Chena & Karyn: Funny you should mention the Brugs you've had a hard time with because those ARE the cuttings that are breaking my heart!!! Now I don't feel quite so bad if they are tough for growers like you all to root!! (G) My Rosamond just turned to mush, Mrs Chambers 1 looks like it's struggling to just tread water ... no roots, no nubbies. My other one that is mushing is Sunray (but I think it was a "bad" cutting). I've bought a rooted Isabella from E-bay; it has not arrived yet, so I will give it one more try. Isabella rooted beautifully for me, but then died in its pot, after making good sized leaves. A puzzle. My Super Nova is looking good, but I'm thinking I won't have trade material for you and Chena until maybe next year, since I've just started in Oct. But if either one of you has an abundance that you would trade for shipping, please keep me in mind: Karyn for Trop. Sunset. and Chena for Painted Lady. I agree re E-bay prices. Did get a Double Peach plant. Looks good so far. Will be glad to share when it gets big enough. It's my only double ... can't afford some of those bids!!! Come on Spring!! Gloria

Chaz - I think it's too cold for the Phals, then... I'm definitely putting a heat mat under the two of them... that should help. Thanks! In fact, I just went and moved them both to the mini-greenhouse, on the heat mat and under the grow light... I sure hope that helps... the poor things look so droopy and sad... Besides the Epidendrums, what types of orchids don't mind a cooler temperature? I don't want to kill any orchids, but I do want to grow some! Bigshoes - I think Chaz is right! You've got CHAD worse than I do, and I thought I was completely infected with it! The Brugs are pretty... a neighbor down the road had some gorgeous white ones last summer, right in the front yard... they just let them die after the season was over, though... unless they took cuttings, and I just didn't notice... I have other addictions, too... Daylilies, miniature roses, Heuchera and Iris! I've got a small collection of Daylilies, we have lots of Iris varieties, and I'm going to be adding more mini roses and coral bells to the gardens this coming spring! I also really like columbine and sweet peas, and I can't forget about annual vines, such as morning glories and cup & saucer vine! You're a lucky girl, Bigshoes! You've got a very thoughtful boyfriend! Garden Center gift certificates are always nice gifts to get! I'm lucky, too... Larry lets me get pretty much whatever plants I want, if we can afford them at the time! I hope things are going well for your guy, health-wise... you remain in my prayers, as do all of you! Cindee - Epi Radicans sits right on the east window sill and gets all the morning sun... it seems to be happy there... I need to re-pot it, though, so it's standing straight up in the pot! I need to get a taller/deeper pot for it... all I have right now are short/shallow ones... I keep forgetting to get one for it, and I've been at the garden center twice now! I just get so carried away looking at all the other orchids and plants... garden centers are so distracting! They have too much cool stuff! There are lots of tender bulbs and other plants I'd love to get, but I'm about out of indoor growing room for the cold weather months... I really need a greenhouse! Don't we all?!

hello first.....talithaluna.....around the time of first fall frost...ease way up on watering and take all green off the brugmansia's... .place them in a not so warm place in the dark or dimly lit area in the basement and give a cup of water once a month or so.... in spring,put them in front of any window with light and they will come back fine...no problem..then when all danger of frost has passed...out they go... second....ianna....i think you have that backwards my friend.....datura will come back from seed in the right zone....or just save the seed and sow in spring... brugs are from south america and can not handle the cold...seed or plant.. cheers and happy gardening all.. diggy

I don't have any pics of cutting my brugs back either but they can be cut to the soil, allowed to go dormant or put under lights and will regrow. If you want to take cuttings I'd include several inches of mature stem. This means you'd likely be cutting off the Y but I haven't found that to be a problem. You can just cut the green stems above the Y and see if you can root them. I personally have less then stellar results with green cuttings but others have no problems. I would root green cuttings in soil or sand, not water. If your brugs are small you might not want to cut them at all. Just put them in your grow room. Keep the lights on for 14-16 hrs a day, decrease the amount of water, cut way back on feeding and keep an eye out for infestations of spider mites, mealy bugs, etc. Misting the foliage with water will help control critters that thrive in dry conditions.