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Brugmansia are large, fast growing shrubs that come to us from Central and South America.
Here along the Gulf Coast they can reach heights of eighteen feet.
They are cut back to about six inches tall each fall and grow back larger and stronger each spring. Brugmansia can be grown in containers with good success. Many of our northern neighbors grow in pots for years, bringing the plant inside for the winter months.
Since in their native habitat, brugs were plants adapted to fertil soil and abundant water we must mimic those conditions if we are to achieve optimum growth and flowering. Many growers use one of the water soluble fertilizers such as Peters or Miracle Grow and apply these weekly with good results.Angel's Trumpets also respond well to organic treatment. Use plenty of composted manure, cottonseed meal, blood meal or bone meal or a combination of these and the plants will respond with many flushes of bloom throughout the summer and fall.
As brugmansia are members of the same family as tomatos, potatos and eggplant they are subject to the same pests and diseases. Watch for things like tomato hornworm or other species of caterpillars as these little beasties love to feed on brug leaves.They can be removed by hand picking or a mild insecticide such as Rotenone powder can be applied.Spider mites are another pest often seen on the underside of leaves or occasionally in the growing tip. A fifty-fifty mixture of alcohol and water will take care of these or a systemic insecticide can be used.
To sum up.....plant your Brugmansia in good soil and water regularly,sometimes twice a day in the hotter parts of summer. Watch carefully for insects eating the leaves and then be prepared to enjoy many seasons of beautiful blooms.
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