Oct 21, Datura and Brugmansia Overwintering

by Gord
(Hamilton, Ontario)

Living just west of Toronto, so I have been told, that I must take these flowers into my house around late October. I must cut the plants right down to 12 inches or so in the pots...keep them slightly moist and down in my basement until next year? Is this true or not?

Thank-you,
Gord

Doug says that "it depends". The taller species that bloom heavily on second year or mature growth do better when they are kept over in a cool basement or sunny room. I've done it both ways - the sunny room worked best for me - and I left most of the central trunk on but gave it a haircut to remove weak growth before putting it back out in the spring. The cool basement and heavy cut-back also worked but not in my experience as well. Your results may differ - it has to do with the temperatures and moisture levels you hold the plant at for the winter. Heated basements will not work - no higher temps than 45F.

The lower varieties -Datura - tend to self-sow like a crazy man so I never brought them indoors. I'd collect seed in case they didn't germinate very well (the colored ones and doubles were poor outdoor germinators in USDA zone 4) and start them up again. I never really bothered to try to overwinter them but the rules would pretty much be the same.

This two plants grow in identical conditions and only minor differences in flowers have separated them - in my humble opinion and experience as a nothern gardener. Maybe somebody in the South has a different take on it but they don't have to bring 'em indoors to avoid -40F for that one glorious week in Feb. :-)

Hope that helps a bit

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