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Brother Stefan....to move or not to move, that is the question.

7 years ago

It wasn't getting much color. This year (Number 3) the Winter Moth Caterpillars chomped a lot of the shade cover. I think I will give it another year in this location and see whether it was the extra sun or age that has brought it around.

Jon

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Comments (4)

zkathy z7a NC
7 years ago
Why bother moving it when the caterpillars have provided the experimental conditions?
Jon 6a SE MA thanked zkathy z7a NC
Jon 6a SE MA
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Kathy, I'm just not sure if the temporary increase in sun is the reason it looks much better or whether it is simply matured. I hate to move it if I don't have to. I would like to hear from others what their experience is with Brother Stefan. If their experience is that the color is due to more sun rather than age then I would be inclined to move it to a sunnier spot.

Hopefully the invasion can be controlled and shade will return. Next year it is war. I sprayed the female caterpillars with Spinosad, next year I will spray hort. oil on the eggs just before hatching and spray BT on my trees that will kill them as they first start to munch on the leaves (probably the most effective treatment). It is very tough as they simply float in from all around. Another year like this one and I will lose a lot of very big trees.

Jon
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josephines167 z5 ON Canada
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Jon, I am hoping you will get more comments from BS growers (Newhostalady, Mbug, etc.) as I can only offer observations from a new-owner's (2015) perspective. Denis also has a 2015 model ;-) and may have noticed something about it colouring up. (aside: I have noticed that some of your hostas do already, and will likely grow more in an upright fashion in their dappled environment as they have to reach for the sun. I think that aspect makes them even more attractive IMO.)

What seems to be the same as last year is that my BS develops more colour as time goes on throughout the season....starts off pale then ramps it up, sun notwithstanding. I have mine in sun until around 1:00 (in shade now so I snapped a pic for you) so it is a lot lighter all over.

I really like the deep green margins of yours and think it looks spectacular. I wouldn't move it - I think it will get more stunning for you as time goes on. :D fwiw.

last August...was potted and under tree but it didn't get as much sun as it does planted this year. I am not sure if it will remain there - I think I may actually like its colouring a bit deeper.

I hope NHL post a photo of hers...it has darker margins, crisper colours and way better looking than mine, as is Mbug's. BC has one too, I think?

Jon, what degree of colour are you wishing to achieve compared to what you have at this point?
Jon 6a SE MA thanked josephines167 z5 ON Canada
Jon 6a SE MA
Original Author
7 years ago
Jo, I'm trying to keep this color. It has had disappointing color up until this year and I don't know if this is because of the extra sunlight from the trees being defoliated. I guess the only way to find out is wait until things are back to normal and see what happens.

Jon

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