I wouldn't worry about the MG soil. It should be fine. There's not that much fertilizer in it. I might add a some perlite for some added drainage.

As far as leaf stripping. I wouldn't bother with it now. They barely have any leaves. In the winter sounds okay, except for ones like sanguinea or vulcanicola.

What ever ones you have in water should probably be taken out if they have roots. You don't want to drown them. The soil from your garden should be fine until you can get some potting soil.

So far I have potted all of my brugs in either Miracle Gro or Expert Gardener potting soil and they are all fine. I don't think it is necessary to go out of your way to find a different kind. I wouldn't recommeng getting the moisture control kind though, just get the regular.

I also would not remove any leaves now, just set it in the shade for a few days to acclimate it to the sun, if you do the same thing you do with your seedlings I think you will be fine. It is good to rip most of the leaves off in the fall when you bring them in because they just fall off anyways.

Don't baby them too much...they aren't as picky as you would think such an exotic looking flower would be. The quickest way to kill them is with too much love. Let them dry out between waterings so they don't rot. Also, I wouldn't pot them up to 5 gal until you see roots at the bottom of the container they are in now. Good Luck!
Shawn

It won't hurt anything if they do scorch. They will just look ugly and fall off anyway, lol. Put it in shade for a day or two then slowly move under a tree in dappled shade for a few days then you can try a little more sun. Some of them can't handle full sun but the deep green fuzzy large leaved ones love it and grow like crazy. The thinner leaved ones need some afternoon protection in our heat at least. I would give them some superthrive and a little epsom salt mixed with water. I need to do the same to mine. Some are looking pale. I use miracle grow potting soil and it works fine. I add perlite if I have it. If not make sure you have good drain holes. You can bury it if you like or leave it as is. You may have to water more if its exposed. Good luck. Don't move them up to too large a pot at a time. Let the roots fill in first then move up a size or two. I jumped one up by too many sizes and its still the same size it was last year, lol.

Welcome Vera! Great advice from all these good people. Enjoy!

Theresa

The MG shouldn't hurt but I personally think it stinks. The only potting mixes I like are made by Fafard but it can be difficult to find. I'd wait until you see roots to repot the brug. I don't think full shade for 2 weeks is necessary. I'd treat it like same way you harden off your seedlings but you might want to continue to protect it from strong afternoon sun. For now leave the foliage. If it scorches new growth will make up for it anyway and as long as it's green it will produce food for the plant. I do strip them before allowing them to go dormant and I strip the leaves of ones I've kept going over the winter before I put them out. I never thought of using straw as mulch. Looks like a good idea and I have a couple bales in the back yard. Thanks.

Thanks for all the great advice!! I'm not so freaked out anymore. I hope I get to see some flowering this year...do you think I will? That would be awesome :)

I use straw for my beds...I live right smack dab in the middle of wheat country and my local farmer delivers it when requested :)

Ok, now I'M a little freaked out. I had a plan, but it's not what you all seem to be suggesting. Some questions...
I have a small cutting, smaller than the one shown in the above post. I was going to go ahead and pot it in it's forever home of a 10 gallon pot, but that's bad? Is it better to plant it in a smaller pot at first (other than being easier to move indoors for the winter)

Also, I have MG Moisture control potting soil that I was going to use, and that's bad? Will it hurt it, or was the suggestion just to not bother to spend the extra money?

Finally, if a 10 gallon pot will be it's forever home eventually, how quickly will it get there? How many feet of growth is likely in the first season?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

susancol I think we do not use moisture control MG soil is when it is NOT that hot anymore and it6 retains water...brugs do not like to have their feet wet constantly.

they grow VERY FAST!! lol I made the mistake my 1st year last year and potted them up in HUGE pots. The biggest size I can handle. so this spring I had to cut back the roots so I can add more soil.

Hope this helps a little

Lucy

I would pot it up in stages. It stays too wet if too large a pot. If its a large plant with a full gallon at least root ball it might would work. I tried it last year or actually told hubby to pics a plant to go in this great big pot and he stuck a tiny one in it, lol. It never grew much and wasn't happy and died all the way to the soil but this last week its sending up a new basal shoot so hopefully it will be happier this year.