A key to growing them - like many plants - is good drainage. This summer mine were in full bore sun on my deck which was from ~ 9:30 AM to sundown. For much of August and September, temps were 85 - 100 daily. During that time we did not get a lot of rain. As a result, I had to water Brugs (and Oleander) at least once a day and sometimes twice daily. If it rained, I could skip that day and usually the day after.

We basically got no rain in October when temps had abated a bit.

Two other observations. Brugs are heavy feeders and have a relatively extensive root system. Sounds like your situation is flip side of me - lots of moisture. To the extent that is the case, you will want to situate the plant (plants since you have a bunch of seed :-)) so you have control of how much water nature provides. It is easy to add - but impossible to take it away for all practical purposes.

As the brugs grow, is it advisable to prune frequently to get more branching? My thinking is that if I do this, the main trunk will get fatter. The pictures I have seen so far show rather thin trunks, and I am concerned that when a strong gust of wind should blow the trunk will break.

They do grow tall, Kadie and the trunks are not all that strong. So where you are (windy, right?) I would definitely be pruning to keep the plant low and bushy rather than tall and tree-like.

They take very kindly to being pruned. I always prune mine (if they need it) right after they have finished a bloom cycle. Then give them a shot of fert and jump back!

But if you do have one in a protected spot like the lee side of your house, you can let it get taller and then just keep it at a height just under your house height. Even if they do break off in high winds, they will grow back.

I know several people who take Brugs indoors in winter, and they cut them right back to a foot or two above the soil line. They're such vigorous plants they will put up new trunks right away. In your year-round warmth, they will never stop growing and you can prune or not to your heart's content.

Thanks, Elaine, this is very helpful to know. We get gentle trade winds, but when a tropical storm passes by we get very strong gusts of wind.
I look forward to watching my brugs grow...but first, I need to plant my newly acquired seeds.

Kadie

In pruning brugs be careful with Ys. If you cut below a Y it will have to make a new one. And it only blooms above Ys.

Well my Arborea Brug is trying to bloom. Likely not before I have to bring it in. And it never did make a Y. There are branches off the main stem maybe an inch higher on one side than the other, But they are not Ys. Oh well. Had hoped it would bloom outdoors cause it will be shocked a bit when I move it to the basement. My 3rd Brug, a cutting off my first NOID Brug is getting ready for its second bloom as well. 4 buds. Its first flush was 12 blooms about 6 weeks ago. Its a more manageable 3 feet tall.

My B. arborea is blooming in my basement. Interesting scent. Sadly only one bloom. It had another, but think it was damaged when I brought it in.

Pictures, David! We need pictures!

Hybrid Brugmansia Seed - Alicia x Berkonigin... is just fabulous.

@Rainbow - something else. Should your Brug break from the wind or when taking cuttings, they are sooper easy to root. Just put cutting in some water and they root quickly. And they root in water far better than in soil (I have done several experiments.). Once the roots start forming, then just pot em up. From cutting to bloom fairly easy in a year or less if the cutting is from above a Y.

Thanks, David. I have bookmarked your comment for future reference.

Update.

Two of my Brugs are still blooming their hearts out in my basement. I brought them in ~ Columbus day

The big one has ~ 10 blooms and another ~ 20 buds of 2 - 4 ". Obviously, it did not totally reject being brought in. It is under 1,000 watts of metal halide lights. My smaller one has 5 blooms and a few more buds coming on.

Davidmo Just wanted to share
I rec'd a few Brug cuttings from a couple of Great brug experts here & I have been using water crystal to root them in & They seem to do much better .

I put a couple in water to root the same day they arrived & rest in the crystals well after haven to change water every other day adding Proxide the ones in water after for 4 days still had not started to root but the ones in crystal beads had sprouted roots . & ones in water was turning mushy so i cleaned them & put in the beads .

So yesterday I rec'd a few more brugs & put them in the crystal 11-20-15 so i will check them in a couple days & see if any nods on them . will let ya know

deejay49 said:
I put a couple in water to root the same day they arrived & rest in the crystals well after haven to change water every other day adding Proxide the ones in water after for 4 days still had not started to root but the ones in crystal beads had sprouted roots . & ones in water was turning mushy so i cleaned them & put in the beads .

So yesterday I rec'd a few more brugs & put them in the crystal 11-20-15 so i will check them in a couple days & see if any nods on them . will let ya know

Hmm. They should not turn mushy in 4 days...Under what conditions do you have them?

What is "crystal 11-20-15"? I know what the expansion crystals are - I use Terra-Sorb some times.

What is "crystal 11-20-15"? I know what the expansion crystals are - I use Terra-Sorb some times.

That is how i keep tract as when /( Date) I put them into the crystal water beads or water beads to keep tract of how long it takes for them to root . these are the beads that expand in water .
I have them on a Table Next to a west window & all containers sitting on Heat Mats & doing great

How long does it take for Brugmansia seeds to germinate? I planted seeds a week ago, but no sprouts yet.

IIRC it was a couple of weeks. They do like heat and light. I used a heat mat. What cha growin?

@deejay49 -- The cuttings you put in the water beads/expansion crystals made nubbies (lenticels) in 4 days? That is good to know and an excellent use of the beads. Did you come up with that method yourself?

I have rooted other type of cuttings in the Beads so thought i would try the Brugs well the 1st 4 I had gotten I put right into the beads & within just 4 days they that roots so I Planted them in soil & They are still doing great well I Just rec'd a few more but they are Much BIGGER Cuttings & So I also put them into the beads to try .

Today Is day 4 But so sign of Numbs Yet , But as I said these are Much Larger so it may take a few more days they are still looking very well will Keep you Updated .

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL May Your day be filled with FAMILY FRIENDS & PEACE