How long does it take a bud to bloom into a flower. I am not looking for a precise answer just trying to determine if my Brugs will bloom in time before the cold weather hits. They began showing small buds over the past week or so. We begin to get 50 degree nights in the second or third week in October here in Chicago.

I water them everyday during hot days, sometimes twice a day and fertilize with a bloom booster twice a week now.

I would love to see these beauties of the night for the first time. I came close last year but cold weather in the 50's put an end to it.

Thank you!

JoeBrug, it you are using bloom booster twice a week, I hope you are using half strength. You know you can over fertlize.....some say you can't but I know you can and to watch a Brugmansia die, it's not pretty.

Back to the blooms, once in bud you should see them bloom in around 2 weeks time tops. You know to stop fertilizing by the first of Oct. or they will bloom inside. I switch back to half strength fertilizer mid Sept. and no bloom booster. I will still have blooms when they are put in the brug house mid Oct. Hope this helps.

Hey Karmahappytoes. Thanks again.

I'm glad I'm sorting this out. I have read that some people fertilize 2-3 times a week. I thought it was a bit much but I'm desperate and want to see some flowers this year. Lol.

What do you recommend? Once a week at full strength ok? Or twice a week at half strength?

I've put in so much work all year. I would hate to lose one. Not an option.

Thanks so much.

JoeBrug, Not a problem, I'm for education of these lovely ladies of the night. When I started out not many of the growers want to let out how they grow them. Trial and error was the way to grow. When I sell the plants locally I tell folks what I find it the best route. Always fertilize on Sunday to make it easy for them. I have had several folks return for more and it works for those that just want to have one. If you fertlize more than once a week I recommend using one full strength and one half strength. But right now it should be bloom blooster for blooms if the plant is over 3 foot tall. Shorter plants will have issues of supporting the blooms. I also don't recommend bonsai or braiding or growing two or more in the same pots. They just don't work out well enough. I know where you can get more if you do loose one. ; )

Another couple things I'm seeing this year is the color change. B. Frosty Pink is really a deeper color due to the heat.




Another thing I am seeing if the corolla tube is getting stuck in the calyx and one will have to gentally open it so the corolla tube can drop. Not pretty but one has to do what one needs to help! I have a few more up closer to the house that are doing fine. Another reason to move them when one expects high heat.

That's a beauty! Love that deeper color.

All of my Brugs are out of the hot afternoon sun or I can easily move them to some shade if needed. I do have one which is under full sun in the ground. May need to protect this one next week as they are calling for very hot and humid weather putting the heat indices in the 100's. ☹️

Thanks for the heads up.

Hi & welcome, Joe!

What are your temps, Karma? It was over 100 for about 8-9 days here a couple of weeks ago, usual high is 93-98 from June - Sept. Just had my best flush of blooms ever. This pic is from a few days ago.


It has rained a lot more this summer than the past few summers. Brugs didn't do much over those thirsty summers. These are ground plants here but I do have a couple pots too, pots that are too big to move. The potted ones go through gallons of water per week.

Purpleinopp, so you are hogging the PNW rains, please send it back!! We are in the middle of a heat wave after being in the 70s. We are about to drop again middle of
next week and I hope this is all of the heat!! We have had 4 hot spells so far and a late after April frost and snow storm this year. So it's been a bad year for Brugs out here. Lucky you that you can plant them in the ground, B. Frost Pink is the only one here that will make it but it needs to be well protected and in a micro climate. The one in the photo is pretty nice!! You did a great job! Ours are all in pots so I
understand how much water!! The only ones that have really done great this year is the tissue cultures we have and most of them that need the heat to thrive are on the driveway. Photo to come!

Thank you very much! I look forward to your pics! Hope your temps get back to normal. ; )

B. Shorty's Variegated




Iochroma

Very pretty! Does it have a scent?

B. Shorty's Variegated has a scent that stops folks cold. Matter of fact when we had the mother tree and she had over 300 blooms my neighbor's complained! I have posted it before somewhere here. I took a plant to Terra Nova Nursery to have them do a tissue culture of her and it collapsed so I was told it was already a tissue culture.
Angel Trumpet (Brugmansia 'Shorty's Variegated')

That's amazing!

That's a beauty…wow!

So I'm a bit worried. About two weeks ago, I noticed some small buds popping up. However, it's been two weeks since, and nothing new developing. Many Y's and subequal leaves but buds not getting bigger. And it doesn't appear to be putting out any more buds.

Anything I can do to stimulate these Brugs? I don't want a repeat of last year. All three Brugs were full of buds but none opened due to cold weather. ☹️

That happens to my plants almost every year. Always a bunch of blooms when the first frost comes. I've only seen buds abort from thirst, but I'm sure there could be other causes.

purpleinopp is correct, they will abort from thirst or insect infections. It's getting time to just enjoy and start thinking of wintering them. Oct. 15th is our time to start moving them inside, Nov. 1 is the deadline.

I just moved them to the front yard again after stripping all older leaves. I had moved them to the north side of the house due to our heat waves. I'm kicking myself as we are again going to see yet another heat wave after dropping down to the 70s. They will stay put this time.

Thanks Tiffany and Karmahappytoes

I thought I did everything right this year. I gave them them a head start indoors, I watered them daily (twice some days), fertilized early on, then switched to bloom booster weekly and for a while twice a week. Yet, nothing so far. Just tiny buds. I believe they are buds. Please see pics.

I have every tropical plant doing well and growing bigger than last year, but the Brugs are wearing me down. ☹️

I'm not sure if I see a bud or not, but the shape and green vigorousness of that plant is just perfect!

I'm not much for home concoctions for pests or weeds or that kind of thing, but never hurts to try banana water. Pureé a banana or two in a quart of water and pour that around the base of the plant. Or, if lazy, just lay a peel there. When I have a plant that "should" be blooming because it's the right time of year, foliage looks good, not thirsty, conditions are supposedly right, I can't remember a time when the banana treatment didn't inspire blooms to show up soon after. My gramma said to do this for roses but it also works on many other plants. Every kind I've tried.

Your Sedum is about to put on a great show. ; )

JoeBrug,
What have your temps been? Certain varieties don't do so well in heat, these are found in the mountain ranges of Central and South America. You need a heat lover for Chicago area temps.

Tiffany, thanks for the nana tip!!