Angel Plant

[Irondale]

My angel plant grew fast and tall this summer. The came autumn and the change of weather. From all that I've read, this plant can be left outside (WA state Zone 8-9) during the winter... or it should be brought in doors to keep the cold away.

I have this plant in a big pot and decided I didn't want to risk the weather and so brought it into the house. Leaves were dropping everywhere even though I had put it in a place where it rec'd plenty of light and steady temperature.

Back outside it goes and the shedding stopped. Then the freeze and now the plant looks ugh.

Will it grow back come Spring time? It's about 4 feet tall so I don't want to lose it. It grew that much in one spring/ summer.

I do have the pot insulated.

Any experience out there when it comes to Angel Plants?

TIA

Donna

[John McGaw]

No idea about the angel plant (or even what one is) but did you really have a freeze already in zone 8-9? Out here on the other side of the country in zone 6 I haven't even been close to freezing yet and had planned on putting off bringing in my tender plants until next month.

[Irondale]

Correction, angel "Trumpet" plant. And, yes, it's been at the freezing level here for a couple of days. Made the mistake of walking on my lawn when it was frozen....nice footprints.

Donna

[Nelly]

Dig it, I'm in z4 and for some reason haven't had a real frost yet. Only last night did the last of my tropicals get brought inside, whereas a couple years ago they all came in late September, shortly after which we got a couple inches of snow.

What's an angel plant?

Some plants need to be properly acclimatized before bringing them in or they'll certainly go to "heaven". (Rosemary comes to mind.) Abrupt temperature & humidity changes can be shocking enough, but the light inside a sunny southern window is still very inferior to even full shade outdoors.

AFA just looking sorry, if it's a plant that can take some frost could it may just be its way of showing dormancy?

[Amos Nomore]

Assuming you are referring to Brugmansias, they often will die back to the ground even following a light frost, but in your locale should regrow vigorously in the spring if the roots are protected from freezing. I have had a few brugs freeze to the ground but regrow here in zone 7b as long as I heavily mulched over the root crowns and uncovered them after frost danger has passed in the spring.

[Irondale]

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I've read that they will die back and then rebound in the spring/summer. It was so healthy and full of leaves that I'm hoping I didn't kill it. I think it belongs in the Bignoniaceae family. Its flowers grow to

4-6 inches. I bought this from Michigan Bulb and while it didn't arrive happy it grew fast - almost 5 feet. Needs water constantly. It's not really a vine but has strong trucks from which the leaves and hopefully flowers grow. This 3 in 1 Angel Trumpet supposedly had white, yellow and pink flowers as it's 3 different plants in one pot.

The freeze was only top surface and so the roots are fine. I have some plants heavily muched and they do make it thru the winter. In my area, we used to get weeks of nothing but freezing or below weather come fall/winter. But that doesn't happen any longer. I can now even mow my small lawn thru out all four seasons. ugha

I truly have no place in my gardens (flowers and fruit) so that's why this plant went into a pot....so planting it is not an obtion.

Thanks for all the input. Guess it's pretty much a wait and see game.

Donna

[lannerman]

Hi Donna, Yes, sounds like your 'Angel plant' is indeed a Brugmansia or Datura as it was known. I dont know much about your zones over there (im in UK) but down here in Cornwall up until the last 2 very bad winters, I used to grow mine happily outside, they would get cut back in the winter by any frost but providing you can keep it fairly dry, it should re-shoot from the base in spring. I would suggest that when (and if) it shoots next spring you take some cuttings, they root very easily taken in the spring and this will ensure you can be a bit more cavalier with them if you have several.

The variety that is the hardiest is one called 'sanguineum', its not as scented as the pink, white or yellow but it does have lots of red and yellow flowers and happily will stand down to minus 4-6 C for the odd night without much dammage??

I dont know how cold it gets with you but do you have a shed or garage that you could put the pot into you had a really cold spell, failing that put the pot under something like an overhang of the house, or a large evergreen shrub which will give it some protection ?? failing that, get some carpet and make a temporary 'wigwam' to protect it from the worst of the weather, never use polythene (the condensation inside the polythene will cause it to rot) Hope this helps so that you can sit back next year and enjoy the scent from these wonderful flowers, dont sniff for too long, they can be hallucinogenic, especially from about

5-6pm when the perfume is at its strongest ??

Best wishes, Lannerman

[Stewart Robert Hinsley]

In message , Irondale writes

Brugmansia belongs to the Solanaceae.

[Irondale]

Thank you for all the input. For now, I've placed my plant where it should not rec'd high wind or cold damaged and the pot is protected from harsh weather. No doubt I will have to do some cutting so thank's for that bit of info. It grew so well in just one summer I'd hate to lose it. Knowing it is ok to cut makes it easier to watch LOL.

Donna in WA State zone 8-9