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Question about planting brugs

16 years ago

Hello all.

My first posting on the brug forum. I live in S. Louisiana, near New Orleans, so I have the luxury of in-ground brugs that may not freeze. They can get gargantuan here and we don't even have to mulch. I have two that I just planted in the ground and want to know the basics about soil, watering, fertilizing, etc.

Brugs are common around older homes, but it's not one of the plants I grew up with, so I don't know that much about how to take care of them.

I am prepared to pamper and take pictures, so please help me! I want to try to get them as big as possible! By the way, I have a Charles Grimaldi and a NOID pink.

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Comments (4)

pagrdnr
16 years ago
Hello and welcome to the forums. You are lucky to be in a zone where they can stay in the ground. They like a lot of water. I know I had to water my potted one in the summer at least once every day, but in the ground they may not need as much. They like a lot of fertilizer during the growing season. You may want to start off with a balanced fertilizer for growth then switch to bloom booster. Maybe mix some compost into your soil. The experts will have better advice, I'm still new to brugs but I hope this helps.
Shawn
karyn1
16 years ago
Welcome Jockewing,
You are one of the lucky ones. I can't winter mine over outside no matter how much protection I give them. Brugs are surprisingly hardy plants and very easy to care for. They like to be kept on the moist side but don't want wet feet. Make sure they are in a well draining area. During the growing season they are fertilizer hogs. I feed mine once a week and stop fertilizing about 4 weeks before they go dormant. For mature brugs I use a balanced fertilizer for the first few weeks then switch to a bloom booster. I also give them epsom salts, kelp extract and a foliar feeding once a month and use Superthrive and B1 at the beginning and end of the season. I also use both of those when I transplant. It helps reduce shock. Different brugs can tolerate different exposures. You'll have to see what works best for yours. I have some that take full sun and others that can only take a few hours of morning sun. I don't prune my brugs and just allow them to grow whatever way they want. Some are tree form and over 8' while others are more like bushes. I'm sure you'll get plenty of help from everyone here. Ask away and good luck with your brugs.
Karyn
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jockewing
Original Author
16 years ago
Okay, they are planted in soil that has been thoroughly mixed with TONS of well rotted, fluffy, foresty-smelling horse manure. I put a big handful of Osmocote in the planting hole and on the soil around the roots. I mulched with more manure and then pine bark chips. Both are in slightly raised beds without a drainage problem. One is in half shade, the other in slight shade, more sun. I have fertilized every other week with Miraclegro. I have had some small holes in a couple of the leaves, I applied a dusting of Sevin.

Please give me a fertilizing schedule and pest control measures.
fool4flowers
16 years ago
You could bump them up on the miracle grow to once a week then when they have grown some and formed a Y switch to bloom booster. If they start looking pale I give mine epsom salts. One tablespoon per gallon of water. They like fish emulsion too. There are a lot of pests that like them. Little tiny green worms that look tomatoe worms will strip it overnight. Check under the leaves and mist and watch for them to wiggle or you will never see them. Watch for signs of spider mites too. I think those are the worst things you can expect with them in the ground but the others will let you know if I am wrong, lol.

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