Someone gave me some seeds and I planted them in starter things. Now they are between 4 and 8 inches tall, but the purple ones are trying to blossom. Am I supposed to leave it on or pinch it off. I've only grown the big white one that they called Moonflower at the nursery (not at all like the moonflower I was looking for). It comes back in the spring, it sets seeds big time (in big prickle pods unfortunately) the chickens won't eat it and it's really hard to kill. Is this typical of all brugs? (I really need hard to kill)
So, what do I do about my blossoms?
question from a newbie about growing brugs
you must mean datura's which are puple I think.
What is the diffrence? I thought they were the same. I know, I am really showing my ignorance.
angel trumpets hang down and datura bloom upwards and dont grow as high and besides there is no purplw brug...
jylgaskin, what you are describing is a Datura. Your description of the seed pod as a "prickly" pod is a dead give away. Brugmansia seed pods are smooth skinned. Brugmansias and Daturas are related in that they belong to the same family, but the genus and species are different. Look through these two links for the differences listed by Preissel and Preissel. Generally, Datura are annuals, although a few are short lived perennials. They tend to be short and wide and start to bloom early even when quite small. They can be very invasive because they produce so many seeds. You can still enjoy the flowers as long as you remove the seed pods as soon as they form. Brugmansias grown from seed or from basal shoots usually grow 6' to 7' before they form a "Y" and bloom. This doesn't apply if cuttings are taken from above the "Y".
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/825516/
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/827473/
Several different plants are called Moonflower so it's difficult to tell to which you refer.
I don't think you want your chickens to eat the seeds which are toxic.
Thank you, that clears things up. The chickens won't touch any part of the plant. They seem to know it's not good.
Jyl, no apologies needed, you won't know unless you ask. I'm wondering what kind of "moonflower" you wanted to begin with... I call the white "moonflower" MoonBUSH, the farmers around here call it Jimson Weed. It grows relatively short and bushy, upward blooms. Datura's, grow taller, bloom purple, yellow or white... Betty's post is great to help you understand . I also grow MoonVINE, a member of the morning glory family, I think. It vines and the white (I think there is a pinkish one, too) flowers open at night. It does set seed in pods, but I've NEVER had problems with them germinating in Spring and becoming invasive. I don't think the seed is viable once frozen in winter (at least for you in zone 4 and me in zone 5) The phinx moths love the blooms on a surmmers eve and it is fun to sit and watch the activity. I hope you figure out which "moonflower" you really want.
All parts of Datura, moon bush, and brugmansias (as well as tomato plant foliage) is poisonous. (I thought chickens had bird brains! - yet, they know enough NOT to eat the seeds... ) lol
The moon flower I always remembered was the vine type. I gtew it in New England and the only time I actually got iy to bloom was the night before we moved. This thing I have is pretty, smells nice and blooms pretty easy, so I hope the new ones do the same.
jylgaskin, That sounds like Ipomoea alba.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/893/
AuntB, Jimson Weed is also a Datura
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_stramonium
Kinda points out the problem with using common names :-)
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/848810/
help needed! :o)