Brugmansia SUAVEOLENS 'PINK'

Brugmansia SUAVEOLENS 'PINK' - Pink Angel's Trumpet, Pink Fragrant Brugmansia, Brugmansia suaveolens 'Pink', Angel's Trumpet.

Brugmansia is a genus of seven species of woody shrubs and small trees in the Solanaceae family, native to subtropical and tropical regions of South America - from Venezuela and Colombia along the Andes to northern Chile, as well as in southeastern Brazil.

Brugmansias are evergreen or semi-deciduous shrubs and small trees 2 to 9 m (6.6 to 30 ft) in height with soft, large leaves. The plants possess a unique developmental strategy: Brugmansia does not bloom until the first stem fork forms at a height of 80-150 cm (31-59 in), and cuttings from the lower vegetative zone must also reach this height before blooming - unlike cuttings from the upper flowering zone, which bloom at a low height.

The main distinguishing feature of the genus is large, tubular, pendulous "angel's trumpets" 15 to 50 cm (6 to 20 in) in length with a five-lobed limb, pollinated by large nocturnal hawk moths and bats. The fragrance of the flowers intensifies during evening and night hours.

All parts of the plant contain tropane alkaloids (atropine, scopolamine, hyoscyamine) in high concentrations and are among the most toxic ornamental plants. Working with the plant requires gloves, as the alkaloids are absorbed through the skin.

The most widely distributed species of the genus in cultivation and the parental form of thousands of cultivars and hybrids is Brugmansia suaveolens, which in a tropical climate reaches the size of a small tree, while in container culture of temperate latitudes it retains a compact size with regular pruning.

Brugmansia SUAVEOLENS 'PINK' is a semi-deciduous shrub or small tree 2-5 m (6.6-16 ft) in height in cultivation, endemic to coastal rainforests of southeastern Brazil, where it grew below 1000 m (3300 ft) above sea level along riverbanks and forest margins with high humidity and abundant precipitation. The leaves are large, oval, up to 25 × 15 cm (10 × 6 in), slightly velvety to the touch, with a wavy margin, dark green. The trunk and branches are woody, brittle at branching nodes.

The variety differs from the typical species in the color of its flowers - instead of white, they are colored in a pink or yellow-pink tone, while retaining all species characteristics. Flowers are large, pendulous, tubular, 25-30 cm (10-12 in) long, with a fragrance intensifying in the evening hours and reminiscent of a mixture of jasmine, hyacinth, and citrus. Flowering occurs only after the plant reaches the first stem fork at a height of 80-150 cm (31-59 in), and continues in waves throughout the entire warm season.

Brugmansia seeds are large, brown, angular-triangular, 8-12 mm (0.3-0.5 in) in diameter, with a rough corky coat. Seeds may not reproduce the exact coloration of the mother plant - cuttings are preferred to preserve cultivar traits. Before sowing, seeds are soaked in warm water (35-40 °C / 95-104 °F) for 24 hours to soften the coat, then treated in a 1% potassium permanganate solution for 1-2 hours. Growth stimulants (SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon) can additionally be used. Stratification is not required. Scarification is not mandatory, but carefully disrupting the integrity of the corky coat with a sharp object or sandpaper significantly accelerates germination. Gloves are used when working with seeds and the plant.

Sowing is carried out at any time of year in a loose drained substrate based on peat soil with the addition of sand or perlite. Seeds require a small amount of light to germinate - they are laid out on the surface and only lightly pressed into the substrate or dusted with a 0.5 cm (0.2 in) layer. The substrate is kept constantly slightly moist by misting from a spray bottle; sowings are placed in a propagator and kept at a temperature of 25-29 °C (77-84 °F) in bright diffused light. Daily ventilation is mandatory - waterlogging provokes fungal infection of seedlings.

Seedlings emerge in 14-60 days, with a minimum period of about 2 weeks under optimal conditions, an average of about 4 weeks, and a maximum possible of several months. After germination, the cover is removed gradually, and seedlings are moved closer to light. Pricking out is carried out after the formation of 2 pairs of true leaves into individual pots with nutritious substrate. Until the first fork forms at a height of 80-150 cm (31-59 in), there will be no flowering - this is a biological feature of the genus.

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Brugmansia is grown in bright light - full sun or light shading during the hottest hours. Optimal placement is a south or southwest window, and in summer an open sunny location outdoors. With insufficient light, flowering is sparse or absent, and leaves turn pale. Day length is not restricted - the plant blooms under long days.

The optimal temperature during active growth is 18-30 °C (64-86 °F). The species belongs to the "warm" section of the genus and prefers steady warmth without sharp night temperature drops. Wintering at 5-10 °C (41-50 °F) in dormancy with minimal watering - the plant may shed part of its leaves, which is normal. It does not tolerate frost: at temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F), the aboveground part freezes out. In a container, it is brought indoors before the arrival of frosts.

Watering is abundant and regular during active growth: the substrate is kept evenly moist, as Brugmansia is extremely sensitive to drying out - drooping leaves and scorched margins signal a lack of moisture. Water should be soft, room temperature, and water from the saucer is drained. In winter, watering is reduced to a minimum, without allowing the substrate to dry out completely. Air humidity is maintained at a moderate level; in dry air, leaves lose turgor and attract spider mites.

The substrate should be nutritious, loose, well-drained: multipurpose potting mix with perlite (20-30%) added, or a mixture of leaf mold, peat, humus, and perlite in equal parts with the addition of 2 parts sod soil. Mandatory drainage at the bottom of the pot. The container should be large - Brugmansia actively expands its root system. During active growth, it is fed once a week with nitrogen fertilizer; when flower buds form, with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer; alternating mineral fertilizers with organic ones is recommended. Spring pruning is formative, up to branching forks, stimulating lush branching and abundant flowering.

Vegetative propagation: semi-hardwood cuttings 15-20 cm (6-8 in) long with 1-2 nodes are cut during active growth, all leaves except the top pair are removed, and the cutting is rooted in water or moist perlite at a temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). Rooting occurs in 2-4 weeks. Cuttings from the upper flowering zone bloom significantly earlier than cuttings from the lower vegetative part.