Just getting started (very long)

19 years ago

Good Morning all,

Well, after reading just about every post in the Brug forum, and going into serious information overload I have more questions than answers.

If y'all would be so kind to get me pointed in the right direction I would be most appreciative.

I am most definately going to be trying to grow some Datura, and as soon as I can get some more double purple seeds (first ones moulded) will start them using the baggie method. I hope to have a blooming fool by frost time here in Chicagoland.

Datura's seem to be much less labor intensive, more bug resistant/tolerant, more heat tolerant and close to a hands off endeavor. Whereas Brugs seem to be much more labor intensive. Constant watering in the hot months, prone to bug infestations, and maybe a couple more things that I have either overlooked or havent discovered yet.

Are Daturas as fragrant as Brugs? I know both Dats and Brugs can and will be container grown for me. Are the Dats sun and heat tolerant, or do they prefer shaded afternoons? If I start both Brugs and Dats from seed in the next week or so, will I have blooming plants by Halloween? Hopefully??

Well enough of these silly noob questions for now. I have really enjoyed reading all the posts and have learned a great deal. Heres hoping i can pull this off, and end up with people stopping by the house to inquire, What kind of plants are those, they are so beautiful!!

Thanks so much,

Roger

South of Chicago

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Comments (9)

ruth_ann
19 years ago
Roger, you may want to hold off starting Datura seeds indoors until March. They grow quickly and flower much sooner than Brugmansia seeds do. Starting them now, under ideal conditions and depending on the varieties, you may well have them blooming by Easter, not Halloween.
chena
19 years ago
Hey Roger!
I have some extra seed you are welcome to..There is a pick of the flower in a thread named How to post a pic...I think if you will grow a Brug you will be hooked!!!LOL They aren't THAT much trouble or work...Other than a few white flies during the winter(inside) I haven't ever had any problems with bugs ( Okay maybe those friggin grasshoppers! )
I winter sow my Dat's and they are blooming by late spring till fall..I haven't ever grown one in the house..No help there!..LOL
Good Luck and let me know if you would like some seed..OH BTW!!! Welcome hope to see ya around!!!
Blessings
Chena
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msbatt
19 years ago
Brugs are MUCH more fragrant than daturas, and, in my opinon, much easier to grow. Daturas are (mostly) annuals, and must be started from seeds each year. Brugs are tender perennials, and in order to 'come true', must be grown from cuttings---but cuttings are super easy, and can easily spend the winter in a glass of water on your windowsill. Brug cuttings taken from flowering wood will flower at a very young age---for instance, just before frost I cut several bouquets from my brugs. Most of these rooted in the vase, and a couple of the little buggers are putting on buds already!

Brugs WILL require more watering, especially when planted in pots. In your zone, if you want a less labor-intensive plant, put your brugs in the ground and take cuttings in the fall. Plant them on the east side of your house, where they'll get AM sun and PM shade. Daturas want all the sun they can get, and don't mind moderately dry conditions. Neither are particularly prone to bug infestations while outdoors, and brug cuttings rarely give me any trouble---potted, BIG brugs sometimes do, but nothing they're not worth. (*grin*)

As a beginner, I'd advise you against growing brugs from seed---cuttings are SO much easier, and flower SO much faster. Brugs grown from seed are largely a crap-shoot---they don't 'come true', and most seedlings are white. They also often have an 'anomalous' first flowering, meaning that subsequent flowerings may look very different.

If you're into trading plants or seeds, drop me an e-mail and I'll try to fix you up with some beginner brugs.
karyn1
19 years ago
I think that daturas and brugs are very easy to germinate from seed, just soak (peel brugs)& plant, no baggie or pot cover. The brugs from seed won't bloom the first year and I grow daturas as annuals but they can be wintered over with warmth and light. I start my daturas inside in Feb or March and take them outside in May. I haven't detected any scent from my double daturas but my brugs smell wonderful. I agree with Msbatt, if you do decide to try brugs start with cuttings.
Karyn
startin_from_scratch
Original Author
19 years ago
Morning all,

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me some straight information on these plants. Please forgive me for being so late in responding to this, as I have been working very long hours and collapse almost as soon as I walk in the door at night.

I think I may have the perfect spot for 3 or 4 Dats in the front of my house. I am redoing some landscaping as soon as the weather breaks and I think they will look real nice alongside my new sidewalk.

Coming up with someplace to put the Brugs may be a different story. The back yard (east side) is pretty full, but I believe I may be able to put in 3 or 4 brugs in pots so at least they can me mobile.

If anyone has some brug cuttings they would be willing to part with, I would be most appreciative. I dont really have anything to do any trades yet, but I am a woodturner, and maybe we can work out a trade for some garden mushrooms or some other wooden ware.

Looking forward to becoming a part of your little community here.

Thanks much,

Roger
chena
19 years ago
A woodturner!!! That's very cool.. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to see pics!!!!!
Chena
karyn1
19 years ago
Hi Roger,
It's too cold in both our zones to ship plants now but I will have a number of rooted cuttings that I can send in the spring. Welcome to the brug forum. I'm sure you will find that there are a number of generous people here and many that have been growing brugs and daturas for many years that have great info to share.
Karyn
nixonk
19 years ago
Yeah, I agree with Karyn. The weather in Chicago is too unpredictable and it is too cold now. There are a bunch of Brugs on eBay that I have been eyeing but I have to keep reminding myself that it is too cold. I think April would be about right.

Nixon
chena
19 years ago
You know shipping this time of year can be tricky!!!BUT.. If you are home when the mail runs and can get it in right away their isn't a big threat of it being hurt.. We have had temps in the 20's.. My mail lady calls me to let me know I have a package so I can meet her (drive is 1/2 mi long) I haven't had any problems..
Chena