How to Care for a Brugmansia Flava

Overview

Brugmansia flava, (Brugmansia X flava), or angel's trumpet, is a big, splashy tropical plant that will produce huge, yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms all year with a little tender loving care. Plant brugmansia near a patio or an open door or window to take full advantage of the plant's sweet nighttime scent. Brugmansia will tolerate light frost, but it won't survive a hard freeze. In cold winter climates, plant brugmansia in a large, heavy container so it won't tip over. Bring it indoors for the winter.

Step 1

Plant brugmansia flava in full sunlight. Plant the brugmansia where it will be in morning sunlight but protected from the hot afternoon rays, if you live in a climate with hot, sunny afternoons. Planting brugmansia in containers should be done in heavy, well-balanced containers filled with commercial potting mixture. Be sure the container has bottom drainage.

Step 2

Water brugmansia flava often to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water the plant daily during hot weather if it is in a container.

Step 3

Fertilize brugmansia flava every two to three weeks, using a good quality, all-purpose fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer according to the directions on the package.

Step 4

Remove the spent brugmansia blooms weekly so that the plant will continue to bloom year-round instead of stopping to produce seeds. Insert a stake into the soil next to the plant and tie the brugmansia to the stake with strips of nylon pantyhose if the brugmansia is tall and top heavy.

Step 5

Bring the brugmansia flava indoors when temperatures fall below 40 degrees F. Trim the plant back to 8 to 10 inches with pruning shears. Put the brugmansia near a sunny window. Keep the soil moist.

Step 6

Move the brugmansia outdoors as soon as temperatures will be consistently above 40 degrees F.