Hi-
Hi Gottahosta-
Which Brugs do you have? I have Frosty Pink- I received it from a neighbor last year, never had a Brug before- I planted it in an open, sunny position in sandy soil- it grew huge- When winter came- I didn't do anything like cut it back or take it indoors, (didn't know I had to) The branches died back to the ground, & I didn't remove them until new shoots appeared in the later part of spring. It came up beautifully, bigger than last year, so did 2 other smaller brugs that broke off from that one. I just stuck them in the soil & they rooted. I'm in Mooresville, NC zone 7b.... Maybe you don't have to take them in, seeing that you're much farther south than I am... Just seems like a lot of work to me! I think the sandy soil kept them from rotting, & I didn't cover with a mulch either. (Oh, I did plant annual rye grass in that bed for a cover crop to improve the tilth of the soil & eliminate crabgrass... it worked!) This info. is just a suggestion, only trying to help, I'm in no way an expert, but this is what I learned from my experience. Of course, if you probably have clay soil, (being in Georgia), that might make a difference too.. Hope all goes well for you!
Kasha77

Kasha

Two reasons I dig up brugs and bring inside.

One is to get a jump on next year's growth- I get blossoms sooner if The brugs don't have to grow back from the ground. I had some blossoms in April and more in May, this year.

Another reason is that I'm hybridizing brugs this year, and the seedpods can take months to ripen, so I bring the plants inside so the seedpods can mature.

Otherwise, the one's I do leave outside I heavily mulch, just like you! Zone 7b here!

Brenda

Sorry, ya'll, third time's a charm on spelling strategy!! LOL!!

My brain's taking a holiday, just like the rest of me!

Gottahosta-
Cool, I didn't know that- (or much else!) I too will someday be cross-polinating my brugs, after I study the best characteristics that I want from each- I just ordered 2 more brugs- Cypress Garden & Heloise- do you think they will also do well left in the ground for winter if I mulch them? Thanks for any info!
Kasha77

Brenda it is after all LABOR DAY weekend...so why not give our brain a break.
IN another post I saw how the post with clickt made it to a posting. Sometimes I do combine english and german hahahaha

Branda do I understand that correctly...you are only keeping that basal shoot? what are you doing with the rest of the brug? smileeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee @ U lol

I would bring a cutting of each inside. Or just bring the whole plant/pot inside and let them go dormant. Do you have a coolish, darkish room to keep them over the winter?I lost Cypress Gardens when I left her in the ground for the 2006-2007 winter.

Good luck wiht your hybridizing research!

Brenda