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Brugmansia care

Brugmansia, Angel Trumpet is a large shrub or small tree with large, pendent trumpet shaped flowers. There are several varieties that range in color and growth habit but all are known for their exotic fragrance which intensifies in the evening. They are frost tender (zone 8 ) and prefer a warm to hot climate in protected sun.
Care
Plant in a light, fertile, well- drained soil. Brugmansia is a fast grower and heavy feeder and needs to be fertilized regularly ( 2x per week) during the growing season. Provide lots of water to keep it in bloom all summer and fall. Since it blooms on new wood, it can be trimmed when growth becomes excessive or when you want to shape it as a dense round shrub or tree . It will take a month or more to resume blooming after pruning.

Brugmansia

Winterover brugmansia
In cold climates, it is best to grow it in a container and move it indoors/greenhouse to a frost-free area during the winter. Place it in a south window and maintain it as a houseplant during this time watering once a week. You may get some leaf drop which is normal. The second option is to cut your brugmansia back and store it dormant in a cool (above 40F), dark place (basement, garage) watering monthly to keep the soil from totally drying out. The plant will defoliate completely during dormancy.

Prune it in the spring after the last frost, when new growth appears and the plant is ready to go outside; cut back to one or two buds.
No flowers can be the result of low light, low fertilizer or excessive heat.

All parts of this plant are poisonous and not advisable to grow if you have small children or animals that eat plants.

Datura 'Jimson weed'

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July 26th, 2006 | Category: Brugmansia, Garden Review, TROPICAL PLANTS | 44 comments
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44 comments to Brugmansia care

  • Diane
    July 10th, 2006 at 3:45 am · Reply

    I live in NC and have a Yellow Angel’s Trumpet planted in a med. size barrel.
    What do I do with this plant for the winter? Should I bring it in, cover it, cut it ( How Much ). I need help. Thanks.

    Brugmansia is hardy in zone 8 and up you are in zone 7, therefore you should bring your plant indoors for the winter and reduce the amount of water and keep it in bright light. If storing in a basement or garage you need to maintain temperatures around 45 degrees, no light or water which will keep it in a dormant state for a few months. If necessary cut back up to 1/2 of the growth to keep it a manageable size. It will probably loose a lot of leaves and then regrow beautifully in the spring.

  • Anne Durham
    July 10th, 2006 at 3:52 am · Reply

    My trumpet plants are turning yellow on the bottom leaves, I have not fertilized with anything this season, what should I use to fertilize with and do I need to trim off the yellow leaves, they are also six foot tall and have beautiful blooms now.

    Yellowing lower leaves can indicate several factors such as dry, wet conditions, disease, insects, lack of light and aging. It also indicates lack of fertilizer which sounds like what your plant needs. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer such as Miracle gro, Peters . If the yellowing is severe try Ironite, Chelated Iron(foliar application) or ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) to green up your floliage. Trumpet plants are heavy feeders and should be fertilized in early spring and summer. They need to be fertilized more often if grown in a container because nutrients are easily washed out when watering. The yellow leaves will not recover.

  • Betty
    July 10th, 2006 at 4:00 am · Reply

    I have 2 large angel trumpet plants that are about 4 ft tall, my problem is.. the leaves on the plants reach full size and fall off… they regrow. but fall again…leaving just the large stem… what can I do to keep the leaves from falling >>> They are in containers that are to large to be moved … Please advise help for them

    Thanks, Betty — Edwardsville, Pa.

    There are several factors that can affect green leaf drop; 1. Drought stress – not enough water and the shock will cause them to drop their leaves. 2. Root and stem disease -can be caused by too much water & no drainage. 3. Cold temperatures. Angel trumpets demand more water when growing, so keep and eye on the watering

  • Nancy Newell
    July 10th, 2006 at 4:06 am · Reply

    Could you tell me about the care and wintering of datura Lilly ? This is my first one.. thanks I enjoy this site very much

    I assuming you are referring to the annual datura also known as Jimson weed. The poisonous plant that has upright trumpet shaped flowers. These are usually grown as annuals because they easily reseed themselves. If you choose to save it for next year, dig it up and keep it in a bright window . I’m not sure how well it will survive. This is not a safe plant to keep indoors if you have any pets in the house that like to nibble on plants.

    Datura 'Jimson weed'

  • Brenda Cash
    July 27th, 2006 at 11:01 pm · Reply

    I live in lower north Alabama and have 3 angel trumpets. So far none of them have shown any signs of blooming. What do I need to do?

    Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia) are fast growers and need to be feed regularly( sometimes twice a week ) throughout the summer in order to bloom. Flowering begins when the plant is 3-5 ft. tall. They bloom on new growth and continual new growth will produce more flowers. When actively growing they require lots of water and good drainage.

  • Richard
    August 9th, 2006 at 5:55 pm · Reply

    When to harvest seed pods?

    Harvest the seeds when the pod turns brown. Seed germination can take up to 6 wks.

  • Martha
    September 27th, 2006 at 9:59 pm · Reply

    How do you take stem cuttings from the Brugs, and which part of the plant is best to use?

    There are several ways to propagate Brugmansia. If you don’t want to plant now . Cuttings can be taken just before frost. Take a 12 inch cutting, mark which end is the top, dip bottom in rooting hormone. Allow the leaves to fall off and lay it flat in a barely moist peat moss. Keep it in a plastic box at around 50 degrees. In the spring, take your cutting and insert right side up in a well-drained soil mix. Water and keep out of direct sun on a heating mat or warm surface.
    You can also dip your cutting in rooting hormone put them in soiless mix and water. When new leaves emerge it will indicate that the roots are developing. Harwood cutting can also be rooted in water.-Take off all but the top one to two pairs of leaves on your 4-8 inch cutting. Place in 2 inches of water out of direct sun. Change the water every day.

  • Laura
    October 14th, 2006 at 12:43 am · Reply

    I live in Las Vegas, NV, the weather since I bought my brug maybe three weeks ago has been between 75-90 during the day, and 65-75 during the night. I have watered it every day, it has never dried out. It was blooming when I bought it and now after a couple of weeks without is starting to bloom heavily again, but leaves all over the plant are turning yellow and dying now, for about a week and a half. It had a fairly heavy aphid and mite problem, which I subdued with insecticidal soap last week. Could the insecticidal soap have caused the leaf die off? I know from reading others posts on leaf yellowing that there are many possible causes. There is one other thing, my 3-4 foot brug has a new tree sprouting up from the roots, about 2 inches from the trunk, I have let it grow thus far, not knowing if I should or not. Could this new baby brug be sapping the big one’s energy and causing the leaf die off? Should I eliminate it? Or is there a way to remove it and replant it? Many questions, I know, thank you for any help you can give me.

    It doesn’t sound like the yellow leaf drop is due to drought stress as you water everyday. Be sure it gets enough water-water until it drains from the bottom. They demand more water and food when they are actively growing. Brugmansias grown in a greenhouse are fertilized on a regular schedule but once they leave, that feeding schedule stops unless the new owner starts to feed it again. They are heavy feeders and your plant may just be hungry. The insceticidal soap would not have caused the leaf drop. The baby brug is not sapping off energy, it is indicating that your plant is actively growing. I would leave it.

  • deann
    November 7th, 2006 at 4:36 pm · Reply

    hello, i have recieved 3 plants from my mother, i live on the east coast of canada,can someone tell me what i should do in fall, i have a greenhouse but it is not heated, do they come in the house for the winter? i am in zone 3 in canada

    Yes, bring your plants indoors for the winter, reduce the watering and keep it in bright light. If storing in a basement or garage you need to maintain temperatures around 45 degrees, no light or water which will keep it in a dormant state for a few months. If necessary cut back the plant up to 1/2 of the growth to keep it a manageable size. It will loose a lot of leaves but will regrow beautifully in the spring.

    HI I LIVE IN TORONTO , CANADA, I HAVE TWO BRUGMANSIA, YELLOW NAD PEACH, WHAT CAN I DO IN MY CLIMATE, IT IS GETTING COLD HERE, I BROUGHT THEM INSIDE BUT THE LEAVES ARE DYING.
    TANYA

    Hi Tanya
    The leaf drop is due to low light & dry air indoors. Unless you have a greenhouse, it is very difficult to duplicate outdoor growing conditions . The best you can do is help the plant endure the winter by placing it in a sunny window and watering moderately. It will still drop some of its leaves because of lower light and dry indoor air. You can also winterover it in a dormant stage. See article above or Q below.

  • Dan
    November 13th, 2006 at 6:39 am · Reply

    This will be the second winter our brugmansia has endured in zone 6. We were told by the seller last fall to cut it back to a “stump” about two feet tall and keep it watered in the garage. This past spring it sprouted and grew but it was a completely new sprout, not from the old wood. It seemed to do OK this summer, but I’m wondering if I should a) do the same this winter, b) cut it back even shorter since it seemed to do OK, or c) leave more as your article seems to suggest.

    Is it possible that the original ’stump’ died from the cold and therefore produced a new stem from the roots. There are different thoughts on how to prune brugmansia. Prune it in the spring after new growth appears and it is ready to go outside again. At that time you can trim and shape it to your liking but wait till your plant has a ‘Y’ shape so you have something to trim. Each cut made at a joint will produce 2 new branches and the more new branches the more flowers. Or a) do the same this winter-if it worked for you.

  • Marilou Spears
    December 4th, 2006 at 2:34 pm · Reply

    Angel Trumpet: How careful do I need to be handling an Angel Trumpet Tree? My husband wants me to get rid of it because its poisonous! If we brush against it or use our hands to pick up it’s leaves could we become sick?? I have spent 5 hours researching internet looking for some answers. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated. Marilou

    The juices or sap of the plant are poisonous, so care should be taken when cutting the plant because the sap might enter your system through a cut or get in your eyes. Touching, brushing against it or picking up the leaves will not make you sick. Eating it will. If you have children around then you should take some precautions.

  • harry
    March 26th, 2007 at 3:44 pm · Reply

    I BOUGHT A BRUGMANSIA PLANT AT A GARDEN SHOW A FEW YEARS AGO IT SINCE DIED.WHERE CAN I BUY THE BRUGMANSIA PLANT IN THE TORONTRO OR BRAMPTON AREA. THANKS I LOVED THE FLOWERS.

    There are several sources on the internet where you can buy Brugmansia, Stokes Tropical,Lee’s Tropical, Logee’s. I’m not aware of any in the Toronto area. I would suggest you call you local nursery or greenhouse.

  • Marilyn Bingham
    April 2nd, 2007 at 2:33 am · Reply

    I got my yellow brugmansia a year ago and it grew well inside the house in a pot. It bloomed in December 2006 and then in late January 07 it started to get many yellow leaves and almost all have dropped off leaving a few at the top which are half green. It had been by a south window so moved it to an east window in case the sun had been too hot. We are at 8400 ft altitude. I have watered, used Miracle Gro and don’t know anything else to do. Should it be repotted, pruned back, or ???? Help.
    back

    You can repot your brugmansia or you can do one of two things: root prune which will stimulate new growth and let you keep the same size pot or cut your plant back as much as 1/3, which will also stimulate new bushier growth. They are heavy drinkers and feeders and need lots of water during the growing season. Fertilize every 2-3 wks (during active growth). Place it outdoors when night temperatures are above 50 degrees and protect it from full sun until it is acclimated to higher light conditions.

  • Frankie Knight
    June 14th, 2007 at 3:37 am · Reply

    I live in Southern Spain and grow pink, lemon and white Brugmansia. It is very hot in summer, sometimes above 40 degrees but cold in winter, down to minus 12. I grow all my plants in pots. You mention root pruning which I would like to try as they are too big now to move. What time of year should I do this and how?

    Usually root pruning is done in the spring after a dormant period, before new growth starts. Carefully slide your plant out of the container and examine the roots. Loosen the compacted roots with a fork, keeping the rootball intact and remove as much of the old soil as possible. Cut back 1/4 of the nonfibrous thick roots up to 2/3 of their length and keep the thin fibrous roots, those are the feeder roots. Repot in fresh soil and cut the top-growth by 1/3 . Another way is to slice no more than 2 inches of the root ball from the sides and base. Use charcoal powder on the cut surface to keep damaged roots from rotting. A less invasive method is to topdress the plant. Scrape away the top 1-2 inches of soil and then refill the container with fresh soil and a slow release fertilizer. It is a partial solution that can work for a few years.

  • maggie barkley
    July 14th, 2007 at 6:17 pm · Reply

    I live in zone 7B and have had brugmansias in the ground all winter for about 5 years. Someone at the nursery said do not cut the stalks off during the winter so I wait until spring when I see new growth coming from the ground to cut the old stalk off. It is so ugly all winter that I am wondering why it is necessary to leave it. Is it really necessary?

    I believe that the nursery’s logic was that there may be a slight chance that the “old stalk” will winter over and grow. A lot of perennials and shrubs are better left unpruned through the winter because the leaves and stems add some protection from freezing temps. According to the American bruggmansia society, if you don’t bring your plant indoors. you can cut it back to the ground and heavily mulch the roots. Make new plants from the cuttings-dip them in rooting hormone and plant in a peat/perlite soil. Keep moist and it should root in a few weeks.Or root the 4-6 inch cutting in water.

  • Emma
    November 16th, 2007 at 9:04 am · Reply

    Please help!
    I have a Brugmansia plant in my back garden and need to know what to do with it in the winter. It is planted in the ground so i can not bring it indoors, what do i need to do to keep it safe for the winter?

    Depending on what zone you are in, your brugmansia may not survive. It is frost sensitive and will die in cold temperatures. You can try to mulch it with soil and then leaves like they do for roses but there is not guarantee that it will survive. If you can dig it up put it in a container and store it in a basement, garage or a cool spot with temperatures around 50. It may drop its leaves and go dormant for the winter.

  • Yellow Brug
    March 14th, 2008 at 1:07 pm · Reply

    Brugmansia My 2 year old brug is producing lots of buds and last week it produced a beautiful big flower. The flower is already dead. It started getting brown around the tips of the bloom then it moved further up till it fell off. Last year I had one flower all season and the same exact thing happened. I water 3 times a week in california (70 degrees recently). What can I do to save the rest of my beautiful buds? Advice please!!

    You haven’t mentioned fertilization. Trumpet plants are heavy feeders and should be fertilized every 2-3 weeks when actively growing. They need to be fertilized more often if grown in a container because nutrients are easily washed out when watering. Use a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10). Pruning the plant to produce new growth will also help produce more flowers. Not enough sun will also decrease flower production.

  • Patricia
    June 18th, 2008 at 10:43 am · Reply

    I pulled an overturned potted brugmansia up from under a pile of the neighbor’s brush. After retrieving it, I realized that the long tap root had grown out of the pot’s drain hole and is now exposed.
    Can I cut this root or do I need to do something else to save the plant?
    Thanks
    In my earlier post I forgot to mention that the tap root wasn’t just growing out of the drain hole, it had apparently begun growing in the soil. In freeing the pot from the brush, I assumed that the tugging required to lift the pot was because of the brush, otherwise, I would have taken better precautions.

    What are my chances of saving this plant?

    HI Patricia
    You can trim the taproot as Brugs also have feeder roots. Don’t get carried away, trim just enough so that it fits into bottom of the pot. After transplanting, baby the plant, make sure it gets plenty of water and isn’t allowed to dry out. If the leaves are wilting place it in a semi-shaded area for a few weeks until it perks up.

  • Patricia
    June 25th, 2008 at 8:07 am · Reply

    Thanks so much for the advice on cutting the taproot then babying the plant for several weeks. It actually looks quite good and healthy now, even with that taproot exposed (about 10 inches). I need to be gone for the month of July and somebody will be watering my yard, so I doubt there’ll be much “babying.” That being the case, I think I’ll wait until I get back to do my taproot surgery. Thanks again for your response.

    Are you in an area where you can plant it in the ground? If so you may not need to cut the taproot.

  • Willow Feigum
    September 12th, 2008 at 3:00 pm · Reply

    I have 3 brugmansia - how do you pronounce the name? I live in Minnesota, so they are brought inside in the fall. All have bloomed and all have many buds on them now, but the leaves have yellowed & many are curled up, which has never happened before. It has been quite chilly for several nights. Could this cause the leaf curl?

    Hi Willow
    Yes, Cooler temperatures and lower light conditions will cause your brugmansia to yellow, leaves to curl and eventually drop their leaves. Since your plant is vigorously growing and brugmansia are heavy feeders, it may be that it is undernourished. You can give it a light dose of fertilizer but once you bring it indoors stop feeding the plant.
    Brugmansia is pronounce bruhg man’ see uh

  • Nia
    October 1st, 2008 at 5:16 pm · Reply

    Hello! I have a peach coloured Brugmansia that I bought this spring 08 as a freshly sprouted cutting. It has been growing happily outside all summer long. I did not fertilize it, but it was still doing great untill a few weeks ago when some leaves started to slowly turn yellow. I also just inspected it and found aphids and whiteflies, which I promptly took care of. Now I realize that I should have been fertilizing it, but at the same time I have heard that it shouldn’t be fertilized in fall/winter when I take it inside. Should I feed it now or not? Also, I was wondering when I should repot it. My Brugmansia is only about a foot tall (though it is of a miniature variety that grows to four feet max) and in a two gallon pot. Thank you!

    Hi Nia
    Your brugmansia is slowing down and getting ready for winter. You can store it in a dormant state or as a houseplant either way don’t fertilize or repot it now wait till spring when its ready to start growing again. Be sure to check for insects once again before bringing it indoors. They may need more than one treatment. See above article for how to winter over.

  • Michelle
    October 18th, 2008 at 11:24 pm · Reply

    I purchased my first three Angel Trumpets this past summer (white, pink & purple) so I guess you could consider mine “babies�; their no more than 2ft. high including their pots. Just recently I’ve noticed that every several days a leaf (yes one leaf) will yellow and fall off within three to four days time. They are potted in miracle grow and are watered every couple of days. Also, I’ve done my research and have found that I have small colonies of white flies. I first treated my plants with a light spraying of Bayer rose and plant insect killer and three days later the white flies were back and more numerous. What can I do about the occasionally yellow leaf and the while flies? Anything else you can tell would be help too. These are my first Angel Trumpets.
    Thank you!

    HI Michelle
    Are your growing them outdoors or in a greenhouse? Yellowing lower leaves can indicate several factors such as dry, wet conditions, disease, insects, lack of light and aging. It also indicates lack of fertilizer. Container grown brugmansia needs more feedings during the growing season. It may be that your plants are shedding some older leaves and with shorter days and less sunlight are reducing growth.
    White fly can be difficult to control because they reproduce rapidly. Several treatments are required to have any affect on their reproduction cycle.

  • JONJON
    November 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pm · Reply

    I have a nicely growing Brugmansia in a container outdoors in Southern California. I am wondering what its winter care should be in the Southern California climate.

    Hi JonJon
    So. Ca. is in zone 8-9, as long as they are not exposed to freezing temperatures, brugmansia should grow (less) during the winter without any problems. Zone 8 is slightly marginal so if a frost is eminent move the container to a protected area or cover the plant with a blanket.

  • Judy Schwartz
    January 7th, 2009 at 1:02 pm · Reply

    My Brugmansia is inside in the Northeast in a south facing window. The leaves are becoming mottled and some are falling off. where the leaves meet the stems I see sticky drippy looking substance and at the nmodes there is weblike substance, tho I cannot see any spider mites or other. Please help! Thank you

    HI Judy
    Look for bumps (scale) on the stems or under the leaf surface. Also take a magnifying glass and see if there are any tiny crawling insect around the webs which may be spider mites..

  • Kate Cole
    February 9th, 2009 at 2:33 pm · Reply

    Hi,

    I have a brugmansia in Zone 11 (Vieques, PR). He is so sad. There was very little new growth from September to December so I repotted him again. He seems a little happier and is starting to put out new leaves. Someone here told me that my Brug will not do well in a zone 11 as there is not enough of a temperature differencial. Is that true? He is watered at least twice a week and gets a weekly dose of fertilizer. I had such great success with brugmansias in NC and I cannot figure out what is wrong.

    HI Kate
    Brugmansia grow well in zone 8 and up so there should be no problem growing it in zone 11. I have not heard of the temperatures differential, perhaps someone can enlighten us. Since you repotted in Dec., your plant may need some time to get re-acclimated.

  • paco
    February 13th, 2009 at 3:42 pm · Reply

    I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE BRUGMANSIA PLANT. I BUY SOME ROOTS FEW DAYS AGO BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. SHOULD I POT IT WITH SOIL OR USE JUST WATER? I DONT KNOW PLEASE HELP

    Plant the roots in some good potting mix that drains well and water.

  • corbin trinchera
    June 28th, 2009 at 9:27 pm · Reply

    ok i am ganna be recieving brugmansia in about 2-4 days. i know that native american shamans as well as all other religions in the world has partaked in this psychotropic plant. i’ve read up on Datura inoxia tried to propagate from seed didnt work. so then i wanted a live plant. so i ordered it(not before researching) and i know that the toxins varies from plant to plant climate to climate. but would i go and do somthing wrong by eating 2 leaves????

    NOT A GOOD IDEA! You may get very, very sick. Do not try it.

  • Michael. D. Foster
    July 9th, 2009 at 1:14 am · Reply

    I live in SE corner of UK. I have a number of Brugmansia and one Datura growing in pots in a sunny rear garden. They are doing well with huge green leaves, however something is taking large bites out of the leaves. I can see no evidence of snail trails nor any sign of caterpillars. What is the range of munchers that eat these plants in UK? P.S. in the interim, I’ve just sprayed plants with a systemic insecticide.
    Yours sincerely Mike Foster

    A systemic insecticide will take care of many insects.

  • RUSS RICKMANN
    July 13th, 2009 at 1:05 pm · Reply

    I have a 3 year old brugmansia and apparently I was unaware that the drain hole was blocked and caused all of the leaves to drop off. I’m not sure how long it sat in the water but at least 5/7 days. What would be the best way to try and revive this plant, or can it be saved? It produced over 80 flowers this spring so you can see this is a pretty good size potted plant. Your help would be appreciated. Thank you, Russ

    HI russ
    I bet the flowers were spectacular! Let the soil dry out and see if your brugmansia will respond with new growth before doing anything else. When you see new growth feed it.

  • RUSS RICKMANN
    July 17th, 2009 at 8:46 am · Reply

    Thank you…..we’ll see as I really hate to loose this plant. Russ

  • S.Gill
    July 22nd, 2009 at 4:13 am · Reply

    Hi, all good tips above. Thanks.
    I’m having trouble with my yellow brug this year (3yrs-old, 3ft tall with lots of Ys, located in Germany, on balcony in 14inch pot, well watered with drainage, fertilized regularly). It’s producing lots of blooms , but the leaves are not like previous years. Small leaves start growing, but turn yellow and fall off. Some leaves make it to a medium size. There is clear damage on most branches – cracked surface, in one case exposing the ‘core’ of the plant – some sort of disease? I sprayed it with commercial insecticide a month ago since most of our plants had pests, but no sign of pests now.

    Also, I transplanted two branches in smaller pots this spring, and their leaves are big and beautiful (two months later: they’re starting to produce blooms that are bigger than the plants are!).

    Thanks for any help.

  • CarmelGardener
    July 23rd, 2009 at 9:18 am · Reply

    Just some ideas and one question for those that love this plant:

    I had some troubles with my Brug when planted in the ground, so I transplanted it to a wine barrel, and it loves it. I’ve also pruned mine to a tree form, and it’s natural growth creates a nice 8′ wide canopy which makes for a spectacular flower display.

    I’d also suggest planting where evening breezes will carry the intoxicating fragrance to where people can appreciate it. Mine is 30′ away from the entrance, and it is immediately noticable.

    My question is what feeds on the flowers? I’ve heard that bats are visitors, and its nightime fragrance would support that, or perhaps moths. Anyone know?

    Enjoy!

  • Phil
    July 25th, 2009 at 11:39 am · Reply

    Hi Carmel, I live in GA and see holes in my leaves also. I can never actually see any pests on it though. I have heard that slugs/snails love them but I dont see any trails. It has to be moths, or some kind of nocturnal caterpillar.

  • Melissa
    August 28th, 2009 at 7:21 pm · Reply

    I have a ‘Charles Grimald’ Brug, about 5 feet high, that I bought this spring and planted in a large pot. I live in the SF Bay Area, so we get some fog, and some heat, rarely above 80. I have been watering 2-3 times per week from the garden hose this summer, and feeding twice a week. This plant looked beautiful last week, with lots of flowers. It still has new blooms coming, BUT now it has a lot of leaf drop, with small and large green leaves falling as I stand there watching, leaf curl on other leaves, and still more of the big leaves are blotched and wilted. The blotches look like leaf-minor, but I don’t see any bugs or works anywhere on it. Please help?

  • sam bass
    September 30th, 2009 at 7:58 pm · Reply

    Seed pods
    i moved into a house in san francisco with a really beat up brug in the back yard. i killed the caterpillars and spider mites and it started to make a comeback. when i fertilized, it immediately flowered. then, on what seemed to be a second round of flowering, instead of the flowers opening up, they all shot out little white strings and stopped growing. the result was what would have been a lot of flowers turned into these littlle hard un-opened bananas… bummer. perhaps the fertilizer set it off, but then there was not enough fertilizer… anyone seen this?

    Hi Sam
    It sounds like your little hard un-opened bananas are seed pods. Lucky you-not everyone gets them.

    • sam bass
      October 5th, 2009 at 10:15 am · Reply

      hmmm, possibly seed pods, there was no seeds. some of the non-flower pods opened up but no flower came out, just a long white string… no petals no flowers no seeds. i noticed my neighbors burg did the same thing, at the same time, but not as extreme. it has also been a very hot month in sf,,, i took one of the no flower/flowers with a white string to a local nursery. they were also stumped. s

      I’m researching it. Was there any chemical spraying done in your area

      • sam bass
        October 6th, 2009 at 10:16 pm · Reply

        well, i sprayed some catepillar stuff, but then the plant did its initial flowering. then i sprayed some malathion to kill a spider mite infestation. two days after the malathion spraying i started giving it brief foliar showers of fresh water in the unusually hot afternoons. i thought it might be the malathion, but i have now noticed several other burgs in my neighborhood doing the same thing. note: this particular tree was pretty messed up when i got to it. no flowers and only a few leaves. the leaves are doing great and there is lots of new growth. i have also started weekly feedings of a mild, balanced fertilizer. what n-p-k induces the most dramatic flowering? i’ll keep trying. s

        Hi Sam
        The best recommendation for Brugmansia fertilizer is a balanced fertilizer. The middle # Phosphorus simulates blooming.

  • CAROL
    October 2nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm · Reply

    I PURCHASED 2 BRUGMANDIA PLANTS
    NOT REALIZING THAT THEY REQUIRED ZONE 9 I AM IN ZONE 5
    THEY WER PLANTED IN CERAMIC URNS. NO DRAINAGE HOWEVER I DID PUT ROCKS AND GRAVEL AT THE BOTTOM.I WAS VERY PLEASED THE WAY THEY BLOOMED AND GREW. HOWEVER MY PROBLEM IS WHAT NOW.
    THEY EACH WEIGH ABOUT 150LBS INCLUDING POT.CANNOT BE MOVED INTO HOUSE.CAN I WRAP THE ENTIRE CONTAINER WITH BURLAP OR SOMETHING ELSE TO PROTECT THE ROOTS FROM FREEZING? PLEASE HELP REALLY LIKE EM.

    HI Carol
    They will not survive the winter outside in pots. See above article. Option 1 seems to be the one you need.

  • Connie Irons
    October 3rd, 2009 at 11:18 am · Reply

    Shriveled leaves and no blooms
    My Angel Trumpet is now growing small shriveled looking green leaves. I have watered and fertilized regularly. At the beginning of the season I had a slug problem. Also, I have not had any flowers this year.

    HI Connie
    Do the leaves curl downward? Does the new growth become crisp and stiff? Could be broadmites. Could also be a nutrient deficiency.
    The plant has to be 3-5ft high for flowering to begin and blooms on new growth. It is also a very heavy feeder and needs a balanced fertilizer. Feed it as often as 2x a week during an active growing season (summer). Have you fertilized enough? It also needs full sun to bloom.

  • J. McKay
    October 5th, 2009 at 5:56 pm · Reply

    I have… well, had a large Brugmansia in my back yard in South Louisiana. It was very tall and flowered constantly throughout the spring and summer. As we didn’t have a true frost last winter, we were worried about pruning and left the plant as is. As a result, the branches were extremely thick and heavy. We just suffered a very strong 24-hour period of storms which resulted in our Brugmansia splitting in two at the roots, with each half of the plant laying opposite the other.

    Is there anything we can do to revive this beautiful plant? We’re newbies with this plant. Who am I kidding? We’re newbies with plants in general. Thanks!

    HI J
    I’m not sure how to treat your brugmansia tree. I know the branches will have to be heavily pruned and they take well to pruning. What I would try is to take the split branches and tie them together and give them support so that there is a possibility that they will heal. But that will always be a weak spot on the shrub.
    I would recommend that you contact the Louisianna extension service (Master gardeners) so that they can give you detailed info as to how to treat your brugmansia. If they can’t help try UC extension.Napa MG’s phone #877 279-3065

  • Sandi Johnson
    October 11th, 2009 at 8:44 am · Reply

    I have a new angel trumpet I got this it was covered with blossoms and then they all fell off but one it was real pretty. How can I get the blossoms from falling off

    Hi Sandi
    Blossom drop can be an indicator that the plant is experiencing some sort of stress eg: too much water, not enough water, insects, cold or hot temperatures, or root damage.

  • Karen
    October 14th, 2009 at 11:13 pm · Reply

    Winterover Brugmansia
    Hello-
    I live in Portland, Oregon and I am just starting to grow these beautiful plants. I have a grouping of 5 of them that grew well in the ground over the summer and bloomed profusely. They are now about 6 feet tall, and I am wondering if I can mulch the roots and winter them over? Should I cut them back any? I believe I am in zone 8-9. Any help would be appreciated!

    Hi Karen
    I think you will be ok in zone 8/9. It may or may not go dormant and drop its leaves if it gets too cold but should regrow from the roots next spring. Mulch the roots for winter protection. Wait to prune, see what happens this winter. The plants may die back to the ground if not prune any winter damage in spring. Brugmansia blooms on new growth so you don’t have to worry about pruning too much.

  • Karen S
    November 1st, 2009 at 1:45 am · Reply

    Brugmansia care in Ohio
    Hi, i live in Ohio and i have angel trumpets and keep them all the time. I cut then back put the pots the basment.take the cuttings and cut them about 6-8in long put in damp dirt, root then plant in pot. pull them out in the summer and plant the new one’s.and have more.you have to feed them ever two weeks for to do good.and WATER WATER WATER. I have good luck. P.S.take in when it stays below 40 thay do not like it. i am looking for a red trumpet can you help me? I hope this help someone. Nov 1st 3:40am Karen S

    Hi Karen
    Thanks for the info on your experience with brugmansia. I’m sure it will be of some help to other Hortchatters.Hopefully someone has a lead on a red trumpet.

  • Tony
    November 6th, 2009 at 11:08 am · Reply

    Hi…I have a question rather than a comment. I love brugmansias, I have had a wide variety of colours but one plant in particular I cannot get to flower, it just keeps growing tall. I have cut it back but again it grows back without flowering. This has been going on for three years…any suggestions?
    Tony

    Hi Tony
    What colour is it?

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