Brugmansia 2

Nathan asked

You can cut them down to about 6" slice down around them leaving enough roots and soil so they will fit in a 10-12"pot put them in a frost proof area (garage, shed or g/house) light doesn't matter keep them quite dry over the winter months (half a cup of water a month would be sufficient),in spring bring them into the light and increase watering.
If you are planning to leave them in the ground depending on how cold it becomes will depend on your sucess last year I had a 75%sucess rate, again cut them back to 6" build a wire mesh cage around them fill with straw put a cover over the top to keep the rain off (I used large inverted trays from the pound shop with a brick on top to stop it blowing off) in spring remove the cover just watch out for night frosts and be prepared to throw some fleece on.
The advantage of the first method is you can intoduce them to the warm spring days and cart them back in should a frosty night threaten.

 

Walnut sweetheart am I able to take cuttings from my plant as I hack it down and put it to bed for the winter or is it a little too late for that? If so how do I do it?

Sorry if you have already told us how to do this but as you may know some of us women need telling twice:D.Hel.xxx.

 

Hi Hel,
yes all the material you cut off you can use as cuttings,mainstems or side stems here are a few on the go at the moment,try and keep them above 10c so they can develope roots, take all the large leaves off.

This lot of mainstems in a bucket in the greenhouse.




These white blobs are called nubies and are were the roots develope from.



This lot are smaller and in glass container ther is a fish tank air stone in the water it keeps the water fresher and reduces the frequency the water has to be changed.



Some roots already on this lot.

 

Thanx so much Walnut I just knew you would aid me in my quest.:thmb:

I have to admit your pictures have spurred me on to hack more away than I originally did but now I'm feeling braver I'll hack away like no tomorrow!

Another thing if I may?

On the parent plant in some places where I have already took some cuttings from a couple of the stems have started to have hollow centres but not all...is this normal or have I hacked away where I shouldn't have? Hel.xxx.

 

Hi, walnut.

Now that my Brug is in the ground I think it's time to cut two of the three main stems off which come directly from the base as it loos like a leaning tripod on it's head. :D I shall then attempt to root pieces as you describe .... thank you for your instructions. :luv:

 

Evening bobj .... I've got an Iochroma that perhaps I could get rootings from .... :wink:

 

I have seeds of Iochroma Australis if your interested Bob.

 

Hi Bob the Iochroma australis in Pete's picture is the only Iochroma hardy enough to overwinter outside in fact mine survived outside in a tub up here in the n w and from now on will be roughing it ,the Iochroma cyanea (purple)my lady is growing would have to be overwintered indoors I have spotted some seeds on e-bay if you are interested http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-FRESH-SEED...temQQimsxZ20081105?IMSfp=TL081105102002r24918
no offence my lady they can be a bit awkward to root from cuttings but worth a go non the less,:thumb:
The Datura (metel varieties) have dark foliage and stems most brugs have various shades of green the Arborea brugs are one of the darkest and a vevety leaf and although it is white and a flower that's not as flamboyant as other brugs in my oppinion it has the best scent (little miss has arborea and datura seeds I think)

Bob the Brugmansias (appart from Arborea and Sanguinea) are not self fertile and have to reproduced from cuttings,the cultivars you mention have been produced originally from a cross, this plant a product of that cross is then replicated as a clone from cuttings of the original cross,the ones you mentioned were from cuttings Imported from Germany.I have made a few crosses this year but it will be next year before the pods are ready (if I can keep them warm enough over winter) this is what is exciting about growing brugs when you cross them the result is unique you can have a seed pod with a couple of hundred seed in it and each one has the potential to be different you would need to grow them all out and then maybe find the special one that you could register and name yourself, I and many others are still looking for the blue brugmansia in fact I have tried a few times to cross the Iochroma australis with a brug using it as a mentor pollen(maybe one day).
Hel.the stems of brugs are very pulpy and when cut the pulpy bit dries and shrinks back leaving the stem hollow,last year some I left outside I sealed the exposed main stem were I cut them with melted candle wax,some I capped with silicon sealer both worked.
Great looking shrub Pete:thumb:

 

Pete, I wouldn't mind some seeds to try if you have a few spare. :luv:

This is mine this morning .... my first cluster in it's new growth ....

 

Nice colour my Lady mine is deeper and has been checked with the cold wether here is an earlier photo.

 

What a beautiful colour, Walnut.:thumb:

 

Oh I am so jealous of you all, I got one off ebay and it was a horrid wishy washy blue thing that made all leaf and no flower so I de gardened it!

walnut that colour is beautiful, but I have to say I prefer the fatter cherubim bruggie.

as for cuttings, I did my bruggies straight into soil from the rough end of cutting back from the winter, but never tried rooting them in water before, but certainly will do now I have seen your excellent photos.

As to you Pete - do you have to show off about your Kentish weather all the time!

 

Thanx once again Walnut just an update I have some of them 'nubies' on a couple of my first lot of cuttings so things are really moving on and I'm really very chuffed with myself!:thumb:Hel.xxx.

 

Proud of you Hel,way to go.:gnthb:

 

Testing..