Hello Everyone: I've got a Strawberry Creme Brug that looks real healthy and is continuing to grow. Have had it for almost a year. It is one VERY long stem, about 4 feet tall. No branches no 'Y's. How tall do Brugs grow before branching? Should I be doing anything to this happy looking Brug? Does cutting force 'y's? Or is this the growth pattern for this particular Brug?
TIA for info.

Los Angeles County, CA
Hardy Zone:9B
Heat Zone:8/9

If it looks happy, it's probably best to leave it alone.
Some Y shorter and others Y taller by genetics alone, but there are other contributing factors as well. If you cut the top off, the energy will get redirected causing it to grow branches down lower, but each of the branches will still need to Y before they flower.
It's really a matter of personal choice, some people prefer the tree shape with the Y as close to eye level as possible, while others prefer to cut it, branch it out, and grow it in more of a short bush form.

BTW, the weather stickers come from Weather Underground. If you type in your zip code at the top it gives you a full forecast and there's a link on the page for a whole bunch of stickers. Or, click here, and change it to your state and city. Then to post it copy the URL out of your address bar and paste it into your signature.

Lynne
USDA 9b, Heat 10
Bradenton, Florida
Current Kanji: hana (flower)

Thanks, Lynne. Someone on another forum suggested I take a cutting (could only be from the top) and I'm not sure about that. Wouldn't I be cutting the growth from the plant since it is determined to just grow straight up? Don't want to damage the Brug especially since it seems to still be forming, and not getting ready to bloom (no Ys) This is all newbie speculation and may not be making sense to experience Bruggers!!
Thanks also for the directions for the weather banner. Will try to fool with it,(not much talent for the computer, I'm afraid!)

Los Angeles County, CA
Hardy Zone:9B
Heat Zone:8/9

Thanks, Lynne, for answering the question about the weather banner. Read the request, didn't remember at the time how to get it, had planned to find the info later, and had just never gotten around to it.

I've found some brugs just need a year or two to Y. I had one from last year that didn't do anything and lo and behold this year it Y'd and bloomed one time...a Noid, but pretty. I guess we have to be patient with some of them while others please us right away.

Jarie
Mission, TX
Rio Grande Valley
Zone 9

Hi Jarie: You're absolutely right. Brugs and Plumerias teach us how to wait. The waiting is sometimes soo hard but the end products a feast for the eyes and the soul, no?

Los Angeles County, CA
Hardy Zone:9B
Heat Zone:8/9

I've had one thats took me 3 years.And then still after it 'y'd it wasn't in no great hurry to form buds...after the 1st ones dropped. I do think that some patience wears out. I cut the top at a decent level to root to pot up. (As my patience has been wearing thinner)

Njoy


SE TX Z8b
Coastal~Tyler Co TX

Hi Joy: So cutting the top off won't hurt the Brug? I mean it won't go into decline or stop growing? So often with trees if one lopes of the top, the tree dies. Forgive repeated questions, but i want to be sure I'm not going to mess up!

Los Angeles County, CA
Hardy Zone:9B
Heat Zone:8/9

I loped the top off of all my brugs this year before winter storage. I rooted the tops and they are doing great. Four foot cuttings rooted fine. The brugs in storage have ghost leaves so they are still alive.


Sally
Zone 5b
heat zone 4
Enfield Connecticut



http://community.webshots.com/user/sallycummings

Nope, cutting the top off won't hurt or help, it just changes the height and multiplies the Brug. The lower portion will sprout new branches that'll grow up and outward, and the top part can be rooted as you would any cutting. Most likely, the top will Y before it gets back to the height it was before, or if it's really determined to grow tall it may decide to do that in spite of having been cut. In this situation you generally end up with two shorter, bushier Brugs rather than one taller, tree-form.

You can actually cut Brugs down to the soil line without killing them, as long as the roots are still alive they'll come back. Even more interesting though... when pruning roots you can take off a thick chunk, plant it in a separate pot and it'll grow. I have a little one now growing from a piece of root that was about the size of my thumb, lol.

Oh, for a normal Y height, usually I'd say 4 to 5 feet, although some Y shorter and others taller.

Lynne
USDA 9b, Heat 10
Bradenton, Florida
Current Kanji: hana (flower)

I have a couple of brugs that have been stubborn to Y so I've cut off all the lanky branches to see if that will help. They are developing new growing patterns (bushier) but as yet have not Y'd...of course, it's only been about 6-8 weeks ago that I loped them!! We'll see if it helps.

Anyone else tried doing the same thing and what are the results. Should I have high hopes, regrets ??

Jarie
Mission, TX
Rio Grande Valley
Zone 9

I've found that if the main stem is cut off, what you end up with is a below the Y cutting (plant) that will have to get tall again before it will Y. It makes for some very tall brugs and sometimes, a not so nice looking trunk. If I cut the growth point off, I will cut the whole thing down to about a foot and root the top, letting the bottom re-grow again. What happens if you cut it off before it makes a Y is that you are just delaying the bloom cycle. I only do it in the fall if they haven't grown far enough along from seed. Otherwise, I don't cut them back at all, but will trim everything off the main trunk if I want a nice tall brug.

ChSam (Shirley Morr)
Chariton, Iowa
Zone 5

Gloria, I have Strawberry Creme (thanks to Linda), and the first year I had it, not only did it 'Y', but it bloomed - from cutting. And it wasn't particularly tall when it bloomed - about 3 feet. I hope it blooms for you because the flowers are large (faces are 9-10" across) and pretty.

Maybe it is not in the best location. Does it get enough sun? I put some of my newer brugs in more shaded locations this year, and they seemed to have to grow taller before they y'd.

I'm no expert, but that is what happened to me.



Kathy
USDA Zone 5
Connecticut

Hi Kathy: Lack of sun is not a problem here (actually trying to find some shade is) Now that the nights are a little cooler, I've seen my Brugs really perk up. Santa Rosa is even putting out a bud! I can't wait for the SC to bloom. Agree they are soo pretty. As long as the Brug is looking happy and continues to grow, I think I will just leave it be. The Brug must know better than this novice. (hard to keep hands-off them, tho, isn't it?) thanks to all for the good advice.

Los Angeles County, CA
Hardy Zone:9B
Heat Zone:8/9

I had about 10 plants that were very tall(4 to 6 foot) and had
more than one branch from the base or near the bottom of the
main plants. Since I prefer the tree look I took those
branches and shoots off and the main plants Y'd
within a month and started to bloom.
Not really sure if that made this happen but I figured
that by taking off the excess growth it would give
more growth energy to the main trunk.

Cynthia
Weatherford, TX
zone 7