Brugmansia can be a beautiful specimen in a garden, but it is not so easy to maintain at peak in a container, better in large tub or grown in the ground.

If propagating from cuttings, you want to start with a very light soil mix, because cuttings will rot if left in soggy soil that will not drain. A good cutting mix is about 2/3 Perlite to 1/3 all-purpose or fortified potting soil in a 4-inch pot.

After about 2-3 weeks, with roots poking through the bottom of your pot, it's time to repot into a larger container with a different soil mix--a 50/50 Perlite to potting soil mix. The established cutting has more roots and needs a mix that will hold more water for a longer period of time. Container size is important too. A 4-inch pot sized cutting will rot if placed in a gallon or 3-gallon pot. It simply can't handle all that room and moisture.  A 6-inch pot is best.

I am not sure what size your tub is--hopefully big enough to hold rich, loamy, well-drained soil. Watering well early in the day, providing full sun is best, but maybe a little shade on very hot days will aid the flowers in summer. From spring to fall, container specimens benefit greatly from frequent application of dilute liquid fertilizer.

For tips on a variety of gardening topics, see our Plant Information Guides.
- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service