loving care I got it to grow two small shoots. A swinging crank handle in the greenhouse knocked a small pot down on the it and broke one of the shoots off when it was about 3" - 4" tall. It was slightly wilted when I found it. Like Gordon, I've gotten into the habit of immersing the entire shoot if it is slightly wilted. I soaked it until it was turgid and wrapped the base with Sphagnum moss using ZZ's method. I was so surprised when it rooted.

Bettydee,
Yes, plain water with a couple drops of peroxide (I've tried H202) recently. I barely have to change out the water when I dropped peroxide into the rooting water. And yes, I do routinely immerse most of my wilted cuttings in ordinary water too until they're rehydrated and become turgid. I also trim off some large leaves down to 1/3 of their size if need be to aid in transpiration. Sometimes, I find if I provide humidity dome over my cuttings, that also helps.

So, what did Logee's have to say? They are really terrific, so I'm sure you'll be ok.

I don't know if this has been suggested as I've only scanned the responses, but I've had better luck rooting greenie using the log method!

Best of luck to you. I agree with everyone that your rooted end will sure do great for you,,,AND Logee's will surely send you another...best of both worlds!

Logees contacted me yesterday and said they are sending another one soon. They are awesome.

What is the "log method"?