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51 comments to Brugmansia care

• Diane

  July 10th, 2006 at 3:45 am · Reply

  Winterover brugmansia
  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

  Yellow lower leaves
  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

  Leaf drop
  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

  Wintering datura
  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.

  

• Brenda Cash

  July 27th, 2006 at 11:01 pm · Reply

  Not blooming
  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.

  • Sherry

    July 20th, 2010 at 12:46 pm · Reply

    Not blooming
    I live in Central Ohio and have my angel trumpet planted for 3 years now but I have yet to see it bloom or any sign of blooms. It has grown very tall; in fact it now reaches the roof of my house but still shows no signs of blooming. I have a tremendous amount of new growth this year. What am I doing worng?

    Hi Sherry
    Did you fertilize the plant? If so with what. Is it getting enough sun?

• 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

  Propagate from cuttings
  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

  yellow leaf drop
  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

  Wintering brugmansia
  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

  Poisonous
  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.

• 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

  Root pruning
  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

  Wintering brugmansia
  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

  Wintering brugmansia
  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

  Wintering brugmansia
  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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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?

• Tony

  November 9th, 2009 at 7:04 am · Reply

  Not blooming
  I do not know as it has never flowered. It does keep growing, I keep cutting it back.

  Hi Tony
  I’m assuming that this brugmansia is getting as much bright light and fertilizer as the other plants. Hmmm.. what about pruning. It blooms on new growth. Prune it in the spring and trim off the tips to a node during the growing season to stimulate new growth and bloom. Don’t cut back the central leader, wait till it develps a Y to prune. The branches above the Y produce the flowers. If it is in the same pot for the last 3 years, you might check the roots in the spring, if they are crowded and coming out of the bottom, trim the roots and repot the plant in fresh soil.

• George

  November 26th, 2009 at 6:44 pm · Reply

  Hi,
  I live in the tropics. The climate can be hot and wet. I have just got a brug and am going it in a pot. I would like to place it on the ground and I wonder if it may be too hot for the plant.

  Hi George
  Brugmansia originate from South America and prefer a warm to hot climate and plenty of water when in bloom. Be sure that the soil drains well so that its not sitting in standing water. It should grow well for you. .

• Deb

  December 2nd, 2009 at 2:19 pm · Reply

  Hi, I have a question for you. I have 2 Angel Trumpets in my flower bed that need to be moved. What is the best way to transplant them and what time of year is best, I live in north Alabama.

  Hi Deb
  When transplanting an established brugmansia, (if they haven’t fallen off yet), remove all leaves except for the terminal bud. If you don’t remove the leaves, they will wilt anyway. Plant it in well drained soil. Fall and winter(when it is dormant) is a good time to transplant.

• Laura

  April 11th, 2010 at 11:07 am · Reply

  Hi,
  I have a yellow angel’s trumpet in a sunny spot of my front yard in South Florida. It used to grow lots of beautiful yellow flowers, but now it has been infected by some pests. Some leaf became yellow and some other have just holes like they were bit, and the trunk looks like sick. I water it every morning and I spray it with a pesticide every week but, it seems doesn’t work. Do you have some suggestion to solve the problem?

  Hi Laura
  Before you treat the plant with an insecticide, its good to identify the insect. One insect that likes to chew holes on brugmansia is a cabbage worm-the larval form of a white butterfly. Check the underside of the leaves. The caterpillars are light green and easily blend into the leaf so look closely. Snails and slugs that feed at night are also fond of them. Look for slime trails. Brugs are heavy feeders, therefore yellow older leaves can indicate that the plant needs more nitrogen.

• Mary

  April 23rd, 2010 at 12:46 am · Reply

  I have a Brugmansia, I took cuttings and the new leaves that are coming are all curled up and almost plastic in texture. Why are they going this. HELP….I need help. I live in Canada and have ben told i can’t receive slips, only seed. Is there no supplier in Canada that provides slips.
  Thank you for considering this request.
  Mary

  Hi Mary
  One thing you can check for is aphids. They like to attack new growth. Look at the underside of the leaf.
  I consulted with Steve from http://angelswithleaves.com/ regarding a supplier in Canada. check out http://brugmasiasetc.com

• mollylou

  April 25th, 2010 at 6:20 am · Reply

  Hi all! We have a brugmansia in our backyard. I want to plant some herbs around the house, and there is a great patch near the brugmansia. Should I be concerned about planting something edible near it?
  Thanks!

  Hi Mollylou
  As far as I know, there should be no transference of “toxins” from the brug to your edibles. The brugmansia will compete for moisture and nutrrients in the soil. If in doubt plant your edibles in containers.

• Marilyn

  May 27th, 2010 at 6:36 pm · Reply

  Hardy in Fla.
  Do Brugsmansia grow well planted in the ground in Florida?

  Marilyn McMann

  Hi Marilyn
  Brugmansia is hardy in zone 8. Florida is in zone 9-10 so you can plant it in the ground.

• AT

  June 13th, 2010 at 4:40 am · Reply

  hi all
  we brought an established angels trumpet. it was almost flowering the flowers was almost blooming , it was in the ground when we bought it , we transplanted it in a big pot we noticed that that leaves and buds are drying out and starting falling. it is situated under a big tree so no direct sunlight…
  advices needed here it is our first plant
  TY all

  Hi AT
  It sounds as if the plant was dug up and then planted in a container. The plant is most likely stressed and in transplant shock and needs time to recup from the trauma. Make sure it gets plenty of water during the heat of summer. Hopefully, the container is large enough for the roots to have plenty of room to grow.

• April

  June 19th, 2010 at 5:49 am · Reply

  Brug cuttings
  Hello Brug lovers,
  I have just bought two established Brug cuttings and planted them each in well drained pots and have fed them with Miracle Grow and watered regularly. They have been in the pots for approx three weeks. One of them seems ok but the other one’s leaves are starting to turn yellow and one of them has mottled brown spots on it. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong? I live in South East (Kent) of the UK and they are both in full sun position.
  Thanks

  Hi April
  It’s normal for older leaves to turn yellow. If all the leaves are yellowing then you may be overwatering the plant or the soil drains poorly. When you water, make sure you give the plant a good soaking and then wait until the top 2 inches are dry before watering again. Since bruggs bloom on new growth, fertilize every two weeks to promote new growth.

• nanette

  June 26th, 2010 at 5:19 pm · Reply

  I have a datura over grown on a property we just moved to, It has to be moved in the next 2 weeks as we are excavating that whole area.. What do you suggest? Can I take cuttings and move the whole plant or is that too much stress?

  Hi Nanette
  I would dig up the whole plant, move it and place it in the shade until it recovers.

• Terri

  July 13th, 2010 at 4:05 pm · Reply

  Hello, I have 3 trumpets. One plant has 3 opened blooms on it (orange) but the other buds are falling off before they ever open. I live in Jacksonville Fla. Can you please help me correct this problem before all my new buds fall off? I water every day, and I have each one in 30 gal buckets. They get morning sun until noon.
  Thank you

  Are the blooms browning before they drop off? Do the buckets drain water? Is the soil wet or dry?

• Sherry

  July 18th, 2010 at 4:38 pm · Reply

  transplant shock
  I have just planted an angel trumpet tree and live in southern CA., it gets really hot here and the leaves wilt during the day but seem fine in the evening, I put an unbrella over the tree, but still wilts during the day…is this normal?? what should i do?

  Hi Sherry
  Your plant is still in transplant shock and needs time to adjust to the new environment and grow more roots so that it can translocate water to the leaves. It should recover in a few weeks. In the meantime, make sure it is not allowed to dry out and place 2″ of mulch around the base of the tree to keep the soil evenly moist and cool. It’s better to plant in cooler weather.

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