Boring Datura

T&M have them as Datura meteloides - Evening fragrance. �£3.89 for 8 seeds. I was sent an envelope full from a friend in America.

By red do you mean purple? I have some double purple dats just coming into bud now.

 

No, I was meaning red Brug but have since read up on it and it prefers a cooler locale than the others, so not for me! :( I wouldn't mind a double purple Dat ... how long do yours live?

 

I grow them new every year or the red spider mites get them over winter.

My brugs are varius shades of pink and orange, but it looks like I'll never see them in flower.

 

Rich, get the preditors, I use Defenders, you need to introduce them four or more times during the growing season and before you actually see the problem. Its not cheap, but it works.
I've just released my third batch this summer, without them my consevatory would probably not have a leaf on anything, even so the plumerias have had a bashing. :(

 

Hi Rich totally agree about definition of Daturas and Brugmansias Dats look up brugs look down,I am at present growing two types of Dats. and three types of Brugs.the seed pods of the dats are wicked I am still waiting for the Brugs. to flower

 

Hi everyone just bought a Daturas flowering great guns but still in pot.Should i pot it up or plant in boarder with what soil mix?

 

They make good house plants, patio pot plants or border plants, the choice is yours.

If you keep it indoors watch out for yellowing of the leaves and cobwebs over the growing points. Red Spider Mite loves them and is virtually indestructible.

 

Pete,

I bought the defenders, followed the instructions as well as I could, but it was a last resort so did no good.

I was able to get the dats out quite early so they weren't affected, if I say any more about the brugs I'm going to sound like a cracked record.

My plumerias haven't been affected, but my wife's bonsai and miniature roses are dead.

 

Rich you need to introduce them early, as soon as the temperature starts to rise under glass.
I only have the smallest amount, I think its 200, but if you introduce them every month or so they do the job well.

 

May I be ignorant and ask what "defenders" are?

My miniature roses on the kitchen patio look like they've seen better days ... leafless, hopeless! They are next to my tomatoes which have very few tomitoes and lots of dead leaves ... and I baby these things daily, thrice times! :(

 

Defenders is a trade name a company in Ashford give to a predatory mite they sell called Phytoseiulus persimilis. It eats red spider mite.

 

Hey Rich i've grown some plumerias from seed this year is it best to keep them growing over winter and at what temperature or let them dry out and restart them next spring, appreciate any advice

 

I started my seeds off in July last year, and despite keeping them at a constant 17C they eventually shed their leaves.

Although I would recommend a rest in later years, there may be some benefits in keeping them going throughout the winter in their first.

There again, without leaves they are not so attractive to some pests.

Don't let them dry out, just reduce watering to keep the soil all but dry. Watering from underneath ensures the water gets to the roots and may help to avoid rot.

 

Thanks for that Rich I know they are very tempremental to watering with my seedlings I have tried bottom watering only with some of them I have stood the 3.5" pots in shallow dishes and put just a touch of water in every few days the theory being they will take only what they need it seems to work they are all flourishing better than the ones that are top watered

 

Look what's growing on my bonfire heap: Naughty little Datura stramonium. Its got the thorn apples on it now, but not in this piccy from a couple of weeks ago.