Hi Everyone,
I want to grow a few Brugs in the garden, (not in pots), in my zone 5 area.
I know they will not winter over, but I'm willing to dig them for winter storage in pots. Or, just enjoy them as annuals if that is possible. I'm not sure if I have a long enough growing season to get a cutting to bloom.
Can you give me growing tips ...... how much to fertilize, which cultivars would be the easiest , etc.
I'm thinking "Charles Grimaldi", as it sounds like an easy one.
A few years back, I tried Brugs in Pots, but I've forgotten everything I ever learned about them.
Thank You,
Kathy
Help needed - I want to grow Brug in ground z5
Kathy
I live in zone 6B, I grow all my Brugs inground, My friend lives in zone 5 she puts hers inground also
we lift them before the first frost in fall, they grow so much bigger inground as apposed to pot grown
I start to fertilize 1/3 strenth the end of this month to start to wake them up,
in the spring/summer, I feed them once to twice a week with miracle grow, then I give them epson salts
also, just water according to the direction on the box
you will be amazed at the difference to inground & pot grown, I hope this helps
Elizabeth
Thanks Elizabeth !
I assume you use regular miracle grow, not time released.
I have one that I purchased last year and planted in the ground. I potted it up and have it sitting in a cool room. It doesn't look too great, but I have been trying to water it sparingly, to keep it dormant. Not sure that is the right thing to do, but will attempt to "wake it up" in a few weeks.
Thanks so much for the help,
Kathy
When I lived in zone 5b, I planted mine in the ground with good soil and adding a tablespoon of Osmocote - worked wonderfully and didn't have to do it again all season.
Thanks Kay ....... that sounds easier. ;)
I don't post much on this forum, but lurk here sometime. I had some in pots last year, and one in the ground. The one in the ground, grew very tall and lush, compare to the ones in pots. I had no flowers on them. But had some, on the one in pots. I'm planning on putting about 5 in the ground, this year, and hoping they all flower. They are all big enough, so they should perform well.
Charles Grimaldi, I started by cutting last year, and it didn't take long to make roots and grow. It didn't flower for me, but I'm pretty sure it's going to make flowers this year. I kept it in the house overwinter so it would grow. It's a pretty nice size right now. All the others are in my basement, and planning to wake them up next month. I have some frosty pink, a few Candida, yellow flower and a noid white. And have 2 doubles on order. I can't remember the name right now, I can't find my receipt. Will have to find it before May, that when I'm suppose to get my order.:))
You can do it in summer when danger of frost is past, and they will grow wonderfully.
I am zone 6/5 .. 5/6 depending on the year ... lol
You will have to lift before frost, and bring inside to warmer temps for the winter.
Mine over winter in the glasshouse, but you could do it in a garage, patio room, etc. same way. Some go in pots, and others .. especially the ones that got big .. we just put in a black stretch type draw string trash bag (new of course!) and let that as it's pot for wintering.
The ones that go in pots (smaller ones or ones we want to give special attention), we hose off the soil and replace with greenhouse medium. The big ones in clumps can last a long time like that. I have had them exist like that for several years while continuing to grow and bloom well.
I have been reading I live in Zone 5 I have 1 big one and 1 small I put them in garage and checked it yesterday all the branches dry ed out and broke does than mean they are dead? I went on vacation and when I got home it had gotten to 30 below here.
Should I throw then out or keep them
Kim (AKA) Dimmer
-30ºF? I would start all over again. Putting them in the garage works if the garage stays above freezing, but cold enough for the Brugs to go dormant. Do you have a basement? Or a very cool room? If you have a good number of tropicals, you might consider doing what Gordon has done.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/918714/
Kim, is your garage attached to your house? My DD keeps some of hers in an attached unheated garage and they do fine. Can you bring them into the house and start watering them.?
Some of the branches may have dried out.
I am originally from Illinois and never saw temps at 30 degrees below zero - maybe she meant 30 degrees ABOVE zero!
We did have a -20 temp over night about 3 weeks ago. It was very cold. Kim is about 25 miles south of me.
WOW, I am amazed at that temp.!
Stanley, Iowa got down to -30 degrees on January 24 of this year. It gets pretty cold up in the northern states.....
I was in Mexico For the cold spell but it was even cold in Cozumel about 65 I had 2 sweatshirt on and a Towel It was also raining and My sister was sick other than that it was great
My garage is attached to the house but it was -30 with the wind chill and I also live 5 miles from Lake Michigan so it was cold I am going on vacation to The Upper Peninsula till March I will bring the plants in to see what will happen its only 2 but you never no
thanks for the help
Dimmer
Dimmer, I wouldn't give up on them. Even if the plant froze, the roots might be ok. Brugs are VERY GOOD at coming back from the roots.