Over wintering Brugmansia

Mickgall

Hello all
I was wondering how to treat my two Brugmansias this winter. Firstly the tall one in the picture I’m putting in the green house but I’m undecided as to wether to cut it back or not.I suppose it depends on wether I want it tall next year and space in the greenhouse over winter. Secondly I was thinking about cutting the smaller one back and planting in the border in the picture behind it. The border is South facing and usually frost free.
Any thoughts?

thevictorian

They are surprisingly hardy but we'd never get away with keeping them outside here in norwich. Ours go into an unheated conservatory until the spring where they sit dormant. I have left them in a cold garage before and the leaves all fell off as they went into dormancy. In some winters you get some stem die back and I just tidy them up in the spring.
Others will be able to confirm but I was told that brugmansia flower on branching stems and if you cut them back hard then you risk them not flowering again until they create more of these branched stems. The flowering them comes down to how rampant they are for you.

Mickgall

Thanks Victoria. Just realised I didn’t post the pic. The taller of the two is coming up for its third year. It was bought as a plug from the garden centre. In its first year it stayed in the conservatory and put on some growth then the leaves all fell off, I think I let it get too dry. Then about this time last year I put it in a polytunnel to overwinter while we had work done to the house. Unfortunately the polytunnel got wrecked by hurricane Eric or Ethel or whatever it was called and the plant got frosted and forgotten about. In the spring I repotted it and cut it back, all it’s growth is this years. The smaller one is another plug bought this year and again that one lost all its leaves.

Dovefromabove

If I remember correctly @fidgetbones also grows brugmansia. I’ve given her a nudge. 😊 

fidgetbones

If you cut the top  18inch or so off each branch and put it it water, put it in a frost free windowsill and they will usually root before Spring. Hey presto, new plants for free.   I would put them inside in winter, the slightest frost will kill them.  Mine are  all in the greenhouse. A big one is still flowering, but I am about to take cuttings from the rest. I do them on a three year cycle.  Cutting in six inch pot year one, move to 12 inch pot  year 2, feed and water like crazy and keep in a sunny place. Cut down and keep in greenhuse for winter, with cuttings on kitchen windowsill. Third summer, put it in the ground in a sunny place, and feed and water, it will flower like crazy. It will also make such a big rootball you will not get it out again and the frost will have it, so again make cuttings before the frost.

McRazz

fidgetbones said:

If you cut the top  18inch or so off each branch and put it it water, put it in a frost free windowsill and they will usually root before Spring. Hey presto, new plants for free.   I would put them inside in winter, the slightest frost will kill them.  Mine are  all in the greenhouse. A big one is still flowering, but I am about to take cuttings from the rest. I do them on a three year cycle.  Cutting in six inch pot year one, move to 12 inch pot  year 2, feed and water like crazy and keep in a sunny place. Cut down and keep in greenhuse for winter, with cuttings on kitchen windowsill. Third summer, put it in the ground in a sunny place, and feed and water, it will flower like crazy. It will also make such a big rootball you will not get it out again and the frost will have it, so again make cuttings before the frost.

I've grown these before but always in a conservatory as i had no idea you could cut back and stick in a greenhouse! I think you've inspired me to give them another go @fidgetbones, thanks!

fidgetbones

It needs to be frost free.  Conservatory, greenhouse with heater on a froststat, or even an enclosed porch will do, so long as they have light and do not get frosted.

Chris-P-Bacon

Mickgall said:

Thanks Victoria. Just realised I didn’t post the pic. The taller of the two is coming up for its third year. It was bought as a plug from the garden centre. In its first year it stayed in the conservatory and put on some growth then the leaves all fell off, I think I let it get too dry. Then about this time last year I put it in a polytunnel to overwinter while we had work done to the house. Unfortunately the polytunnel got wrecked by hurricane Eric or Ethel or whatever it was called and the plant got frosted and forgotten about. In the spring I repotted it and cut it back, all it’s growth is this years. The smaller one is another plug bought this year and again that one lost all its leaves.

You can trim them back to a 'fork'. I prune mine back quite hard - essentially to get them in a greenhouse. I wrap them in fleece - if its really cold I'll double up & put bubble wrap around the pot. I water very sparingly.  Take cuttings - they'll strike easily.