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Overwintering a Brugmansia

Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
in Plants
Hello

I was given this Brugmansia as a six inch cutting a year ago. As you can see from the photo it's grown... A lot! It's now about 4ft tall.

I'm looking for advice on overwintering it. My wife has forbidden me from bringing it into the house due to its toxicity!

 I have a couple of possible options... I can put it in the garage, which will be completely dark and obviously quite cold (though hopefully not freezing) or I can put it in the outside toilet which has a window but will probably get even colder. Would either of these work and should I bubble wrap it too?

Also, do I need to cut it back at any point and if so, when? 

I'd love to keep it going as it's the only slightly 'unusual' plant I have and the flowers are superb. Any advice is welcome.

I'm in Norfolk by the way, just in case that's important regarding our winters. 

Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited September 2021
    Hubby cuts ours back to about 6 inches,then it goes in a bubble wrap lined green house,and if it's a really heavy frost a bit more bubble wrap chucked over.yes,they are poisonous but so are a lot of house plants, daffodils,Lillie's,you aren't going to eat them,or do you have small children to think about. Take cuttings now, just to be sure,chop off non flowering tops,about 8 to 10 inches,stick them in a jam jar of water in a window sill,it will root. The mother plant doesn't need light over winter
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    Wow so you really can cut them back hard?! I'll definitely take a cutting as my brother was interested in getting one. Thank you. 

    Just how dangerous are they? If you touch the leaves at all should you wash your hands immediately? Or is it more a case that you'd have to actually eat the thing??
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited September 2021
    The seeds are the most poisonous, interestingly they contain scopolamine which used to be used as a pre med. at the hospital. I pull dead leaves off,I don't rush and wash my hands immediately,( I don't lick them either) ingestion is dangerous,but lupins,fox gloves, honeysuckle a lot of other plants, berries are poisonous. If you cut mother down she must be kept dry overwinter,a box and few layers of bubble wrap should do it, cuttings are easy,with just the water.like a lot of "poisonous" plants they are used in medicine.NO, I'm not suggesting self medication with them!I have a bad topical reaction to ant bites,so I steer well clear of them.
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    Thank you for all that.

    One last thing, what precisely do you mean by kept dry? Should I be watering it at all over winter? 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    No,don't water it at all
  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    Oh ok. Glad you told me. The thing has been drinking gallons all summer. Would never have guessed it should be left entirely over winter. Thanks for the advice! 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Yes, outside on the summer in  a pot HUGE amounts of water and feed
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