Secrets of growing Brugmansia in the open field

In the summer, in some gardens you can notice an unusual plant resembling a dope - with a big beautiful flower and a strong aroma. This tree shrub - Brugmancia, an alien from South America. Brugmansia is highly decorative, and even novice gardeners are able to plant and care for it in the open field. The main problem faced when growing this southern plant is its sensitivity to cold and frost. Therefore, Brugmansia is often called a poppy plant: it spends summer outdoors, and winter indoors - in a tub.

Brugmansia: Botanical Description

Brugmansia (Brugmansia) forms a separate genus and belongs to the Solanaceae family. Previously, it was attributed to the genus Datura. Brugmansia got its name in honor of S. Y. Brugmans, a botanist of the XYIII century from Leiden (Holland). Perennial tree-like shrubs have flexible green branches, large leaves, large (from 15 to 50 cm in length, 25-30 cm in diameter) simple, double, two-level flowers of a tubular-bell-shaped form (the angel's tube is the second name that the flower received due to its shape ).

Coloring - white, pink, peach, yellow, orange. On one plant can grow hundreds of flowers. One flower blooms from one to two or three days. The aroma of flowers is enhanced in the evening and especially at night. Flowering lasts from July to December.

In total there are 6 types:

• golden (B. aurea) - in nature it can reach 6 m in height, it is distinguished by bright yellow shades of flowers, lowered leaves;
• Aromatic (B. suaveolens) - famous for its rapid growth (3–7 cm per day), fragrant flowers of white color with green veins;
• snow-white (B. candida) - looks like a small tree, with oval velvet leaves and white flowers (sometimes with apricot and yellow shades);
• bloody (B. sanguinea) - the most resistant to cold from Brugmans, can reach 12 m tall, flowers are bright orange with a red border;
• variegated (B. versicolor) - has the longest flowers in the genus (up to 50 cm) in cream color.

For breeding in gardens and greenhouses hundreds of varieties were bred, differing in color of flowers and leaves, their shape, size (Apricot Queen, Miss Rhianna, Variegata, Wow Verde, Fandango, etc.).

Site selection and soil preparation for Brugmans

Brugmancia needs a maximum approximation to the natural living conditions, then the cultivation and care will not make much effort. The natural conditions for Brugmansia are tropics and subtropics, an abundance of light, humidity. The temperature regime most favorable for the growth of brumancia is not lower than +23 ° C in summer and +8 ° C in winter. It should be borne in mind that the plant does not like drafts and is afraid of a strong wind (large flowers and large leaves create a windage and branches can break during strong gusts of wind).

Lighting for brugmansia

Brugmansia is a light-loving plant, it feels most comfortable in bright sunshine, so the landing area for brugmansii should be well lit (in the extreme case, be slightly shaded). In the shade, the Brugmansia almost ceases to bloom, and the foliage begins to grow actively.

What should be the soil for planting

For a good development of Brugmancia, a neutral, loose and fertile soil is needed. On the site you can prepare the landing site - to make a soil mixture of loam, humus (one part) and peat (2 parts). Before planting, a well loosened mixed mixture can be poured over with a manganese aqueous solution (pink).

Brugmans reproduction: how to plant a plant

Brugmansia is propagated by generative (seed) and vegetative (air layering and cuttings) methods.

Seed method

Brugmancia from seeds does not reproduce very readily, besides planting and grooming require more effort than with other methods of reproduction. Seed germination is not guaranteed (the seed can germinate after ten days, after fifty days, it may not germinate at all). A plant obtained in this way can only bloom next year. Another disadvantage is that the varietal characteristics of hybrid varieties during seed propagation are not preserved. Therefore, this method is not very popular among gardeners. Sowing Brugmans usually conducted from early January to March inclusive.

The sowing procedure is as follows:

• seed preparation (soak for a day in a growth stimulator or scratch the seed coat with a knife tip);

• lay down to a depth of 10 mm, moisten, cover with foil and maintain the temperature from 20 to 25 ° C;

• after emergence of shoots, remove the film, sprinkle the shoots until the fifth leaf appears, then transplant in a separate container.

Reproduction by cuttings

Given the shortcomings of seed reproduction many gardeners are interested in the question of how to propagate Brugmansia cuttings. Cutting is the most popular way of breeding this plant, because it guarantees a quick and successful result. It is possible to practice cuttings all year round, but the most favorable conditions for this are in spring (when sap flow begins) and in autumn (before frosts begin).

Before growing Brugmansia from cuttings, you need to select and prepare the material. Best suited lignified annual apical shoots with a bud (15-25 cm). Lateral buds can also be used, but the flowering of a young plant will occur a year and a half later. Cutting the cuttings, you need to free them from the leaves. After this, the cuttings are placed in a container with soft warm water (often activated charcoal is added). For better germination capacity is better to keep in a warm place. After the appearance of Kalus (white dots on the stem) can be transplanted into containers with the ground and kept in a warm and bright place.

Growing Brugmansia by air layouts

Brugmansia allows reproduction not only by cuttings and seeds, but also by air layering. For this transversely incised (approximately ¼) lignified one-year shoot. The cut is treated with a root formation stimulator (Kornevin, Heteroauxin, etc.), wrapped with sphagnum, moistened and wrapped with film.Sphagnum should be watered periodically. After 6-8 weeks, check for the presence of air roots. After their appearance, the shoot can be cut, remove the leaves and rooted in a container with a light fertile soil.

How to grow Brugmansia: the secrets of care

To Brugmansiya constantly and abundantly blossomed, creeper needs not only proper planting, but also the right care. For this you need to know and apply a few rules - how to water, feed, trim.

Brugmansia: watering

Brugmancia is not particularly fastidious in watering, but it should be borne in mind that:

• In the hot summer, water should be plentiful (a signal for watering is the dried surface of the soil).In the evening, an adult plant can be sprayed (when Brugmansia is in bloom, you need to ensure that water does not fall into the flowers). Young plants need regular spraying;

• In winter, watering is necessary depending on wintering conditions. In a warm and bright room you can save the summer mode of irrigation, spray those plants that are near the battery or heater. In a cool room - minimal watering (so that the earth does not dry out, but also so that the leaves do not lose elasticity).

Feeding Brugmans

Brugmansia has a good appetite. It is necessary to feed it regularly with complex fertilizers. Brugmansia does not refuse organic matter — solution of mullein (the ratio to water is one to ten).The first feeding of Brugmans is carried out in the spring. In the summer, Brugmansia is fed every 7-10 days with complex organo-mineral fertilizers. With the beginning of flowering, greater emphasis is placed on phosphorus and potassium-containing fertilizers. With the winter content in the heat feeding reduced to once a month. In cool conditions, the maintenance of feeding is terminated.

How to cut Brugmans

Brugmansia does not require special pruning, but caring for the plant and propagating by cuttings implies periodic surgical interventions. In addition, pruning contributes to a better further flowering of Brugmancia. The best time to remove damaged and dead stems is from February to mid-March. The main stem can not be pruned, only the lateral. The next rule is not to cut off Y-shaped shoots, as well as to keep small horizontal side branches in the upper part of the crown (you can cut off their tips by 1/3), flowers are formed on them.

Features of care for Brugmancia in winter

In middle latitudes, Brugmancia will not be able to winter in open ground. When the temperature in the fall drops to the level of 5-7 ° C, this is a signal to move to the "winter apartment". There are several ways to keep Brugmans in the winter. The choice depends on whether you want to give the plant peace or want to extend the flowering period until January and longer:

• To prolong flowering, you need to place Brugmancia warm, in a bright room, keeping the summer pattern of care. Additional lighting fitolampa (light day in winter is short);

• for the period of half-weather - to find a cooler room, to sting about once a month, to water less frequently and to provide additional lighting;

• for rest, place in a dry dark room (with a temperature of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius). Brugmansia will reset the leaves, at the end of winter (before it is time to plant in open ground) you need to move it to a bright and warmer room, because new buds will start to wake up.

When “relocating” to winter apartments, it is necessary to carefully dig out Brugmancia (with a clod of earth). The root ball transfer can be placed in the desired container, can be placed on film, pulled off with scotch tape and moved to the wintering place (fill in the voids, you need to seal it in place). In the spring Brugmansiya will go on cultivation in an open ground. To simplify the future transplant, it is better to immediately transplant the plant in a container, and in the fall with the container to remove. For the circulation of nutrients and water in the container holes are made.

Major pests and diseases of Brugmans

The main pests that threaten Brugmancia are spider mites (at home), aphids, whiteflies, slugs and caterpillars (despite their poisonousness, they devour leaves and flowers). The main signs of a pest attack are damage to leaves and flowers, falling leaves. Folk control measures in this case do little. From pests effectively spraying special preparations ("Aktellik", "Fiofarm", "Plant Spray", "Agravertin", "Bio Insect"). Particular attention should be paid to the opposite sides of the leaves and internodes. Two or three treatments per week is usually enough to get rid of pests. Flower Brugmansia garden often suffers from various diseases, planting and caring for the plant should include preventive measures: Do not plant other plants near them; in the winter, air the room in which Brugmansia is located daily. Florists recommend that, for prophylaxis, once a season, poured abundantly on the tree trunk circle with a solution of hydrated lime (1 g per liter of water). Of the diseases, Brugmancia suffers most from gray rot. The most common cause is excessive moisture. It is necessary to stop watering (about a week) so that the soil dries out, the affected shoots should be removed. Treatment of a sick plant with Topaz means well helps with this disease.