I just noticed something different about this plant. The growing point of one side of the leaf is lower than on the other side. They begin growing symmetrically, but as the leaves get larger they change. Is this common? None of my other brugs grow like this.
I was told that's one of the characteristic of a brug that has come of age pre-flowering stage! Congrats, that means sooooooon you'll see buds forming on your little darling brug.!!!
Has the tree made any Y-branches yet?
What a great answer! Yes, it has a Y-branch so I'll be anxiously awaiting blooms.
Thank you.
Here I've 3 brugs in one huge pot. See the top bud that points 9 o'clock? That is the very first bud/flower right at the Y-juncture of the new coming-of-age brug. Other two are 'Eternity' a pink brug. and a suaveolens white brug's blooms.
After your message, I checked my plant and sure enough, it is forming buds. Do you know why the leaves grow asymmectrically when it's about to bloom? Does this happen on all brugs?
Ah, good questions. Hummm, let's fetch the experts to come and help us out here. No I don't know, but I'm sure there is a reason for the plants to form such noticeable traits. Your second question, will prompt me to go out there and take a closer look on several of my different brugmansias.
I'll return this afternoon after I examine ALL the brugs closely and share my observation with you.
Happy gardening,
Kim from Al.
Zone 10, asymmetrical leaf growth in the reproductive stage of Brug growth happens on all Brugs. Why? ....Well, no one has been able to get Brugs to tell us. LOL. Seriously, I'm pretty sure that the chemical change that causes the plant to switch from vegetative growth to reproductive growth also turns on/off the genes that control the way the leaf attaches to the petiole. :-)
Wow! What other plant "announces" when it's going to bloom. Thanks for the info Bettydee. Lilylove, I'd love an update after you check your plants.
zone10, it has been raining quite heavily off and on, so I didn't get a chance to 'inspect' all the brugs. LOL, rain check for tomorrow? :-)
I dashed outside when the rain stopped momentarily to find my perfect trumpet was torn due to heavy rain, and that's all I can share for now. :((
Sorry to see your beautiful flowers all torn up. I bet they LOVE the rain though! Can ya send some of it our way?
Our way too, please. Things are bad we you hope for a hurricane to chase away that High that's been sitting over central Texas a good portion of the year keeping us dry as a bone.
I wish you gentle/soaking rain, for we've received quite a bit yesterday. Zone10, indeed likes Bettydee has informed us, I've seen those brugs that are bearing flowers DO have those asymetrical leaves. You've asked any other plants show that characteristic? Are you growing daturas as well? I've found daturas show these asymetrical leaves on those that're producing flowers.
Here is an example: A tripple white datura.
A close up pix to show the leaves.
I swear these plants are almost human ...we get pimples and such when entering our reproductive stage ...and our Angels announce theirs with those funny leaf thingys ...you just have to love them don't you?
Hope you all are surviving what we have been told is awful weather over there ...stay safe.
Kim love the Daturas!
Well stated, Chrissy, about our Angels, lol. Thanks for the well wishes with the turbulent weather.
The tripple dat. was beautiful yesterday. Datura's blooms lasts but a day or two, while brugmansia's lasts and lasts (well some almost a week long depends on the weather, and growing conditions).
Lily_love,
Historically, droughts have been broken by hurricanes around here. I think I should have kept my mouth shut. The latest on Hurricane Ike has it making landfall somewhere in the central coast with sustained winds of 40 miles an hour and gusts up to 80 and lots of rain by the time it reaches us. No indication of how much yet. That will depend on whether we are on the west or east side of the storm as it passes near us. I have a little over two days to get ready for it. We're about 130 miles from the coast. Although Ike won't be packing hurricane winds when it gets to us, we can still get a lot of damage. We have quite a number of 200 - 300 year old live oaks. I hope we don't lose any. To be on the safe side, all my potted plants will have to go back into the greenhouse. Ohhhh, my aching back! We have a lot to do before Saturday Anything that can take off will have to go into the barn, pots, outdoor furniture, utility vehicles, sprayers, etc. Cattle will have to be moved from a low pasture to higher ground as the seasonal creek that cuts through the pasture can run deep and swift. I worry about having the cattle get caught on the other side of the creek. They'll get swept downstream if they try to swim across. I have 4 newborn heifers, their mothers and two very pregnant cows due any day now in the birthing pasture. They need to be moved to a sheltered area. They are safe from flooding, but of the two trees in that pasture, one, an old pecan tree is half dead. Some of those branches could kill if they land on an animal or worse yet, skewer one of them. Have to go grocery shopping because we may be stranded behind a low water crossing for a few days.
Bettydee,
I'm thinking of you and many people in Tx. that may weather through this big storm Ike. My heart is going out for you. Take care and let's hear of news as the storm passes.
Bettydee,
I've been thinking about you with Ike. How did you make out? Hope all is well.
Barbara,
We didn't get a drop of water and got very little wind damage so we lucked out. In light of what has happened in Galveston and Houston, it seems strange that some of us were hoping for more contact with Ike. We had a horrible drought in 2005/2006 and have another bad drought this year. The winter rye we planted last year barely grew. The cattle went through all the hay bales and had to have supplemental feed this past winter and spring. This year has been so dry that the summer forage browned up early on. The only thing keeping our cattle in top condition is that expensive liquid feed. We received 3" of rain last month, only enough to re-green the pastures and get a few inches of growth. We are going into fall with a dire shortage of hay and very little grass growth. The liquid feed provides the nutrients they need, but they will need the fiber from either hay or dry grass to get that full feeling and to keep their GI tract healthy.
We need rain even if we have to go through something as serious as a hurricane. Of course, we would prefer to get gentle rain a few inches at a time. We've lost two pregnant cows to lightening so I don't even look forward to thunderstorms anymore.
Oh, Bettydee, that's terrible! I had no idea! Different parts of our country are so different and when we live in one particular area we tend to forget what it's like for other folks. You've done a great job of reminding me and I appreciate it as it makes me more appreciative of everything I have.
My heart goes out to you and I sure hope you get some rain. I'm hoping for the best for you and all your animals.
Best,
Barbara
