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Brugmansia
therachan_gw

sick brugs?

17 years ago

Hi everyone,

I need some advice! I have two brugmansias potted on my back deck. They have grown well since I planted them (each about 3 feet tall or so now) and are each in about 17" plastic pots. Throughout spring and the early summer they have done well and flowered a lot. Since I am in Houston (it's been VERY hot and VERY dry here for a couple months now) I try to water them every two or three days until water runs out of the bottom of the pots. I have not been fertilizing regularly, as they seemed to be doing so well on their own.

I left town for a few days a few weeks ago, and I don't know what happened to them. The person I left to water them swears he did twice but when I got home the plants looked so unhappy! The flowers had shriveled and the large leaves were starting to yellow and eventually they all fell off. Now I have basically just two pots of greenish/yellow sticks with some tiny little leaves sprouted but they don't seem to get bigger. I have fertilized twice, (miracle grow) but nothing seems to help.

What I can't figure out is, did they get too dry? Or did they get overwatered? Either way, are the roots ruined and is that why they are still so sickly looking?

For the record, they are mulched and do get full day sun- maybe they are just too hot and I need to move them into the shade? My potted plumerias right next to them are flowering and happy as can be.

I know there's lots of info here but I really want these guys to pull through. They have survived so much already- hurricanes and being backed over by cars! (not mine!)

Here's a picture of one of them


{{gwi:517136}}


Thanks for any help,

Robyn

Comments (4)

  • 17 years ago

    Welcome Robyn

    All I know is that the Brugs I have in pots and in afternoon sun, need 2 cans of water a DAY in this heat. I also fertilize once a week. No matter if they look happy or not. They are heavy feeders.
    If there is no new growth showing, you could lift the plant out of the pot and see if you find healthy roots.

    Plumeria's love the full sun. I know that there are brugs that take the full sun. But water only every 3 days?? hmmm

    Hope it comes back. But while it does...I would hold off with the fertilzing.

    Maybe someone else can come up with another solution as to why this happened.

    Lucy

  • 17 years ago

    Hi and welcome. I'm surprised that your brugs survived this long with so little water. I also have had to water my container plants daily, sometimes more then once. Why don't you plant your brugs in the yard? They are so much easier to care for and grow better inground. They'll die back when it gets cold but will return in the spring in your zone.

    I wouldn't feed them now while they are stressed but I would give them a few doses of Superthrive and/or B1 over the next couple weeks. Once they've put out new foliage you can begin feeding weekly or biweekly along with daily watering during the growing season. If you plant them in the yard they probably won't need water daily but in a container they will. If your soil was holding enough water that they didn't need daily watering in high heat then your soil might not be well draining enough. Brugs like lots of water but they don't like their roots to remain wet as it will lead to rot. Good luck. With a little TLC your plants should bounce back.

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  • 17 years ago

    Thanks for the replies!

    To be honest, I have been scared of root rot, and they had been doing so well and flowering beautifully on that schedule. But the weather has turned horribly hot in the last month (we were breaking temp records down here recently) It was just so odd that it literally happened over a weekend.

    I have not planted them in the yard because this house isn't my permanent home. I would hate to plant them and then have to leave them behind. Though, I suppose I could always take cuttings with me when I go...

    They were repotted this spring, and I have them sitting in dishes filled with gravel so they drain. I believe I also put some gravel in the bottom of the pots before adding the soil and plant. I guess the silly question now is, if on a daily watering schedule, how do I know if they need water or not? Generally I don't water unless the top inch or two of soil is dry, or else I feel like I might be drowning them.

    Thanks again for the help!

    Robyn

  • 17 years ago

    Robyn

    Check to see if the new little leaves feel really hard and thick.

    That is what my plants look like with a good case of broadmites! Especially since the leaves are not growing even tho you started to water regularly again since you returned from vacation.

    All the other advice above- go for it! And good luck!

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