Brugmansia Questions:
Q. I saw today that you stated that you didn't think 2 year period was enough time before naming a Brugmansia. I would like to hear why you feel 5 years is a better time period like you stated.
kHT's A. I knew that would cause someone to question why!! First we are talking about growing a Brugmansia from seeds and we all know unless you push it really hard the first year to get a bloom that would happen in the fall, one can not judge a bloom by the first one nor should one rush to name by the second year as we all know it's not been tested by any other than the first year's grower. Some of us know that pushing the plant to bloom the first year can also harm the plant, you want a healthy plant to root or share cuttings with.
Several flushes are also a good time period to record the bloom's color, size and shapes. Next you should send this out to have others test to see if they have the same results and one year for a tester isn't enough. So a general 5 year period should tell folks you have a good stable plant that you have doc. the findings to support naming the said plant.
Remember your name goes with this and if you don't think much of your name then rush to name whatever.
Q. Can you recommend a Brugmansia that is a shade lover for a newbie? Will these grow okay in my hosta garden?
kHT's A. One of my favorites that I highly recommend for a newbie is B. Charles Grimaldi/Jutner Orange which starts off yellow and turns a golden orange as the bloom matures. This one has an awsome evening fragrance!
Q. Should I start all my Brugmansia cuttings in water?
kht's A. I don't recommend starting them all in water. Nor do I recommend leaving them in water over the winter months. Those that are easy to start in water should only be left in water, that you change regularly until you see the white nubs form. I have found that all variegated, Sanguineas, all fuzzy leaves from doubles to triples to the rare Arborea and Culebra start better in dirt with bottom heat if you have that available.
Q. I want to grow a B. Sanguinea, I love the red and yellow color but live where it's hot, dry and humid. Do you think I should do one?
kHT's A. If you try one I would put it on the north side of the house where you will get air circulation and know these love cooler dry weather with air circulation.
Q. How do I know when my Brugmansia is going to bloom? kHT's A. When you see a leaf that has a subequal lear base. You will also find with a flower that the leaves in this region are smaller than the norm.
Q. Should I repot my Brugmansia cuttings as they are root bound and roots are coming out the bottom? I have a couple months before I can move them outside.
kHT's A. No, allow them to stay root bound because once you repot them it will send a message to the plant to grow and we are looking at a space issue here. Do you honestly think it's best for the plant to start growing so soon?
Q. Why do you keep the leaves stripped off during the winter months?
kHT's A. For a host of many reasons, from insects control to the fact that inside leaves are much thinner than those you will find outside. You want the plant to focus on root development and not top growth during the winter months.
Q. Why should I stip off the leaves when moving these outside?
kHT's A. As you can see from the photos below it's not a pretty site to sunburn them and this can happen even in filtered light. The leaves will grow back thinker as shown below.
Maybe some of those experts can tell you more if you ask at those forum sites? I can just show you what I see.
Q. How will know when it's safe to move my Brugmansia outside?
kHT's A. First you should know the last 'Frost Date' for your area but again this isn't always a sure thing with the 'Climate Changes' we are seeing. We wait until we have a full 2 weeks of about 40 degrees for the night temps and then we move them out, close to the house but knowing that one may have to move them if frost warnings come up. We then will have them in the garage or covered close to the house.
Q. Do you uses a product called Messenger?
kHT's A. Funny this question has come up as a couple gardeners at one site have been chatting about this product. Yes, we use it and have been for a few years now. Matter of fact I have been forbidden to use it in the veggie gardens. We use it on everything and only use it as recommended. I would recommend that you buy it direct from the great folks there in Bothell, WA, all orders over $25 have free shipping. Let us know if you need more information or photos.
http://www.edenbio.com/
Q. I see you use Messenger, do you have any plants photos that you tested this one before using it on everything?
kHT's A. I used it for a few months in the early spring (Febr-April) on two Mandevillea that were the same age and height while in the greenhouse. We used this on the whole yard and we still use it today. So you be the judge, does it work?
Q. I live in Canada and want to get cuttings?
kHT's A. First 'Fall' is time to get cuttings unless you can find some one trimming their Brugmansia in the southern areas. Also to ship to Canada, one should have all the proper papers to do so from the States. Why not seek someone up in Canada when searching for Brugmansia or how about trying seeds of which you can order from then from Europe. The USA has some strick laws on shipping to Canada.
Q. On one of the garden sites you talked about B. Jutner Orange, where can I get one?
kHT's A. B. Jutner Orange is another name for B. Charles Grimaldi, which someone in Europe changed it's name so they could sell it. Again I can't stress knowning what you are buying and obtain plants from someone that knows about the plant you seek.
Q. I need to know how to space my Brugmansia in my garden?
kHT's A. That is a loaded question and one needs to know what space & type of Brugmansia we are talking about. If you don't have alot of space then one will have to deal with what one has. One needs to know which Brugmansia we are talking about as some are more a shrub shape and will need more space then one that grows upward. I like to tell folks to put the shrub between two taller ones. But again we need to talk about what environment each requires. Do you put a shade lover in full sun? You can if you have a taller one that will give it enough shade. This is why it's important to know which one when buying or trading. Would you give a B. Frosty Pink, a sun-shrub type the same space as a B. Charles Grimaldi a taller-partial sun lover? A general rule is about 3 to 5 feet and you still may have them crowd each other if they do their thing. Remember you can nip to shape.
Q. I have seen your lovely Brugmansia Garden photos but yet you don't offer very many cuttings, why?
kHT's A. Most of our cuttings are usually gone before they are grown locally as I have folks that have spoken for the old time favorites that we are keeping. Most are new seedlings that we grow out for testing and these are up to the hybridizers to test or cull. Then we grow some that aren't going to be released and some that didn't bloom so we didn't cut them back at all. We tend to not grow the popular higher priced Brugmansia and if we do take cuttings to root in the fall that is a big if, if they make it. Living up north makes a lot of different in what you can and can't offer. Again we are more of a test and research garden.
Q. I have seen your B. Shorty's and would like to know more about it?
kHT's A. I have been asked many times about her and folks requesting cuttings of her. I have talked about her on some of the garden sites and just recently someone requested I do a full page on her. That I am working one due to the nay sayers, so check back. I will say it again, it's dangerous to pick up a plant without doing some research and will explain this on the B. Shorty's Variegated page. I have just recently completed the photos on this page, I'll wait a while to get those folks time to try to guess which is which before writing about the research on both.
Q. I would like to obtain unique Brugmansia and Daturas, can you recommend where I can do so?
kHT's A. Without sounding harsh, what is 'unique' to one isn't the same to another and without some direction I can't answer this one. One can look at the organizational sites and I'm sure they list folks that sell? I have my favorite folks but I need more of a direction, please? Please do some research before you do buy!
Q. I have seen some beautiful photos of Brugmansia and I'm confused as to go about obtaining one? Do I buy seeds or is it best to get cuttings?
kHT's A. If you see one you like it's best to get cuttings or a rooted plant that way you know what you are getting is what you see. But again I'll warn you, know your grower and exactly what you are getting, be a wise buyer!
If you go the seed route, you will not get the plant you see, you should know the parentage of said seeds you are obtaining seeds.
Do you know what goes with those seeds? All packaged should be labeled with the Mother plant first, then the Father (pollen) second,
Hybridizer's name and the date is always great. Some folks will note it sun or shade but again it's really depend on the mother's location to some of us, the mother is the key to some of this. If the seeds are open pollinated it should be noted on the package, keep records! When it comes time to register the seedling if you go the seed route it's really up to the hybridizer, you are just the seed parent. You can name after the first year according to the information but again I don't recommend this as some of us know one year isn't enough time!! Nor have other tested this plant to know if it will grow outside the area of which only one plant had been growing.
Again a rush to name can be the down fall of some of these plants and the name of the hybridizer to boot!!
Q. I see you don't have any information on Brugmansia Diseases or insects, why?
kHT's A. The two know Brugmansia sites have plenty of information and we are not an expert in this. This is the first year we have delt with mites and we are learning. So far I haven't has the problems others have due to our practic of dealing with folks and putting plants in Quarantine. One should know that these do carry the gene for viruses so if one keeps them healthy, no pest one should do well. I have had folks send me photos and I'll give them honest input as to what I see.
Q. I want a special Brugmansia to grow, can you recommend one?
kHT's A. ? 'Special' There are many special Brugmansias out there and I'm not comfortable in recommending one until I know what environment you will be growing them in. I keep saying that all Brugmansia are not created equally and shouldn't be treated the same. It's just like all growers have their ways of growing plants, gardeners are special folks! Plants are the same way. If one has a greenhouse one should try B. Snowbank!! It's does best in heat and lots of light! It's one of our favorite but again we can't seem to keep one growing more than a couple years. I have killed 12 so far and just purchased #13!! B. Culebra is in our book the most 'special' Brugmansia one can get their hands on! Why, if you have read all the information on Brugmansia, toss that out the door as B. Culebra is totally different!
Q. I have read some of your posts on 'Variegated' plants and I'm confused as to why the one I have isn't taking off?
kHT's A. I have tested almost all the variegated plants out there except the new reverse variegated, Sunsport, Axel Rose and the new variegated Jamie. These plants are to be grown year round and each have different growing conditions. Also one shouldn't judge to quickly these sports/tetraploid, they are not all the same!! One needs to look at everything from leaves, blooms, growing habits in seeing what one has. If you should find one, do make sure you record all the information as you will be questioned by the naysayers. These are extremely special!
From my list here is what we have found.
Variegated
B. Peaches & Cream ~ pure shade
B. Sunset ~ a little more sun than B. P&C
B. Maya ~ A little more sun than B. Sunset
B. Shorty's Variegated ~ pure sun and heat
B. Miner's Claim ~ shade with morning sun
B. Jamie ~ No experience
B. Variegated ~ heat with morning sun
B. Klerx Variegated ~ heat w/morning sun
Reverse Variegated
B. Axel Rose ~ No experience
B. Sunsport ~ No experience
B TNN's Reverse Variegate ~ 5 years testing slowly moving to more sun, hates direct sun all day