Brugmansia

[Amo]

Right FB!!!!!

I bought two twigs in the spring of 2006. They were in 6 inches high. They grew to about 18 inches.

Last year I potted them on and put them out in the courtyard, after frosts, inline with the watering system. They grew quite well but we only had a few flowers. It didn't help that we were on honeymoon for most of August and the watering failed.

They are now in the greenhouse, about 4 foot high, looking rather sparse and yellow. I have bought some bigger pots for them this year.

What else am I supposed to do with them? Do I cut them back hard? Do they like any particular food like tomato as they are so fast?

[andy]

Brugmansia are very vigorous growers and therefore can be cut back pretty hard if needed. They require a lot of water in the summer months although they do like full sun. They also need big pots...which they fill with roots pretty quickly. They are also very hungry plants and a twice weekly liquid feed with a half strength tomato food as you say will work wonders in the growing season.

Despite being very poisonous, they are a host to many pests. Red spider mite love em as to mealy bug and aphids. Keep the underside of the leaves sprayed over with water if it's hot and dry to keep the RSM at bay.

They will grow to small trees if allowed but i used to grow mine annually from seed.

Good luck

[Amo]

Thanks Andy. They are rather yummy to the whitefly too And I picked off a caterpillar the other day.

I don't think I'd have the patience to do them from seed though.

These were placed in the courtyard to cook with their feet in the watering system. The Daturas I had didn't like it though so I'm not bothering with them this year even though they were double and my absolute favorite shade of purple!

Almost tree size is what I'm after from the two Brugs I have, not a lot of room for much else then. ;D

[farmersboy]

Hi Amo,Brugs need a lot of attension to get really good ones with lots of blooms,they need lots of water and feed,and with you being away,was prob the trouble last year,
I wouldnt cut them back,and once you bring them out and start watering,they should start shooting out,when that happens,feed once a week with Phostrogen,provided you have holes in the pots for drainage,you cant give them too much water,they luv it.

Once the flower buds appear,i start feeding with tomatoe feed,as well as the Phostrogen,or some people prefer Miracle Grow.
Hope that answers your questions,should you have anymore,just ask.

[Amo]

Thanks FB. I'll put the secateurs away then!!

It's very tempting as they look so.. well, straggly. Good thick trunks though.

I've bought 2 inch deep saucers for the pots, do you think they won't need them then? The watering comes on at 5am for an half an hour every morning in the summer.

[farmersboy]

If you are only watering once a day,then you may need them,my pots are in the ground,cos the wind blows them over,and i water twice a day when its hot.
As to cutting back,i wait till it starts shooting,then tidy it up by cutting off any dead wood where theres no shoots.

[Amo]

OK, will follow your lead. ;D

I'll see if the drip saucers run out too quickly or not at all and adjust in the season.

Can't wait now!! I don't think I'll be doing the victorian thing of waiting for the nectar to drip in my tea cup though

[farmersboy]

Amo,have you smelt the perfume of a brug on a warm summer evening?its heavenly,my yellow ones are the best

[Amo]

I know my little courtyard smells wonderful from a few hyacinths as it's such an enclosed space, I'm sure it will be wonderful if I can get a few flowers on the Brugs this year! ;D

[farmersboy]

Mar 12, 2008 20:44:04 GMT Amo said:

I know my little courtyard smells wonderful from a few hyacinths as it's such an enclosed space, I'm sure it will be wonderful if I can get a few flowers on the Brugs this year! ;D

Sounds an ideal place for your Brugs,look forward to some pics in the summer

[Susie Snowdrop]

I sowed a full packet of 20 last month and only 6 have germinated What have I done wrong

S x

[Amo]

These are my two today. The one on the right is about 5ft 8 inchis in the pot and the other a bit smaller. They are growing like mad and the tops are quite spindly and whippy. Will they thicken up, should I support them or wait a bit and cut them back?

[farmersboy]

They look as if they are being drawn up too much in the GH,Amo,think they need to go outside when theres no frosts about.

I wouldnt cut them back yet,id wait and see if there are going to be any strong shoots lower down first,then i might

[Auricula]

I've just bought a yellow one - I've potted it up and it is about 20cms (82 ) tall. It has healthy green leaves and has a shoot just starting from lower down the stem. Am I right in thinking that when it goes outside it likes full sun and a lot of water?

[farmersboy]

Apr 22, 2008 18:09:34 GMT Auricula said:

I've just bought a yellow one - I've potted it up and it is about 20cms (82 ) tall. It has healthy green leaves and has a shoot just starting from lower down the stem. Am I right in thinking that when it goes outside it likes full sun and a lot of water?

Just caught up with this auricula,yes plenty of water,morning sun is alright,but mid day sun can be too hot,in mid summer,part shade is recomended then

[prodigal gardener]

I want one, but as the sun seems to have deserted South Yorkshire it will probably die I could manage the watering part without any trouble tho

[Auricula]

Thanks Farmersboy - I've revised where I'm putting it - I'm quite excited as I love brugmansias

[farmersboy]

May 5, 2008 11:24:14 GMT Auricula said:

Thanks Farmersboy - I've revised where I'm putting it - I'm quite excited as I love brugmansias

Yes so do i,think mine will be late this year as it was so cold,i couldnt get them out as early

[Tig]

I've bought one as well, red tinged if the picture is correct for the pot Wish I had gone for a yellow though, as yours is nicely scented fb.

I've put it outside in a sheltered spot as it is so windy here at the moment.

I have read the advice on this thread and just hope I manage to keep it going for at least one season! Don't know what I will do with it in the winter, but I'll worry about that when the time comes.

x Tig

[Amo]

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[andy]

I bet it smells devine too Amo

[Amo]

I've just gone outside, in the rain, for a special whiff just for you Andy.

;D

[beanie]

the buds on mine are starting to open, I bought a variagated one from Wilko , I think it cost me about £3. is it right that I should remove all the lower leaves from the plant for it to concentrate on flowering, seem to have read this somewhere.

[Susie Snowdrop]

I'm growing a Brug from seed this year! Never attempted it before so have followed all of the advice on this thread (thanks folks ;D).

However, I was wondering whether I should pinch out the top . It's about 2ft high now, look healthy but not bushing out much. Don't know what to do

S x

[Amo]

Mine are quite naturally bald from the neck down as it were beanie, all bar a couple of die hard shoots.

There is a photo of them further up this thread in the green house and I waited for a bit more sign of life and then pinched them out hard. They did respond really well but that was a few weeks ago now and they were quite tall to start with but this was their third spring! ;D

I think I might really be ruthless next year and hack them down quite a bit further and see what happens.

[Auricula]

No sign of buds on mine - but it looks very healthy

[totp]

I bought one last year and pruned it back hard last Autumn. It's now looking better than ever, thick with leaves though as yet no flowers. Last year it seemed to be constantly dropping leaves, this year it seems moe stable. Cutting back seems to work.

[farmersboy]

Have loads of buds on mine,should be a nice show soon

[Susie Snowdrop]

Jun 23, 2008 7:24:43 GMT Susie Snowdrop said:

I'm growing a Brug from seed this year! Never attempted it before so have followed all of the advice on this thread (thanks folks ;D).

However, I was wondering whether I should pinch out the top . It's about 2ft high now, look healthy but not bushing out much. Don't know what to do

S x

Anybody???

S x

[farmersboy]

I dont think you should SS,I never have,i always get sideshoots comeing from the main stem,and they produce flowers,but then again,i have not grown from seed,only cuttings,do you not have any sideshoots?