Joyce I really have no idea. But you are right...the clock is ticking and I better get off from here and go start watering.

You were up early ...or another sleepless night?

Hope this day finds you with less pain or beautiful things that take your mind off of it.

Hugs
Lucy

Some of my brugs never make it to bloom. Some do bloom after they are brought inside, tho, so all is not lost with the first frost.
Depends on the size of the plant and if you can get it inside intact!

I still have brugs blooming in December, in the house.

We can keep them in the house all winter? Donna

Donna I see you are my zone... yes do you have a basement too? You can keep them in the basement off the ground brrr too cold and get a cheap shop light with a grow lite bulb in it and watch it bloom..Granted you might have more buggers on it being inside the house... I dont know why but aphida are notorious when you bring them in a house...

Also you can let it go dormant in the basement for next summer.... Keep it big and remove the leaves... Keep away from windows and off the floor...Only give it a cup of water monthly...When night time temps in spring hit 50 (that is what I do)you can bring outside.... :) I hoped I helped a little

rosepedal. I kept the 2 cuttings I got last summer in the basement. I didn't know we could keep them in the house. I guess my babies would probably try and eat them.
{{gwi:526827}}

They are adorable..:) Sorry Joyce I dont want to hijack your thread.. You can keep cuttings in water all winter in teh house...I did do that last winter with some...

Donna, You don't have to cut the tops off the plants, just strip the leaves. My big plants lean in the dark all winter if there isn't enough room to stand up. I have spent all summer growing those nice big tops & I don't want to cut them off & have to start growing them all over again next year. Usually there are basal stalks or side shoots for cuttings but I like to leave the top intact if possible.

You are just asking for trouble growing them inside in our zone. No matter how careful you are, something will come in with them. Let them go dormant. If there are flowers about to open, I bring the whole plant inside with most of the leaves stripped. A few plants in a room with a closed door (don't open it after dark!) will pleasantly perfume the rooms next to it without overpowering you. The scent is gone by am & you can go in again. LOL

Your babies would more likely pee in them. I resort to empty soda bottles & duct tape in a circle around the stem to keep their hairy little butts out (what a decorating statement they make). A big planter full of dirt is very hard for them to resist. LOL

My cats have nibbled the leaves with no effect. They must taste bad or they would have eaten it down to the dirt.

Linda

napdognewfie, thank you for all your information. Good to know if one of my furbabies nibbled it wouldn't be tragic. Thanks again. Donna

Donna oh your fur babies are SO CUTE!! I am with Linda...my new kitty Precious also loves to SIT in all flower pots lol.

Joyce I betcha you are happy now that you found out you can keep them growing so you do not miss out on the blooms :-)

Lucy

What's the timeline for the ones planted in the ground?

I would guess the first frost?

Lucy

And, you would cut down the in-ground Brugs to what height? Would this also be a good time to move one if I needed it to be in a better location or should I wait until spring?

I have two in pots and will bring them inside to the garage for winter. You are saying don't cut them back?? One plant is almost 6'. It could be 7' or more by next spring! Would you still leave it at its current height?

oh this will only be my 2nd winter with brugs. last year the inground brugs froze down to the ground. Some died. So this year I cut them back BEFORE the stem starts to freeze and I loose the cuttings I could have. Will mulch it real good. Not digging any out. Either they come back or they don't. I do have a lot in pots that I have to bring in. Those are the ones I want to make sure that I do not loose them. In my opinion it is not advisable to disturb the roots if you are just putting them into a new place OUTDOORS.

Lucy

This will be my second winter, too, so I will probably take cuttings in case I lose my plants in the ground. If my Snowbank returned though, I think I have a good shot at keeping the others.
So Spring would be better to move a plant? Like an idiot, I planted this Brug right in the drip line (no gutters) from my house and it gets pounded every time it rains. It also needs a sunnier location.

cannacrazy I could have written your message roflmao

Could you dig it out and overwinter it in a pot until you find it a new place in spring?

Lucy

I could and may do that. Are you saying I should go ahead and dig it out now or wait until fall? We haven't had rain in weeks so it has put back a lot of foliage since the last pounding. It has two stems about 3' tall and one has Y'd but no sign of blooms yet.

Oh no I would wait until the 1st frost date gets there. Then just let it go dormant with very little watering going on

Lucy

OK, so what about taking cuttings from it for next year? Would that be the best time to do it? Only my second year so I've never taken any cuttings but I'd like to try.

oh yes that would be THE TIME to take cuttings for sure.

Lucy