You could hook up a water timer to water the plant. They can be set to water a small amount each day or every other day. If your brug is out of the sun, that should take care of it. If you have other plants that need water, you can get a watering system to take care of all of them. You can get the whole set up at any discount or home improvement store. The timer is about $25 and the rest of the kit is about $15.00. You could also put the timer on a hose/sprinkler and water everything. If you do this, be sure to set up the system a week in advance to check it.

Ingrid

I like rock_oak_deer's suggestion! :)

Me - I'd take it with me on vacation!!

Seriously though - a timer would benefit the Brug & it would still be there waiting for you when you returned! Maybe the neighbor can 'just keep an eye on the timer!'

Mike

I am not sure if Ingrid is *allowed* to use a timer? With her having a water restriction. Of course I am not familiar with watering timers.

I would do what lots of us do when we have to leave our gardens alone.

HOPE
Pray
and just enjoy our vacation and hope for the best.

The neighbor and maybe taking a back up cutting that you keep in water in the house, might be what I would do.

Besides Ingrid...I KNOW you love this angel. But we WILL replace it if it should not make it.

Right friends?

Lucy

I'd leave it with the neighbor and hope for the best. Even if she doesn't water it and the plant dies back you'll be able to salvage it upon your return.

The reason I say you'll be able to salvage it is because I just found one growing in the garage that hasn't been watered since sometime last winter. lol I'll post with an explanation in another thread.

Have a safe trip.

Drip irrigation with or without a timer should be allowed even with water restrictions. Depending on your level of restrictions, it could be only on specific days or anytime. Our Stage 2 restrictions don't limit watering of container plants at all.

OK. I will digest your advice. Have some thinking to do now.I don't suppose that there would be restrictions regarding a timer, but I favor the neighbor,,,,,,

However, nobody goes for cutting it down? and my refrigerator idea was not a joke, I was seriously contemplating on wrapping up some cuttings and putting them in the vegetable bin - just like what happens to your plants in the winter. Cold, and dark.

Thank you, my friends.

Ingrid for your zone I would rather take the chance with a neighbor. Because I THINK that your brug can make it without cutting it back...EVER. Unless you run out of room. As long as you protect it when it freezes.

When you do cut it back...you step back in getting blooms sooner. Flushes might be bigger also. Not sure about that one. Someone will step in who knows.

Have not heard of anybody using the refrigerator to give them winter conditions, yet. I know you were serious about the fridge :-) IMHO just do not think it is necessary.

ha ha ha ha you know...give me the phone number of the neighbor and I call her how ever often you water now, and REMIND HER to water!!!!!!
Lucy

Now I am not kidding either hahahahaha

I think if your neighbor waters even twice while you are gone that month, your brug will be fine.

Thanks ladies. Thanks a buch. Lucy, I KNOW you are serious!!!
Temps will have cooled down somewhat in October. I think I'm gonna start NOT worrying so much any more.
I will take a couple of cuttings and put them in the fridge, just to see what happens. I'll let you know about the results.

Ingrid if you store some mature (woody stem) cuttings in the veggie drawer I bet they'd make it. Maybe if you wrap them in a lightly dampened paper towel sealed in a baggie. I think I'm going to try that just to see what happens. They might even start rooting while you are away.

I know I'll try it in the fridge. Paper towel, baggie, great idea, Karyn. Thanks. I'll also put a couple in water, see how they'll come out. All exciting experiments for me.

Karyn, I WILL stay away from the idea of placing one in the garage for fear that I might forget it for 7 months.... no pun intended, LOL, just kidding.
Ingrid.

Ingrid

I thought for sure you'd use my idea & take it with you on your vacation! ;)

Mike

Well, Mike I would take it with me, pot and all. However, I'm afraid that I won't be allowed any live plant material on the plane, or going thru customs.
This is funny though. Many years ago my mother came to visit us from Germany. She was kind of a Tom-boyish person anyway and would try anything. So she was hiding a little footlong pine-tree that she had "stolen" in a Bavarian forest, roots and all, inside her coatsleeve. Hahaha. We planted it, it made it, but it only lived a couple of years or so. I guess it was that blasted California heat again that put an end to the little tree.

So, the Brug stays here. - Don't try to coax me into taking it along any more!
Ingrid.

Ingrid

That was a cute story about your mother! I could just visualize it as I read your post! :) And it lived for a couple of years? Sad that you lost it!

Ok! No more coaxing you on taking your Brug - on probably a most needed vacation! :)

But you could wear long coatsleeves & I can make a list of Brugs I'd like you to bring back! ;)

Mike

I don't have my Mother's courage.LOL.
Besides, when I became a US citizen I had to swear, in front of the US flag, with my hand on my heart, that I would never become a burden to the USA. I guess that would include being locked up in jail for smuggling??
Ingrid.

Smuggling!! lol! Too funny! I can just see the headlines now 'Woman Arrested For Brugmansia Thievery At LAX!' No - we don't want that! ;)

Mike

It just so happened, I needed a good laugh to end today. Thanks Mike.

A pinetree up her sleeve. lol Before 9/11 I'd sneak plants back from wherever I traveled, especially Central America. Now it's too difficult. I got held at gunpoint at Schipol in Holland just because my first name was spelled incorrectly on my boarding pass by 1 letter (e instead of y) and didn't match my passport. God knows what they'd do if they found plant material! Now I just mail stuff ahead from wherever I happen to be. lol

Germany is the brug capitol. There's so many spectacular varieties available in Europe that aren't aaavailable here. You should check some of the German growers sites. Just gorgeous!

Here is a link that might be useful: German brugs

Thanks for the great laughs. I'm so glad we are all having fun again.

Karyn I almost spit my coke on the monitor roflmao

I swear if I ever go to germany I get myself a import license.You know the thing you need to bring seeds or sticks into the country lol

But you know what...Edna's brug is burned DEEP in my vision. Who needs to have german brugs when you see our gorgeous species!!! AND they LOVE IT HERE AND DO WELL :-)

Mike I had the same thought about Ingrid not taking her brug with her...but bringing us some back roflmao

Lucy