Topic: Brugmansia

[littlebabybird]

i have just been given 2 Brugmansia by my wonderful husband.

soo, how do i look after them?
do they do their thing then die or will they over winter?
lbb

[xlynettex]

hello,

you will have to bring them in during the winter as they are not frost tolerant. they like well fertile soil and plenty of water

[littlebabybird]

so do i pot them or put them in the ground and dig up before the winter?
lbb

[xlynettex]

yes you can do that but i keep them in pots because the slugs loves them and i don`t like slug pellets all around the garden

[littlebabybird]

ok, thankyou, pots and copper wire then.
what size pot would you use for 1
lbb

[xlynettex]

a fairly large sturdy 1 per plant. their root system grow quickly and large and it will make a large plant with heavy flowers. they do take alittle looking after but well worth it

[tonybloke]

one of mine is in an old washtub barrel thingy, about 60 litre pot, it has a stem about 2" thick, and is seven foot high. outdoors for the summer, sack-barrow into greenhouse for the winter.  ;)

[tonybloke]

[attachment=1]
flowers opened today!!

[shirlton]

My two that I bought last year died over the winter even though they were in the GH :'(

[tonybloke]

if they set seed I'll post ya some ;)

[shirlton]

Cheers Tone. P.S. Me comfrey's a foot high now ;D

[Barnowl]

Our Brugmansia is in a very large pot. It died back of frost in the first winter but came back to life again in the spring. During the last two winters we fleeced it but it still pretty much died back and then regrew.

Suspect minimal watering over the winter is important although when its growing it loves a lot of water.

[tonybloke]

I move mine (with a sack-barrow) into my unheated greenhouse for the winter. NO WATER AT ALL, I lost the top 3ft off the stem, but it is growing away like mad at the moment!! ;)

[Barnowl]

Just a reminder that all parts of Brugmansia are poisonous. I've never heard of anyone having a problem with them but a degree of prudence is advisable.

The good news is it doesn't produce the poisonous seeds that most of the datura family do and the leaves taste so nasty so no-one is likely to take more than one bite! Just be careful if it produces sap. Also if cutting back, after frost damage for instance, it is advisable to wash your hands afterwards.