I am wondering if Brugmansia are day-length sensitive, as they seem to want to bloom only as days and night become closer to equal in duration. I know this was a problem for me with certain Japanese chrysanthemums and plants from Mexico. Thanks, John
Day Length Sensitive?
John, they are not. The yearly cutback is the reason for hestitating in flowering. There is no need for a cutback but we do it, mostly to the lack of space in the winter.
I had myself plants, loaded in June with flowers because I pruned only the very tips in the spring.
I do not cut mine back. Make them go dormant in basement. Most of mine do not start blooming until late the next year, September mostly.
Thank you, Monika.
Hibiscus, so even without cutting back, your Brugs still bloom very late in the season. I see you are in zone 5, which is a couple zones colder than I am, but so is Monika with flowers in June.
I am on a quest to find a way to have flowers earlier in the year!
John, if you find a way, let me know. All of mine are putting on a show now and I am so worried we will have an early frost that will kill all the buds.
I have more buds now than I ever had all spring and summer. Every brug is covered. My L'Amour and RK must have over 50 each and they are small bushes. My GL must have 1000!
I just do not know what to do with them.
Gloria, in your case, it has a other reason. One of it might be, that the hybrids you have, are too sensitive for your climate.
Too many roots died off during the winter. Using too large pots for small plants could be a reason too.
I've always had tons of blooms during the summer, but for some reason, a lot of mine bloomed later this year. My suaveolens and versicolors bloomed all summer. Others had a few blooms, but not big flushes until fall. I haven't changed the way I grow them at all, but must say that most of mine are from fall cuttings and not whole plants.
Thanks for input, Monika and John.
I too am at a loss. Fertilize heavy all summer, water, etc. Seems no way to get most of them blooming much sooner, unless the weather cooperates. Our highest temperature this summer was 83.
I believe the high temps in summer prevent them from blooming. They need cool nights and temperated days for blooming. Desert temps during the day may stop building new buds.
In cool summers I have flowers all over. In hot summers they stop flowering from July to August.hmm, they have much less buds:-)
You are probably right. We were blazing hot here this summer.
I asked my brugs and they said: Yes:-)
I must also consider that May and June here were COLD and wet, and the Brugs made little or no growth until July!
Ludger, are you growing more of the sanguinea type which would thrive in your cooler weather?
I'd like to hear from folks like JT and Glory, who start with 4-5' cuttings and overwinter in the greenhouse--do they get earlier lush bloom?
John, I am sorry to tell you:
All my old sangs are dead.They didnīt do well in hot summer.
I only have about 20 new heat tolerant seedlings and some motherplants from last year.
I will start a new collection with these.
Ludger, your summer in Germany this year was VERY hot, but that is not typical, is it? So, were you able to select from the surviving seedlings those with better heat tolerance?
Yes John, I did:-)even 4 pure B.vulcanicolaseedlings and one motherplant survived.
Excellent, Ludger!
Wow, am I glad I saw this thread! I had hopes that if I kept a brug or two dormant in my basement that I would be enjoying early summer blooms ~ guess not.
I experienced the same as many of you that I had more buds & blooms just as frost decided to hit us. What a trajedy! I did get to enjoy the labors of constant watering, fertilizing, etc... for several weeks. But, I was very disappointed when we had the early frost. I thought maybe they had a late start due to all the rain in June, but next year will hopefully teach me more about these beauties.
Monika, I have 20 or 25 seedlings, mostly now in 5 or 6" pots and 12" to 24" tall, taking up a lot of room. I think I ask on the forum if I can keep them over winter in that size pots. I have a room at north of garage that is insulated so doesn"t get too cold, or if it does I can start a heater. If i put the seedlings in that room and keep the temp. 40 to 45 degrees will they go dormant? Donna
rutholive, you can keep them in these pots.Brugmansias overwinter much better in smaller pots because you have a better control of the moisture in it. They will go dormant but since they are young plants, you have to care for them a bit more than older plants. The light of fluorescent lamps, placed 50cm above them, is a big help.