Anyone growing these (Brugmansia, formerly was datura
meterloides--spelled from memory)

I've got one growing (all white flower). I seeded it a bit late (May
20th) but it has grow quickly. It bloomed its first flower 3 days ago
but I only got to enjoy it for a day. The plant was wetted down from a
thunderstorm the night after the flower opened. The next day it was
drooping down, mashed closed. After that it started browning
throughout the petal tip and when I touched the 8" petal cone it
separated from the bud.

Is this normal?
Are the flowers that short lived or was this because of the rain?
Should I cut the petal-less flower base off to avoid a seed pod and
encourage more growth.

I haven't been fertilizing this much. It is growing in a pot of equal
thirds mix of composted manure, peat & perlite. I've got two more
flowers growing now on it and it looks like a bunch of branches are
starting in the V of each existing branch.

I am hoping to overwinter this plant indoors this year (it is Zone
9-10 I believe) and repot in a tub for next years growth.

some side info...

We are experiencing occasional torrential downpours (2 inches in an
hour). We have already reached August's average rainfall. This plant
is more sheltered since it is against the house wall facing SW and
under an overhang so it doesn't drown like many of the other plants
do.

This plant has also been attacked twice by bugs chewing the leaves
which is a shame cause they are supple and velvety to touch and very
attractive. One left yellow eggs everywhere and tiny yellow
inch-worms. Another were colorful Orange and black beetles. I think
they were stripped more than dotted. I have been cleaning them off by
hand.


DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
1st Year Gardener

On Wed, 06 Aug 2003 17:10:20 GMT, DigitalVinyl
wrote:



Is this normal?
Are the flowers that short lived or was this because of the rain?
Should I cut the petal-less flower base off to avoid a seed pod and
encourage more growth.

I've grown datura with white blossoms. The flowers only
lasted a day. Gorgeous, gorgeous, beautiful things though.
Definitely worth it for those with no young children or
plant-eating pets.

I note - since this is rec.gardens.edible - that all parts
of the plant are poisonous. I'm sure you already know
this...

The datura re-seeded itself and came back several years in a
row.

Mine got quite large with no fertilization - it got to be
about 6' wide, and 5' high. But it was planted in the
ground, not in a pot.

It wouldn't have overwintered where I lived at the time
(Zone 5).

This is all I know about it.

Pat