Quoting:I want to grow them but I have little time or space for them in the winter. I have some great sheltered spots for them,
You want Brugs that can overwinter outdoors in the ground? Plants in pots in zone 8 may not make it through winter. If you put them in the ground, they will die down to ground level. Most will come back. Some are more frost tender, need to remain in pots and taken indoors. Use the PlantFiles Brugmansia as a guide for choosing cultivars that will return in zone 8. It will take longer to bloom if they have to come up from the ground because they have to form a "Y" before they bloom. Some Brugs will not bloom until the second year. So may never bloom for you. Sorry I can't tell you which. A few members have tried wrapping individual blooming branches with several layers of bubble wrap with some success.
I can't help you with rooted plants as most of mine are still too small. I've had to start my collection from scratch. The few that survived last summer are almost as nondescript as your white ones. I can recommend buying from Seed Sprout. Her plants are good sized, healthy and reasonably priced. Country Garden is another. By the way, Brugmansias are no longer classified as Daturas.
[quote]I have kept my Brug in the same pot for years and it is tall, but slow to leaf out and I don't think it has ever flowered.[/quote/
What size pot? Do you repot every spring? Does it have to regrow from the ground? Has it ever produced a "Y"? Does it get at least morning sun? How often do you fertilize? Water?
Brugs will grow in almost any sized pot, but need at least a 25 gallon (24" - 30" pot) to bloom their best. Because they have a large root system, they quickly fill the pot. So removing at least 2" all around and 2" - 4" from the bottom and repotting every spring is recommended. Potting soil breaks down and needs to be replaced. They are heavy feeders and need to be fertilized frequently — at least once a week when actively growing. Organic or non-organic. The plant doesn't care as long as it's fed. Hibiscus fertilizer is closest to ideal for Brugs. They also need the micronutrients.
There are no purple Brugs. When you have time, browse through some of the older posts. Type in some keywords into the dialog box on the upper right hand corner and press the Search forums. In the next window, tell it to search the Brugmansia forum. You'll find loads of very helpful information.
