Kathy, the Datura that I have grown have always been annuals. I usually collect the seeds and start them indoors. MIne were extremely slow to germinate. They never got going till it was pretty warm outside. I was told that heat under the pots would have helped.
Mary

Kathy,
Great meeting you yesterday...
I put my 2 brugs that are in pots in the garage last winter. They survived just fine. I watered once in awhile.

I think next spring I will put them in the ground though since the plants will get much taller and have more flowers. I don't know if mine will die or come back though. So I'll take some cuttings before next winter.

Good luck with your decision.
BTW: I will email you the instructions info for the Night Blooming Cereus. I printed them off yesterday & forgot to put them out.
tc

kathyga, Do you have a datura, as opposed to a brug (trumpets facing up instead of down)? In the Aug. 2005 issue of Horticulture it says that to overwinter Brugs, in the fall when their leaves begin to yellow and drop, bring them into a frost-free place around 45 deg. F, very little light is needed, only so much water as to keep the youngest shoots from shriveling. In the spring the brug will start to grow but it will be too cold outside probably, so it should be taken into a a sunny warm indoor location (sun porch, etc.) and when they show new growth should be repotted. (Sounds like what vnginger did.) They should be re-acclimated to the outside slowly when it gets warm out.

Mine is growing outside, but I took some cuttings. I read that in this zone, constantly having to be cut all the way down in the winter (and covered thickly with mulch) makes brugmansias short-lived.

vnginger: what are the instructions for night-blooming cereus? I have one too. Ugly kind of a plant but endearing; can't wait to get a bloom.

Rose

Rose

I have a Datura. I have some brugs. 2 are new this year and one that I planted last fall not nowing that I was supposed to keep it inside. I guess it didn't know it either, it came up fine, no blooms though. I think it needs a sunnier spot actually. The Datura is in a pot and I brought it in last night but will put it back out today. I don't know the variety but it has a beautiful double flower the outside of which is deep violet and the inside of which is pale purple almost white. I have saved some ssed, but have not heard encouraging things about starting from seed and would like to try preserving the plant itself if that is possible. I have read that some are annual and some are short lived perennials, if anyone knows what kind I have I would love to know. I have posted a link to picture I found online at the American Brugmansia & Datura Society website, unfortunately they don't identify it. Anyone know? too bad I don't have those cute little frogs in mine.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:839910}}