Brugmansia Newbie Page
I have been asked to setup a page for newbies to this species. Hang tight while we gather some information. We hope that you will take some time and read the home page first and then read the kHT Answers Your Question page! If you are a newbie and would like some special information, let us know so this can be added. I will tell you this is what I have found to be helpful and each gardener has their own ways. It is always good to gather information from many sources and then find what really works best for you!
The Name Game:
When you obtain a Brugmansia, if it's not labeled with a name, do not try to look at photos to ID this Brug. You have a 'NOID' (No-ID) and the only way to ID a Brugmansia is to have a DNA test. A good first lesson for a Newbie is to purchase Brugmansia with a name and know the hybridizer of this species. All of them should have tags with the name of the Brugmansia and company where it's purchased / Hybridizer so you can keep this on record. Find out as much about this Brugmansia that you can before you purchase this said plant. Not all Brugmansia are created equally and shouldn't be treated the same way. Remember if you see a Brugmansia the only way to get the same thing is to obtain a cutting/rooted plant. Seeds will not give you the same brugmansia, more later on seeds. If you are unsure of what is being offered ask questions, if you still can't get answers, there are several great forums on Brugmansia or Daturas so run one of the search engines. There are also some of us that will answer your questions privately but remember we do so for a reason, I just wish when we started out more folks would be open to questions and helpful.
Plant Selecting:
For your first plant I don't recommend starting out with some of the more difficult plants such as B. Culebra, B. Sanguinea, B. Snowbank, B. Herrenhauser Garten or even some of the double or triple Brugmansia. Start out with one of the easier ones like B. Charles Grimaldi, B. Jamaica Yellow or B. Frosty Pink to get to learn what these are all about and to see if this is really what you want to grow. There are a lot of really pretty ones but learning from an easier to grow Brugmansia will help you learn and there should be less of a panic mode. Yes these are high maintainance plants and the more you have of them the more they will require of your time to get them to do what they should do. So many times folks will see a pretty plant and then when they get it home and find out that it's takes up to much of their time, they soon will be neglected. Remember when going to a nursery they are there for the profit and selling plants, many times they don't have the staff or knowledge in care. You need to be an educated plant grower! I have been asked many times just how big will a Brugmansia grow? This would depend on the variety of Brugmansia and what or how it's fertilized. Some are shrub shaped and some are tree shaped. I have seen some that were well over 20 feet tall and some that have reached out wards of 10 feet. It also depends on the care that one gives these plants also. So start with an easy to care plant first.
Pot Size:
When you get you Brugmansia don't be in a hurry to put it into a larger pot! Sometimes folks are in a big hurry and the roots will go into shock if you give them to much room. I have found that if a plant is root bound they tend to do better in the long run. If you have a new plant, that let's say in a 4" pot and it's root bound then take it up to a 6", slowly move it upwards. The huge pots will require more muscle and can do back damage if you have to move them. Slowly bump them up!! There are some of us that have learned the pot in a pot method and this is another option. Or the 5 gallon pickle buckets with holes in the side can be great to sink them into the ground. I personally don't recommend anything bigger than a 5 gallon pot for growing or storage during the winter months.
Plant Soils:
I am asked what soils I use when I pot up my plants, I have used many types of soils and our favorite is the 'Earthgro' that can be found at Home Depo. We have found that the fall soils are the richest so if you purchase the spring shipment it's more in line for seedlings mix. I also recommend that you add some of your own soil to what you buy. Remember Brugmansia like the heavier clay soils and the Daturas like the 'richer' soils. There are certain soils out there that say their will give you a stronger healthier all in one soils, but be warned that isn't always the case, molds and fungus can happen. You want soils that will keep your virus proned Brugmansia or Datura healthy, that is the main goal.
Seeds:
Remember when purchasing seeds you will not get the same thing you see. Each package should be labeled with the Mother plant then the Father/pollen plant, if it's unknown then it should read 'open pollinated.' Also on the package one should also have the date harvested and the name of the hybridizer. It is your responsibility to keep this information and keep the hybridizer abreast of the development of this said plant. It is the hybridizer, who can tell you if the plant is worth testing or to cull. It is also the hybridizer that has the rights to name the said plant and you do not, so keep this information handy. What I suggest is to label each seedlings with a number/letter with the parentage on the front of the tag and the hybridizer on the back. Some newbies will go as far as put this information on the cups or pots that they start the seeds in so if the label is lost the information is there. I also recommend keeping a journal which should help keep the information in one place. There are also computer programs that can be found. One thing is folks should be patient in growing seeds and know that some of these can take up to a year to germinate. Brugmansia seeds come in a cork like shell so soaking them for 24 to 48 hours makes it easier to peal off the shell. Daturas are best soaked for 24 hours also in warm water, I recommend that in the 24 hours that you change the water a couple times as some seeds tend to change the color of water. If you do not have a warm area to set these try putting them up on top of the refridg. for this period. Some folks will then put these seeds in a paper towel or coffe filter or direct sew in dirt. There are many ways of planting seeds so find what works best for you. These are best started on a heat bed under lights.
Purchasing/Trading/Gifting:
Knowing whom you are doing this with is very important due to the viruses we are seeing in the US. Remember these carry the gene for virus so you will have to keep a watchful eye and know what these can get when it comes to disease and insect problems. Again when you get a new plant one should set it away from the others for a while to make sure it's safe, if one just obtains and puts it directly out one can open pandora's box!
Cuttings:
You get your first plant from cuttings so what do you do next? Remember not all Brugmansias are created equal! Some need to be started in water, some in dirt so you will need to know which is which and if you purchased a named Brugmansia this should make it easy for you. A general rule here, all variegated,Sanguines, Culebra, double, triples with fuzzy leaves should be started in dirt. When starting a cutting in water you want to only keep it in water until the 'White nubs' appear on the sides then put them into soil. You will have a better plant the sooner you have it in the soil instead of allowing the roots to form in water. I know you will read about all those fancy pumps and rooting in buckest of water, but ya know it's a total waste of your money to go that route. Give your plant a good start and the only way is in soil!
If you are new to Brugmansias or Daturas and you have a question we didn't cover here, please email us. Check back, I'll add as time permits.