I have been eyeing these beauties for a while, and even though I don't need another addiction, I have decided to jump right on in. I have seen different types of Brugmansia seeds for sale, but need to start out easy. What can I grow with relatively little knowledge? I have been checking out the boards about germination and conditions needed, and think I can sucessfully get them started. Also, where is the best place to buy these types of seeds? I know different seeds are specialties to some comapnies, and would like to get it right the first time.
Thanks so much, Jennifer
What is the best Brugmansia for a newbie to grow from seed?
Personally, I would try cuttings or rooted plants first. You get to see blooms a lot faster. That's the route I took. Buying from a reputable dealer or getting a named variety from another DGer, you know what the bloom should look like and what to expect. With a little bit of digging, you can find out: about its growth habits, how pest resistant it is, how often it blooms, what shape of the blooms will be, how heat tolerant it is, etc.
Having said that Brugmansia seed germination rates are very high. If you hang around this forum long enough, someone is bound to offer some seed, but the parentage may not be completely known. There are several reputable DG members who sell their seed through e-Bay although I noticed that some have not posted any offers in the last few days. Other members or former members have their own websites. I hesitate to mention them only because I would not like to leave any names out.
What do you mean by "would like to get it right the first time"? Seed quality? Best seed? Ability to get the plants to blooming size? Single flower? Double? There really is no right or wrong. With practice we get better, improve our skills, refine our judgement about what makes a better plant and what needs to go to the compost heap... Since most Brugmansia plants are hybrids, seedlings will be different from their parents as well as different from their siblings.
It can be a lot of fun growing a Brug from seed if we accept that it's a gamble. In fact, that's probably part of the fun.We can devote up to three years growing out a seedling and be rewarded with a plant worthy of registering, but that doesn't happen all that often. We may get some keepers that can be used in a hybridizing program because of their genetics, but the majority should probably go into the compost heap because they don't show any improvement over what is already available. Or they are worse than what is available. If you can accept those conditions, then I can d-mail some names of sellers to you. Otherwise, please try known plants first. Get to know what you like or dislike about them. You could then try making your own crosses from plants that you come to love and whose traits you like or purchase seeds whose parents exhibit those traits. I hope I didn't offend you. That was not my intent.
You did not offend me in the least! Thanks for your time and suggestions. What I meant by "would like to get it right the first time" is I want to buy from a seller who is offering a healthy plant or seeds and is a reputable dealer. Sorry if there was any confusion.
I guess a plant would be better to start out with so I don't have to wait so long. I do have a special place in my heart for the first plant I grew from seed. It is a buddha belly plant that is about 3 years old.
Thanks for the info : ) Jennifer
Jennifer, I have to say that my two favorite sellers are Seed Sprout Nursery and Country Garden. Brenda's (Seed Sprout) plants are alway healthy and large unlike the little 6 - 10 (usually 6") inchers you get from eBay. I just received an order I placed with Seed Sprout and the smallest plant was about 2- 1/2 feet tall. JT's (Country Garden) plants are just as good. All the plants I have ordered from him have arrived in great shape. I have also had good luck from a few eBay sellers. I wish I could remember the name of the California seller whose tall healthy Brugs arrived in their one gallon containers. That in itself was not that unusual, but the fact that the pots were well wrapped to hold the soil in place and the pots held firmly in place with screws drilled into the pots on all four sides of the box was! There are a few I have vowed never to buy anything from them again.
http://shop.seedsprout.com/main.sc
http://countrygdn.com/
These two also sell seed. If you look through some of the recent threads, the seeds mentioned were from Seed Sprout.
That is very well said Betty!
I have to agree, and I am biased, since I've almost exclusively grown Seedsrpout seeds. I started with mostly seedlings and loved them so much, I couldn't stop!
I also second your recommendations for sites to buy plants from.
Welcome to the addiction Jennifer! It's a wonderful and frustrating adventure that I wouldn't give up for the world.
Thanks Betty and ZZ. I will check out seedsprout today. Yay : )
One more question. . . I see on their site that they describe certain plants as "good for containers". I was under the assumption that all Brugmansisas could be grown in planters. Is this not true?
This message was edited Mar 2, 2008 9:29 PM
You can grow all of them in containers, but some are smaller and are more manageable in containers.
Thanks Betty!
OK, last question I swear. Almost every site I have look at give different hardiness zones. Would it be OK in 8B? If so, I can just plant it in the ground.
Yes you can plant your Brugs in the ground in zone 8b. With a heavy layer of mulch, it should return from the roots the following spring. Some Brugs, however, are more frost sensitive than others. They may not return the following spring. If you look through the PlantFiles, you'll notice that some have Zones 9, 10 or 11 as the coldest zone grown. I would keep those in pots or dig them up and overwinter them in a greenhouse, basement or garage. Many growers, take cuttings, as insurance, in the fall of those plants they don't want to lose. You could put your Brugs in the ground and take cuttings as backup.
Betty, you have been so helpful. Thanks!
You're welcome, Jennifer.