How to Grow a Trumpet Plant
Trumpet flowers (Brugmansia) are an enchanting addition to any garden. They can be grown as bushes, trained into unique trees and even used as tender hedges. Their large trumpet shaped blossoms hang down in beautiful clusters with shades of peach, white, pink, yellow and even salmon. Their scents range from very flowery to spicy and citrus. Trumpet plants require very little to propagate and grow them successfully. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Brugmansia
- Compost
- Vermiculite
- Water-soluble fertilizer
- Large pot
- Mulch
- Sharp pruners
Instructions
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1
Mix the well-aged compost with the manufacturers recommended amount of vermiculite. Add enough water to make the soil damp but not soggy. If the mixture does not drain pretty fast add several handfuls of bark mulch. The soil needs to drain very well so the Brugmansia will not succumb to root rot. Set the soil aside for later.
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2
Use sharp pruners to remove any broken or diseased limbs from the plant. Try to avoid cutting the "Y" of the plant, as this will give blooms later. If the cuttings are healthy they can be trimmed into 4-inch sections and placed in either a well-draining soil mixture or a glass of water to root. Brugmansia will root well and grow fast.
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3
Remove the plant from its growing pot and check the roots for pests or diseases. If the Brugmansia is root bound it is best to tease out the constricted roots so they can expand in their new pot with ease. If many insects are present, the soil can be carefully washed away. Be careful that you do not break the roots.
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4
Fill a pot half way with the new soil mixture. Pack the soil down well and keep adding and packing soil until the pot remains half-full. Do not pack it so hard that the plant will have a difficult time growing roots. A small hill of soil in the center of the pot will make placing the Brugmansia easier.
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5
Splay the roots of the plant out gently patting them into the soil. Add enough soil to the pot so that it covers the roots. Pack down lightly and then continue to fill the pot of 3 inches from the top. Water in the Brugmansia well.
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6
Follow the manufacturer's recommended dosage and mix the water-soluble fertilizer in a jug. Water the Brugmansia with this mixture. Top the soil off with mulch.
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7
Place the plant in an area that receives shade during the hottest part of the day. Check the soil daily for signs of thirst. When in active growth Brugmansia can eat up to three times a week.
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8
Check the soil and plant for signs of pests at least once a week. Whiteflies, caterpillars, slugs, aphids and spider mites are just a few of the pests that attack Brugmansia. Remove and kill any pests found as they can eventually weaken a plant until it dies.
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9
During the fall, if one wishes they can trim their Brugmansia back. Leave 6 to 10 growing nodes above the "Y" of the plant. Suckers removed from the bottom of the Brugmansia are often rooted as future plants.
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