White Varigated Brug

Hi,
Last year I bought a new white varigated brug via ebay. I received a small but healthy plant... roots and all. However, it did not grow well, and I almost lost it. This year, it began as a plant that I really though I had lost over the winter, but finally leafed out at the beginning of June. When I put it in the ground it was about 5 inches high, and it seems to finally be growing ~ now about 12 inches. I've never had a brug act like this. I am no expert, and really fly by the seat of my pants as the saying goes. That is, I know what has worked for me before, and I know what I've been told by local growers... feed feed feed. But this brug seems to go against everything that I've been told. Oh, and this is my second... the first did the same thing, but didn't make it through the winter. I've planted it in both the shade and full sun... it's in full sun now, with violets arount it to cool the root system and it seems to be working. I over winter in the garage, which I put a heater in on the coldest nights to keep the temps from dipping to low. I use composted pine bark for mulch, as it seems to keep the fungus down and my other plants thrive in it We live in zone 6B, between the Cumberland and Smokey Mountains. Any thoughts, suggestions, etc?

Jenny

this is the original base of the plant and the new growth as it is right now:

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I wanted to show the full growth.
Jenny

This shows the canopy:
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ALOHA Jenny...
So..this plant is in full sun now.. is that all day long full sun... there's something about the photo that makes it seem shaded..
the locals suggest feed feed feed.. so what and how..and how often are you feeding it..
it does seem to be weakly growing..
is it in a pot in the ground.. or planted right in the ground.. what's your soil like there..
well .. maybe we can be of some help kicking it into gear..with you...
Gordon

It is planted amongst several other plants in the garden, with violets around its base... self sown. They have shaded the root and given the small plant some coverage. Unfortunately I do not have any real shade to speak of... I have South East in the morning, switching to South West in the afternoon, and the North is driveway. I plant all my Brugs directly into the garden in the spring and then dig the root ball in the fall and over winter in the garage. The soil is a mix of composted pine fines, leaf compost / leaf mold ( old... 6 years ) Michigan bog peat... the black gold, sand, manure, and some of the original clay. It is a raised bed, but only about 8 inches because it has settled, roto-tilled about 6 inches deep, so a total of about 14 inches of good soil. I plant with an excellent commercial 9 month time release fertilizer that does wonders for all the other plants... just not this one. However... it seems to have taken off this year, and is now about 20 inches. I'll try to get good a picture of it up later today. My shredded Brug is now about 5 feet... it didn't do much last year, so I am happy that it has grown also.



This message was edited Sep 17, 2008 2:37 PM

The only white varigated that I know of is Klerx Variegata.It is notoriously slow.I gave up after three tries.Yours seems healthy so it may just be it's usual slow growing self.

"The only white varigated that I know of is Klerx Variegata.It is notoriously slow."

Thank you for this information... I had no idea. I will be patient with this cultivar then, because I love varigated plants. If it comes out, I have to have it. Right now, I am very disappointed in the Goldmine Phlox I have. I had one robust plant that died 3 years ago, and the one I planted last year (from parks seeds... never buying from them again... EXPENSIVE TINY PLANTS!!! ) has reverted back to green. Anyhoo, thanks for the info. The brug has grown some more, but not much and definitely no flowers this year.

I addatime release to mine in thespring also..along with a bunch ofdecomposed//dehydrated manure... and then I feed maybe 100 times in addition to that.. the recipe every day..and MG bloombooster every 3-4 days.. once they are looking to flower..Spray - N - Grow everyother week..thatI don't spray messenger on it.. hormones..addatives... the brugs LOVE it..
Shredded white is a long constant flower for me...so if that one isn't flowering some... you're leaving out somehting it likes... well there is another year for them all...tr y andboost up it's feeding... at least once aweek... don't beleave that timerelease line.. for brugs... although it works for things less hungry.. Gordon
Picture.. Day Dreams... and the ravages of fall on a roof

What about snowbank? It is also a variegated white.

Jenny's white variegated Brug is not Snowbank.

Just reviewing all the advice. My brugs overwinter in the garage, and it's time to bring them out daily for watering and 'fixin'. Hopefully, we won't get that late spring freeze that will take out the wisteria... and the brugs will be out in the garden by the end of April. Keep your toes crossed that they do well. I hope to have pictures of my varigated in bloom this year!

Jenny