Propagation losses - Angel Trumpets

Melissa K
by Melissa K
Please help me...I rooted Angel trumpets last fall and except for the expected losses, they all survived, following the lead of a site I was sent to. (Told I could transplant them into dirt as soon as they got nubbies and I did) They survived at first when it got cold on my back porch which is not heated. I then moved them into my dining room and kitchen which is very warm (wood stove). To my horror, only about three survived. They got to about 16 inches tall and most began losing all those beautiful leaves, then died. Help! WHAT DIDI i DO WRONG? Heat, cold, etc? There were about 30 plants in the beginning. Guess what, I rooted them in glass vases which they seemed to love!
  4 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Apr 17, 2013
    I don't have a definitive answer, but most Brugmansias hail from tropical climes where it is nice and humid, and a kitchen heated by a wood stove is about as dry an indoor environment as you can create.
  • Melissa K Melissa K on Apr 17, 2013
    Figured this. Cook with electricity, but den, living room and kitchen are open to the wood-burning heater in the LR. So hot in this part of the house, but maybe the moving didn't help either. I did bunch them up to try the greenhouse effect, tried down the hall in a colder room, constant moving to diff environs prob killed them. The ones that survived stayed on the top shelf of a baker's rack in kitchen, and on the floor in the dining room window. Thanks Douglas!
  • Caley's Culinaries Caley's Culinaries on Apr 18, 2013
    The first greenhouse I worked in specialized in datura. They HATE cold, but I don't think that was your problem. My greenhouse specializes in herbs. Even with the best care, some are hard to grow or even keep alive in the winter. You successfully propagated in the winter! I think without professional equipment, you did very well. Come work for me anytime!
  • Melissa K Melissa K on Apr 19, 2013
    Thanks Caley's. Working harder next time. However, a lot of what propagated did not overwinter well, even though they rooted and leafed in the beginning. Sounds like I need greenhouse.