Ugh... I hate thinking about putting them away. I only had 2 to overwinter last year, this year I have way more. I think you are supposed to strip all of the leaves before taking them in. I think you did everything else right. With the variegates, I think people keep them going because they are slow growers and they don't want to lose the growth....but I'm not sure....maybe they will lose the variegation?
Shawn

Linda,

I have very limited experience in overwintering the variegated brugs, because I have tried it once with no luck. But this is what I have been told. Any of the variegated brugs need to be kept as actively growing as possible during the winter. Another brug that needs to be kept growing during the winter is, Culbera.

You said that you lost a few brugs this past spring. Do you know what may have caused you to lose them? Where they kept too wet, or kept too dry? I have lost brugs over the winter for both reasons.

If you have a small brug that does not have a good root system then you can lose it very easy by keeping the root ball too wet. Same thing if you let them get too dry also. I have the problem of keeping mine moist enough during the later part of winter. The brugs will begin to shrivel up and die back from the top.

Hope this will help you. And hopefully someone who has experience overwintering the variegated brugs will chime in to give you some advice.

Linda, I overwinter my big ones in the basement. I have them in the ground now. When it starts to get cold, I dig them up, trim if needed, and pot them up. I do strip my leaves just to avoid a mess when they fall, and to try and keep pest to a minimum. Once they are potted, I water them well, and I don't water again till I take them out in the spring. I overwinter Peaches and Cream just the same as my others. This is the only variegated one I have tried to overwinter this way, but it does just fine. I think in order for a plant to be let go dormant, it needs to be a good sized one and not a new plant. Hope this helps, Edna

Oh I feel sorry for you. I don't even want to think about bringing all these in yet since its still months away for me but I better get to planning pretty soon. I have never overwintered one dormant. I kept all mine in the garage with grow light growing last winter and they did fine except some cuttings that did the shrivel from the top down thing. I still don't know what causes that.

Hey Linda, we have a series of photos on our site as to what we do for the process of wintering. I will say that the Variegated, all double and triples have their own space in the one greenhouse that we keep running all winter long as we do not allow them to go dormant. Just give me a yell if you need more directions.

Hard to believe it could be time for some to be bringing things in..Sounds like you have it pretty much right to me.. I do keep the leaves stripped.. and the humidity high with good air circulation...I agree that the small ones don't do so well in a dorment state and as for the Varigated ones I will keep mine growing...DH better do something about that dang GH soon...LOL or he will have one or mor...next to the recliner...

I left all mine go dormant last year except Snowbank. The variegated ones (Maya, Jamie & Sunsport) all came through fine. You shouldn't have to worry about digging them yet. I wait until there's a frost warning (put it off as long as possible) which is Oct 10 here. What is your frost date? Don't dig them any sooner than you have to. The longer they can keep growing, the better for them. You might as well strip the leaves when you bring them in, they are all going to fall off anyway.

Linda

I cannot tell you all how appreciative I am of all the responses. In my original message and I don't have a clue where it got posted, but I said that I was in Zone 5 and our night time temps are now down in the low 50's. You cannot imagine how depressing it is to still have tons of buds with no chance of blooming.

We had a really short growing season...even had a frost in late May and then have been pounded with severe thunderstorms.

I do not grow my brugs in the ground. Can't do it because of medical reasons...plus getting too old! All of them are in at least 15" pots.

Our basement is on the humid side and I did water once a month but I guess I might have watered a little too heavily. By the time the pots are brought in the basement most if not all of the leaves have fallen off...what a mess!

I think our first frost varies! The weather has been so unreliable but as soon as we start getting down in the middle to high 40's...they are put away for the Winter. Normally (whatever that means) our first frost date is late October. Boy, do I get grumpy then. One of these days I WILL have an outside heated greenhouse!! For my "babies" I think they will be coming inside inside of in the basement...they give me such pleasure and I want to do all I can for them!

KHT.....Hey there!! Thought you had maybe planted yourself by now or cross polinated you and hubby! Am on my way to your website as I'm sure I can pick up some helpful hints as without all the advice I've learned from you...I wouldn't have a brug alive!

Sorry for being so long winded but once again, I want you all to know how very grateful I am for your comments.

Linda

Mine didn't bloom last year til October and kept blooming right up until first frost then I brought them in the day before it hit. They loved the 40 and 50 degree nights. You can keep the special ones growing with a grow light. I didn't have a fancy one. Just a shop light fixture with a grow bulb and and full daylight bulb and they did fine. I agree strip off the leaves before they come in and it will decrease the mess and the insects that may be hiding.