- Joined: September 2003
- Location: Port Huron, Michigan- zone 5-6
- Post Count: 20,476
Unfortunately, removing a few leaves around the bases of my two largest brugs, that I left out all winter, I'd hoped the roots might be hardy, and the tops are quite dead, but looking all the way to ground level all the old bark had died and rotted away through the winter, so any life below ground is still a question mark! I'd hoped to maybe see some life in them, but its still early of course. Perhaps a drier mulch would have worked out better since some dormant plants don't take winter wet well at all!
"A Rose by any other name...is still a "thorny" issue".
- Joined: January 2010
- Location: Cabin Creek WVA
- Post Count: 1,973
If you're in Michigan, you just killed them. The ground freezes solid here so i know your soil has to as well. Brugs are not cold hardy, unless you live in zone 8 or higher. The roots CAN NOT freeze. Not even for a minute, have you ever froze a tomato and seen what it looks like when it thaws? Its mushy. And when the roots thaw you got a rotton goo.
"Never ever give up your dreams, even when they're doused with sorrow,
because even though they seem far away, they could come true tomorrow"
- Joined: September 2003
- Location: Pennsylvania zone 6
- Post Count: 10,717
Quote:the roots CAN NOT freeze. Not even for a minute,
Smurf you have a couple of babies so you will have enough to test the theory that Burgs cannot freeze.
I moved two years ago and I grow all my Brugs in Pots. I was so busy with the move I did not have time to bring the brugs inside.
They sat on the patio until January. I was sure they were dead but I pay alot of money for my pots and I love them. So in late Jan I had my pots moved I could not empty them because they were frozen solid so the pots were moved soil intact and placed in the garage.
In April I saw proof of life. I moved them outside 7 of the 8 brugs survived. They did not bloom last year but they grew back from the roots into good size plants.
I lost 2 cannas and my Black Magic EE but most of the brugs came back. Brugs are tough.
Do what you can where you are with what you have.
- Joined: May 2006
- Location: Adirondacks
- Post Count: 5,821
I've heard similar things, Aud...people fearing their brugs to be dead, but by the time the nice weather hits and given some time, they seem to spring forth!
MrSeedy, I hope your's makes it through! We'll be hoping for some life to be seen within a few months.
Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it.
Natalie - Zone 5
- Joined: September 2003
- Location: Pennsylvania zone 6
- Post Count: 10,717
I forgot to add. I do not put drainage holes in my Brug pots so that I can drown them. So these pots were sitting out there with NO drainage catching the fall rains that we get so they were soaking wet and frozen.
I do not suggest anyone put a treasured brug through this tourcher but if you have extra of one and you want to try to see if it is hardy enough to stay in the ground I think it is not impossible that it will return.
Do what you can where you are with what you have.
- Joined: January 2010
- Location: Cabin Creek WVA
- Post Count: 1,973
I'm not taking that risk, i've got $600 in my Brug plants, i'm not willing to lose any of them at all. I can't afford to just replace things like that. Some of the plants I have can't be replaced. So I kept them in my greenhouse at a cozy 60*F and even had blooms in Dec. I had things for years that didn't bloom until the greenhouse was built. I'm hoping my night blooming cereus blooms, i'm excited to see!!! I've had it since 2003 and no blooms since i bought it.
"Never ever give up your dreams, even when they're doused with sorrow,
because even though they seem far away, they could come true tomorrow"
- Joined: September 2003
- Location: Pennsylvania zone 6
- Post Count: 10,717
Smurf, I thought you said you had a tray of babies seeds growing. When you have brugs for a while you can take cuttings to experiment. There are lots of chances to give it a try.
I have grown a couple of burgs in the house for the winter and had blooms indoors. Not as spectacular as the outdoor blooms.
Do what you can where you are with what you have.
- Joined: May 2006
- Location: Adirondacks
- Post Count: 5,821
Aud, my first bloom was indoors....I loved it. Your right, outdoors they have more color....but boy, it fragranced my entire room....it was so nice!!
Maybe I'll do a test sometime from a cutting....get it big enough first and then see what it does...of course, my frozen tundra winters just may prove to be too much.
But I do like to test things.
Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it.
Natalie - Zone 5
- Joined: January 2010
- Location: Cabin Creek WVA
- Post Count: 1,973
My equador pink bloomed all winter, its the only one that has.
"Never ever give up your dreams, even when they're doused with sorrow,
because even though they seem far away, they could come true tomorrow"
