HOW TO GROW BRUGMANSIA FROM CUTTINGS

How to grow Brugmansia from cuttings

Brugmansia are arguably amongst the most exotic of all ornamental, flowering plants yet despite their comparative rarity in the United Kingdom they are surprisingly easy to propagate from cuttings. So, as long as you know someone who has a species or cultivar that you are interested in, building up your own collection or just securing that prized specimen is a relatively straightforward affair.

The simple method

How to grow Brugmansia from cuttings

If you are lacking any propagation equipment do not despair as you can root brugmansia cuttings in a simple glass of water.

Take a 6-8 inch long cuttings, then remove all of the lower 2/3rds leaves as these will rot if left submerged. Place the cuttings in a glass of water and replace with fresh water every few days.

A soon as the new roots emerge (usually within a couple of weeks) pot the cuttings up into 3 inch pots containing a good quality compost such as John Innes 'No. 2'.


The horticultural method

You can take cuttings from brugmansia throughout most of the growing season but the best results are usually achieved in May. Using a sharp, sterilized blade take 3-4 inch cuttings from young shoots, preferably with a heel removing the bottom 2/3rds leaves and cut in half any large leaves still attached. Make each cut just below a leaf node.

How to grow Brugmansia from cuttings

Using 3 inch pots fill with a good quality seed and cutting compost or make you own mis using equal parts by volume fine grade sphagnum moss peat and horticultural sand. You do not need to add rooting hormone powder to the base of the cuttings.

Sink the cutting into the center of the pot approximately 2 inches deep and then gently water in. Then place the pots inside a heated propagator at a temperature of between 15-18 degrees Celsius, making sure that the propagator is well ventilated. If you do not has a propagator then leave the pots on a warm bright windowsill but avoid direct light during the warmest part of the day otherwise the cuttings can dry out. make sure that the compost remains moist but do not allow it to become waterlogged.

Once rooted set the cuttings into 4-5 inch pots containing John Innes 'No2'. Once the root system has established they can be potted on into the next sized container.

Brugmansias will do best planted out in a greenhouse border or placed outside in full sun once the threat of late frosts have passed. Remember to harden off your plans for a week or so before being left outside otherwise they will be at risk of being scorched.

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