Hi Michael, another zone 5 PA brug lover here, Johnstown, PA! I am not experienced with them like others are here so cannot address the pruning for treelike growth but can share my wintering indoor experiences.

Got my first brug 5 years ago and overwintered it in a growing state for 3 of them. After the initial shock of the environment change resulting in a massive leaf loss, we had no problems until Feb or March. Then I would inevitably end up with a whitefly and/or spider mite infestation that I had to battle. This was lessoned somewhat if I ran a humidifier constantly and misted the plant a time or two a week. Unfortunately this resulted in a dampness in the living and dining rooms so I then moved them to a basement bathroom. But this had the problem of no windows so I had to rig up plant lights on timers....and still run the humidifier. You know that old saying out of sight out of mind? It's true, I didn't see the plants all the time and so had a tough time remembering to water them regularly..... So for the past 2 years I have left them go dormant in the garage.

My brug was very large, 5 feet tall and probably 4 feet across so it created other problems in the house. The garage also suffers from all the plants coming in for the winter (6 pots of canna, hibiscus, 4 or 5 pots of taro, jasmine and more) but we adjust to it. This year I thought I lost my original brug but lucked out and it came back so I am not sure what I am going to do this year. I have a couple of new ones that I bought, they are still managable from the size standpoint so I think they may overwinter in the bay window this year and I will mist them daily.

Hi lynn_d, since you mentioned you overwinter your brugs and other plants in the garage I wonder if your garage is heated?

Our garage is heated but we don't heat above 40-45, due in large part to the cost of heat lately but also because of the plants. I want them in dormancy not growing. We have a back room that has no real natural light, after the plants are cut back the containers are stacked in there. Some, like the brugmansias, that are not cut back to the soil line are either on top or lined up on one wall. I wish I could keep them in the basement but it is heated.

Hi Lynn_d,

Thank you for your response and for sharing your experience with wintering brugs indoors. I will probably let it continue to soak up some sun near a nice window and keep it warm. Thanks for the warning on spider mites and white flies...I'll have to research those as this is all new to me.

Can anyone provide additional advice? I'm mainly questioning whether or not I have a true "Y" on this brugmansia.

Michael, you definately have a true Y, I've never pruned my brugs for form so cannot accress how they react to it. As to the fertilizer, I use Miracle grow soil and then top with Osmocote. I have also added Jobe's tomato spikes to many of my flowering plants, including my brugmansias. I keep the spikes on hand for my waterlilies and just tired it one time, they loved it. I have already stopped fertilizing the brugs for the year and do not do so over the winter even when they come in the house.

Exactly where on those 3 images you gave the links to are you seeing those uneven leaves? If they ate showing in those growing tips on the 2 branches or the main stem they you may be having your first Y forming there. I can not tell form your images. However, where those 2 branches join onto the center stem (circled in red) are not 'Y's, rather they are lateral branches that will go on to Y eventually.

(click to enlarge)

{{gwi:533313}}

Lynn_d,

As Ruth Ann has kindly explained to me, I don't have a true Y in the photo that she attached...these are lateral branches. I do however have a few Y's that formed on both of these lateral branches that I will explain to Ruth Ann below. Thank you for the tips...I too am using Miracle Gro potting mix and have been giving my brug some Miracle Gro liquid plant food every few weeks.

Ruth Ann,

Yes, I do have "uneven" or "subequal" (as you refer to it) leaves that have grown on the lateral branches (both) themselves and not on the main trunk. I have included links to some photos for you...I have noticed a few Y's on these lateral branches (and possibly at the top of the main stem), so I'm assuming I may possibly see some buds forming soon...?

I am a little disappointed that I won't be able to grow this into a nice tree, but I'll enjoy it nonetheless. I kindly thank you for your help and advice. I'll keep an eye out for any basal shoots if they were to occur.

Links to photos...

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/mdietz0164/100_1939.jpg

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/mdietz0164/100_1942.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd78/mdietz0164/100_1941.jpg

Regards,
Michael

I know how badly you want to see a Y but I can't see one in any of your pics unless they are tiny and in the very top growing tips.
This is what a Y looks like when it occurs in the tips ( sorry but I happen to have a double Y in this image but imagine it with just one. It is the actual stalk that Y's, not a leaf stem and stalk.
{{gwi:478473}}

The leaves you think are sub equal in the first pic I feel really are just slightly out of balance rather than 'sub equal'. There usually is grater definition between the two sides like this....( see inside the aqua box)
{{gwi:533314}}

Thank you for the lesson Ruth Ann. Perhaps I'm not focusing on the definitive word(s) here...growing tips. Yes, some leaves are uneven, but not as substantial than as in the photo you provided. I will at this point sit back and allow the plant to grow and be patient...before I really begin to make a fool of myself (LOL).

Michael

I can hear the hope in your voice and just don't want to see you disappointed, that's all Michael. It 'will' happen, in time.