Hello All,

I'm new to the forum. I'm in Chicago and working on a few Brugmansias for the past three years. I've yet to see one bloom. I am hopeful that I will see blooms this year as I'm more familiar with the watering and feeding requirements of a Brugmansia.

I also have a first year cutting that already formed a Y branch. It's very full with multiple branches and looks more like a bush. What I like to do is shape it to look more like a tree without harming or stressing the plant too much. I like to remove the bottom leaves and some lower branches. Will this hurt the plant or delay/kill any chances of blooming? I welcome your suggestions.

Thanks!

Welcome JoeBrug to the forum!! A full photo of the whole plant would be helpful.
Plus do you know what variety you have? Some are totally shrubs and others can
be shaped into trees.

I'll check back in later today as I'm in the process of moving our before we have a
week in the 90s/100!!

Karmahappytoes,

I'm not very sure of the variety. My plant identifier app says it's a Brugmansia Suaveolens? I received a cutting about three years ago from a customer. I do know it blooms a light orange flower.

I know the best time to prune is after it blooms or in the fall, however. I'm wondering if I remove some of the lower branches or leaves now, during the growing season, will it be beneficial? Will the plant provide more energy towards the blooms? Or, will it have a negative effect and /or kill any chance of blooming?

I've uploaded some more pics.

Thank for your reply.

Hey there JoeBrug!!
Thanks for allowing me some time to get our collection to the north side of the house as they are saying 90+ to over 100 for the next week. Last week we only had a couple days in the high 90s and that about did me in trying to keep them cool!



So you want the tree form, you know you will have to keep shaping to keep them
like a tree. Brugmansia suaveolens Frost Pink, I will tell you is a shrub and no matter how you try it wants to be a shrub. Some of the other suaveolens you can
train to be tree form. Just snap off the lower limbs to the first 'Y' which you will need to for blooms.

A great book which so of us call the Brug Bible is called Brugmansia and Datura
Angel's Trumpets and Thorn Apples by Ulrike and Hans-George Preissel. They do the best job in educating one about Brugs and Daturas. You can google my name and find my blog site where I do have more information.

After you get a trunk to 'Y' I recommend one switch to a bloom booster fertilizer as you have the growth now you want them to product buds. A regular 20/20/20 fertilizer is what I recommend weekly to get them to grow! Scream at me if you need more help.

Chicago, one might not get blooms until fall. Happy Growing.....these can be addicting once you smell their evening blooms!

Thanks for all that great info, Karmahappytoes. Looks like you have your hands full. Lol. And yes, Brugs are addictive. I'm caring for 5 for now but Also take care and overwinter 3 Banana trees, a bunch of Elephant Ears, a bunch of cannas and caladiums.

My three older Brugmansias have formed Y's earlier than past years. I'm confident it's due to the bloom booster. I used a regular fertilizer (miraclegro) in spring then I switched to a bloom booster. You can see my brugs behind the elephant ears in the attached pics.

I was so disappointed last fall when my Brugmansias were full of buds but not one opened. Did not see a single flower. The struggle is real here in Chicago. Looking forward to those beautiful blooms.

Thanks again!

Hey JoeBrug!! Take a close look at the first photo you posted, do you see the
small bud? You are so welcome, just scream at me if you need more help. Do you
take the nana inside? Here in the Pacific Northwest, zone 8b we cut ours to the ground and little to no protection, they come back! If you get to the plant database
you will find some nice photos.

Karmahappytoes,

No I did not! After further inspection, I've discovered few more since last week. Thanks.

I do have another question for you. I've noticed that my older Brugs don't look as perky? There's some browning on the leaves and they just don't look as nice as the first year cutting.

The first pic is the first year Brug which I recently trimmed and cut off some lower leaves and branches.

The second and third pics show my older Brugs with the blemished leaves. They are otherwise healthy. Already showing buds as well.

Is this normal? Do you see anything I should be concerned with?

JoeBrug, It appears the older leaves with will show signs first of insect damage or have you had high hot winds? Try to remove and just keep the newer healthy leaves.
An old trick is lay your garden hose out so the water in it warms then use that water to hit your brugs first when you water. Mites hate warm water!! Another hint is new stalks growth is much better than the old trees trunks. So when you trim back in the fall that should help you cutting back for new plants next spring.

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions. After my post this morning, I went back for a closer, more thorough inspection and did find some bugs on the underside of the leaves. Not many but I'm sure there's more. They looked like tiny green grasshoppers. See pic.

Gave all my Brugs a good neem oil and Castile soap spraying. I made sure to hit under the leaves as well.

Will definitely try the warm water tip as well.

Feels good to talk Brugmansias with someone. Lol. I don't have any family or friends familiar with this plant.

Again, thanks!

JoeBrug, you are so welcome. I want folks to be educated on these lovely ladies of the night!

JoeBrug, had time today to fine a subequal leaf which is the key to finding buds.


You can see the bud below the leaf.

Karmahappytoes, so I did the same this morning…went out looking for subequal leaves.

I believe I found some in the younger brug. Didn't have time to check the others. See pics.

Thanks.