I have a question that I am hoping someone can answer for me ....

I grow my brugs in 18 gallon plastic tubs because of the poor soil here in central Florida. But I also have a problem with space and the amount of sunlight. Has anyone grown a brug as an espalier? If so, how did it adapt and how did it look when it bloomed? Mine has not bloomed yet.

What is a espalier brug? Is that the name of it?

Rhapsody

Rhapsody - No, not the cultivar name but the way it is grown.

espalier - http://www.bhg.com/gardening/t...

Becky you ought to be able to prune a brug as an espalier, but you'll have to let it reach away from the fence or wall a little bit because the huge flowers hang down or face sideways. If it was too near the wall they will be squished.

Brugs love to be pruned, especially if they are in containers. You could fasten it to the wall by the trunk then just prune the branches as needed after blooming.

OHHHH !! Espalier, the art of training a tree or shrub against a wall, is one way to enhance a courtyard wall or other exterior surface.

Thanks Elaine and Rhapsody ....

This is just a thought I have to try to grow one that way. I was just wondering if anyone else here has tried such an idea with Brugs. I grow all my Brugs as standards (tree form), but have never grown one in espalier form. I guess I shall find out how it does and how it looks when blooming. Mine is NOT attached to the fence, but I am trying to grow it west and east horizontal instead of the typical tree form with branches all the way around the tree.

Just be firm with it and nip off the growths going the wrong way before they get too big. I can't bring myself to cut a branch that has buds.

I guess I grow the majority of mine that way... and have for years... meaning I tie mine back to the fence... but mostly to cut down on the wind damage done to them blowing about so close to it... I plant most of mine in a planter ... about a foot wide that runs along the fence with a trellis part on top of it... I try to keep them mostly pruned in the space along the fence and containers... although they are given free rein to send limbs to the other side.... it keeps the space on my side of the fence open..and allows some sunlight to the bedding plants in the containers.. they are so close together this year it's more like a hedge than an espalier... in Panama they grow their generic pink ones as hedges around the coffee fields..as a wind break I guess...I can fan them out on the fence.. and get light to more of the plants ... with me making decisions as to who get to occuipy a bit of space... rather than leave it up to the two plants involved to figure out which one gets it... HA HA HA
pictures later of some this year... these are from last year... you can kind of see the tieing back along the wall... once above the wall... they are on their own and just have to worry about the force of the wind on the leaves and flowers... and not getting banged about off the wall/fence

Elaine - I, too, find it hard to cut branches off, but I have no choice with one particular brug. It's doing great so far and getting ready to bloom again.

Hi Gordon! Your brugs look awesome as always! The growth and pruning on yours looks like the espalier one of mine. It is getting ready to bloom again. I will hopefully be able to take a photo to share (if this rain stops).

Most of mine are seedlings of crosses that I purchased on ebay from a tropical garden nursery almost a year ago. Most of the seeds didn't germinate, but some did and are getting quite tall now. I am anxious to see what the blooms look like on those. I have them ALL growing in 18 gallon plastic bins. I tried planting them in the ground, but they all went downhill, so took cuttings before they completely died and am starting over with my brug cuttings (and seeds) which I always grow as small standards (tree form). I have root-knot nematodes in my ground soil here, so I had a feeling they wouldn't make it very long in the ground. They are doing great in the bins though!

Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos, Gordon! Always a joy to see what's growing up there on your roof top!

Good on ya for the rescue, Becky! Yes, the nematodes do love Brugs, and all mine that have been in the ground have really suffered. They're all in pots now, and I move them around for effect.

Can't wait to see a picture of your espalier. I think the rain is over for a few days now . . . we'll see!

Elaine - I have mine growing in 18 gallon plastic bins. The bins are light-weight. I don't have any named brugs. (Or at least I don't know what the names are.) I also purchased some seeds from ebay late last summer and managed to get some of the seeds from each cross to germinate. Each plant looks different. I am waiting on blooms to appear (hopefully soon). I love being able to move them around my yard, too! I was hoping they could survive in the ground, but I had a feeling they wouldn't. Had to try it anyway ...

Here is my espalier Brugmansia:



This is another cutting of the same plant growing without being pruned. It certainly has more blooms, but unfortunately, it is hitting the fence. But I prefer more blooms like on this one:

Becky, just prune 'em right after the blooms finish, and be sure to remove any branch going towards the fence.

They're doing great, and will bloom generously as a result of all the pruning. The espalier one will forgive you, and get going stronger, I'm sure.