Tropicals & Tender Perennials: What to do in the spring??? ZOne 5, 1 by

wrote:
Chan, if you want one with one stem, just cut down the second. You don' t need to cut down the stem, that you keep. The more you cut back a stem, the more time will take to grow, before it bloom again. Brugmansia are funny in that aspect. The height in which they bloom are fixed, but can vary from plant to plant. Once a Brugmansia has started to flower in a height of 3 ft. and it is cut down to the base, it will need to grow to 3 ft. again, before it begin to bloom. The same goes for plants blooming at 1 ft., just with the difference, that if cut to the base, they will only have to grow to 1 ft., before blooming again. Do you get the idea? I once made a huge mistake with one of mine LOL It was blooming in a height of 5 ft. After I cut it back to the base I had to watch it grow all the summer and it only bloomed once in the fall.

The best cut you can give them, when they have grown big is only to trimm the flowering branches enough, so that you are able to move them inside for the winter. It use that way of cutting down with good results. Mine just went out in the garden yesterday and all of my Brugmansia allready have buds. One of them have a flower peaking out and I will probably be able to post a photo of the flower within the week.

Here is an example of a plant that has been trimmed to go inside:

Tonny