Brugmansia/Datura/Iochroma Update

I have had several folks ask me to

update this post due to the old one

was one of our earlier posts.  Alot 

has gone on since that post and 

folks have asked for my secrets
when growing them.

It has been a passion to learn about 

these lovely ladies of the night and 

if you don't have this passion it 

makes it hard to understand them.

With that stated, every gardener is
different and when you see what one
person does with them it can take
your breath away.

I hope get to this soon as we hit
the busy season it might be awhile.
I tend to disappear as I spend most 

of my day outside.

As some of you know I have joined 

a couple FB groups and ya know I 

just try to help the new folks as much 

as I can but it's getting to the point, 

I truly understand why folks don't
help others.   I swore when I started 

growing these lovely ladies of the 

night I would try to help others as 

it was a total pain to get information
that could be helpful.  I had a couple 

folks that stepped up and with their 

push I was able to make sense of their 

growing habits.  The key that one gave

me it to watch and learn.  The more you

watch them the more your will learn.  

You need to figure out what they are

telling you.  No on lives in the perfect 

environment that these live in naturally 

unless you live in that area.  So to have 

them adapt to the conditions you have and
to get them to bloom can be a challenge.

A lot has changed since when we started

and some of the rules have changed but 

there are some rules that were passed 

along that should be used first.  Don't 

grab the harsh chemicals to treat your Brugs
before trying some simple treatments 

first.  Pay attention and daily look 

them over. These plants are not the 

easiest to care for so know what you are
dealing with up front.  They carry a 

virus that you want to stay dormant 

or you will see them go down hill fast.  

So always clean your tools.   If you

don't the virus will spread like wildfire.  

Know what disease that these are 

acceptable to.  Keep some cousins at
distance as they say this will help 

keep the virus at bay.  Yes, this virus

can take out a collection and you won't

 be able to grow them at a later date.  

I have seen and heard of this happening.

These are trees and shrubs, so their growing

conditions should be in the ground or in pots.  

NO Hanging Baskets!!
Yes, you heard that right!  Nurseries will do 

just about anything to sell a plant.  But 

common sense is do you see them in the
wild in hanging baskets?  Do what is in 

the best interest of the species.  If you 

want a hanging basket find plants that
are suitable for the said hanging basket.   

I just shake my head when I see them 

and wonder what is wrong with this person.
But again why do folks try this stuff??   

Is the money that important or is the 

plant important?   It's also like growing 

several colors together in one pot, please

each color has a different growing condition 

so do you honestly think it's going to work?   

Do you know how much work it takes to 

make this work in one pot and what happens 

when one plant dies?  I'll tell you it's not a pretty
picture.   I did this to prove a point and it's 

more work than the average person can handle. 

The main key here is to keep the Brugmansia

 healthy!  Know the growing conditions, don't 

over feed them!!  I know you have heard that

you can't over feed them, wrong!!  You can 

push them to death!!  My general rule that 

I tell folks is fertilize them on Sunday, which is
easy for some to remember.   So many times 

I hear I have seen what you do but can't get 

ours to do it.   I have had years of experience
with them and these are new to you? 

Growing from seeds, is the best way to learn. 

That way you can see how they grow.  Slowly 

bump up the pots once the roots come out the
bottom.  Also we do not push new seedlings 

until they are a year old.  This makes for a 

better plant.  Also growing by seed, you can 

then name them!!  Warning, give them a 

number while you grow.  Record how they
grow and keep track of what you do.  Also 

keep track of the Hybridizer and what crosses

were made if you plan to register.  You are

the Brug Parent, some will ask you to test

the seeds and you have the information to

pass back to the hybridizer.  If you purchased 

the seeds their is few conditions that the hybridizer
can request of you. 

But so many folks want that instant 'Pretty' 

and then loose interest.  These need care to 

grow into gentle giants that you can stand 

up under and enjoy the blooms as you look 

upwards.  So many folks just toss them 

after the one growing season.  Which is so sad! 

You must be patient with plants, they grow 

when they are cared for.  Don't put them in 

huge pots until they are ready.  These ladies 

love to be root bound and save your backs.  

I have had some in 5 gallon pots for years.  

Yes you can shave off roots it they get to

root bound and they will love you for it, if 

done right.  We also keep our in pickle 

buckets for a reason, easy to put on a dolly
to move and easy to store. 

Again I have walked away from the groups,

just find I'm way to busy and need to spend 

time with the plants.  Just got to do what I 

enjoy more.

Information For Those New To Brugmansias

I have been asked to help a few new folks get started with Brugmansia.


Cuttings:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/683843524653941990/?lp=true

We have found this is the best way to start cuttings as you can watch them grow
and monitor the watering.  You don't want to keep the cutting to wet or dry out
to much.  Yes, you can start them in water.  But word to the w ise, when the nubs
start, it's best to get them into soil for a better plant.  We have found the smaller
plastic bottles work best as a cutting is small and will take off easier if not a lot
of soil.    When one doesn't have space one will find ways to grow what one wants.
Each gardener is different so find the path that works for you.


Starting Seeds:

Brugmansia seeds need a 24 to 48 hours soaking period in warm water, unless they
are fresh seeds.  Fresh seeds have a thinner coat and you can damage the seed inside.
The outside seed coat will turn harder when not fresh so soaking helps to remove the
outer coat.   I tell folks to soak their seeds (karma's cocktail is on teaspoon of rubbing
alcohol per 12 ounce of warm water)  which really helps this process.  We place the
containers of water up on the refrigerator where it's warmer.  If you soak over 24 hours
you may want to change the water if it gets cloudy. 
If you plant fresh seeds direct you will risk damage to the plant if the outer coat get stuck on the
plant and you have to cut it away.   Plant the seeds in small starter pots to start or
small starter cells if starting in flats.  You don't want large pots where they are lost in
the dirt.  Once you get the hang of planting seeds and they grow them, you can try
different methods.  I know some folks will put seeds on damp paper towels in plastic
bags to start but the sooner you can get them into soil, the better off the plant will be.
We here plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep into the soil.  Lightly water and set in a
warm sunny spot.
You can also use the bottle method above to start your seeds in.
We have a post on what was harvested last year in the lines of seeds, November 18, 2019.
I do have several Brugmansia seeds from 2018 that are mixed in what we grow.

Datura seeds also should be soaked in the same manner but there is no hard coat to peal off.

Current seed listing on these was posted Oct.4, 2018.  Datura seeds have a 30 year shelf life
plus some need to have a cool chill before starting.  They require at least temps in the 70s and
full sunshine!  Min fertilizing if planted in the ground with good soil.   Added to the list  3 seedpods of  D. metal var fastuosa from last year's single plant.  3/1/2020 all our Brugmansia seeds are not planted and coming up!   If you would like a seedling let me know.

You can go back to some of our older posts also to read about this method.  June 19, 2019