Brugmansia Growing Guide

Brugmansia are a fast growing tender shrub needing a minimum temperature  over winter of +0c. They are very greedy plants and thirsty too. In pot culture they will need watering at least once a day in high summer and on very hot days twice a day, with weekly/fortnightly feeding recommended. Established plants easily reach two metres tall in a season and if unpruned can reach  three metres with a similar spread possible. Many flowers produced  July - October. Here I have had over 50 flowers at once in early October on plants around 2m tall. Scent produced from late afternoon or early evening to early morning. They need a sheltered position from the wind which dehydrates the leaves. Partial shade prefered but will do ok in full sun. Heavy shade is likely to affect flowering performance.  Yellowing leaves are easily removed, also remove browning or dead flowers which can be knocked off with a stick if out of reach.

Autumn/Winter care.

Bring in before the first frosts, cutting back the plant to a manageable size a few days before storing if you can so the cuts will air dry. Remove large leaves now too. Small leaves can be left until later and picked up when they fall in storage. Stems are susceptible to mould causing die back during winter storage so if possible over winter in a dry atmosphere or where the plant can get some air flow at least during milder spells.  A circulating fan can be useful too. Keep above freezing. Keep on the dry side. If the plant is planted out in the ground for the summer dig up, trim roots with a spade and pot for the winter keeping quite dry until spring.

Spring.

When signs of growth begin pot on or change the compost, add manure etc. Roots can be cut back with a spade. Aim to change at least 2/3 of the compost. Water and feed carefully until the plant is growing strongly and bring out when risk of frost has passed. 

Summer.

Water at least daily in pots and feed weekly. Gauge feeding on leaf colour with pale green needing more feeding.