Brug. Suggestions for Zone 6 ! Please Help!

I am trying to decide on the best brugs. to grow for my first time.

What are your suggestions for brug. varieties that :

1) Can take full sun at least 6 hours a day
2) Have PENDULOUS blooms (not ones that stick outward or "nod")
3) Grow fairly rapidly
4) Have many flushes of bloom throughout summer
5) Have blooms that last on the plant a decent amount of time

Also - do brugs. generally attract a lot of insects? Or do some varieties do so much more than others?

Thanks !

You will not be able to get a Brugmansia that will satisfy all 5 of your requirements. Morning sun rather than the hot afternoon is preferred by Brugs. Many Brugs are fast growers as long as you keep them well fed and watered. You will need to get the species versicolor if you are looking for pendulous Brug blooms. As a species, they are probably not as cold hardy as other Brugmansia species. In their native habitat, they are restricted to the tropical regions of Ecuador. If you plant them in the ground in zone 6, you will have to dig them up and overwinter them indoors.

B. versicolor bloom in definite bursts meaning there will be periods of 1 - 2 months when you don't seen any blooms, but when it does bloom, this species has the largest flush of flowers of all the species. Because of the number of flowers, the flush can last from 2 to 4 weeks. Individual flowers can last from 3 - 6 days. If you are lookig for continuous blooming all summer long. Brugs are not your answer. Some Brug varieties may give you the odd bloom between flushes.

Some B versicolor cultivars: Apricot Queen, Balao, Cuba, Ecuador Pink, Ecuador Rose, Emily, Island Girl, Milk N Honey, Peach versicolor, Peaches and Cream, Pocahantas, Versicolor Orange, Versicolor Pink

Spider mites and broadmites are probably the worst pests, but white flies, grasshoppers and caterpillars can do their share of damage. Caterpillars will takes the leaves off in a few daysm but if you find and kill the offenders, the Brugs will recover. Grasshoppers can eat and damage the whole Brug. I have a big grasshopper problems every year. Some Brugs are more susceptible to spidermites and broadmites, but I really don't have a list of those. Maybe someone else can provide you with a list of those versicolor Brugs.

Betty,

Thank you for your advice. What do you use to control grasshoppers and other pests?

I try to get rid of other pests with Neem Oil because pests don't develop a resistance to it. It kills by suffocation so I have to spray when the good insects aren't around. Neem does burn leaves at temperatures over 85ºF so spraying has to be done early or late in the day. If that doesn't work, I use a systemic pesticide. That usually takes care of my problems. I have had to use Avid on broadmites a few times. Nothing much works against grasshoppers. They fly away when I get near. They are also my biggest problem because of their numbers. Nolo works on them,but to really control them pastures all around would have to be treated.

Wow I am having the same problems...Thanks Betty I didnt know about grasshoppers..They are chewing maya all up...It looks awful... I wonder if sevin dust would work.....Barb

chickens work on most larger pests..on anythng shorter than about 4' - 5' ... they spend their entire time looking about for something.. they are rentless.. maybe they would help with your grasshoppers.. I

LOL. Gordon, I would need several hundred chickens. I'd be willing to bet that before the chickens had a chance to eat all the grasshoppers, the coyotes would be feasting on chicken. If any of the chickens survived long enough to lay eggs, the eggs would attract snakes. They eat seedlings. Cow pies are big enough to step around, chicken .... would end up on the sole of my shoes and in the house. NO THANKS! LOL! Seems like I would be trading one problem for several others. How many chickens live on your roof?

Barb, I dread the first round of nymphs. We have over 6 different grasshoppers in the area. I was thinking of trying diatomaceous earth. I found this site (for information only)
http://www.internet-grocer.net/diatome.htm
On this link, scroll down to the last few sentences:
http://www.plantanswers.com/calvin/Spider_Mite_Powdery_Mildew_Grasshoppers.htm
I would have to find a that wouldn't clog such as the one mentioned in the first link.

Betty, no promise, but try putting about a teaspoon of red hot sauce in a spray bottle filled with water and a few drops of dish soap. You can spary it all day and it will not hurt your plants, but bugs tends to stop chewing. A little dry mustard in there works wonderd on aphids. They eat it and die. The sharp edges of mustard distroy thier digestive tract.

I keep this on hand in the garden all the time. It can even be safely used in your veggie garden with no harm.

Thanks Betty for the links and the laugh..Have a nice weekend...Barb

raglady -

I forgot about the pepper spray. My mother always used cayenne pepper (powder) and mixed it with water for a spray bottle. It really did work wonders - even on fussy roses. i think she might have used garlic, too - maybe for fungus??