Each year, I have to prune my Angel Trumpets back before storing over winter so it will grow thicker the following year. This process results in lots of shoots I can propagate to grow new ones that I can pot up later to share with others. In this post, I'm passing on some hints I have learned in the years since I was given my first plant shoot to root.
Caution: Although I have never had a toxic reaction to my plants, people with babies, toddlers, pets, or personal sensitivity issues should be aware of possibility of poisonous reactions and treatments before getting an Angel Trumpet or Devil Trumpet (Datura - trumpet faces up from Hell). Just to be safe, anyone with these plants may wish to wear disposable gloves when touching the actual plant.
Potting, Watering, and Placement of Angel Trumpets
In my area, I find Angel Trumpets prefer clay pots with good potting soil mix and a slightly larger plastic tray under it to thrive. Angel Trumpets like a tight fit in the pot, so they do not have to be re-potted as often as other houseplants. Since they like to be root-bound, wait until roots start to grow out of the bottom or plant looks like it is coming out of the pot to re-pot it and only go up to the next size pot so it can slowly grow into the new space. Putting a small plant in to a big pot and hoping it will grow into will only cause the plant to be overpowered by too much or too little water and it will quickly die. If you receive a newly potted baby Angle Trumpet plant, do not re-pot immediately as this might shock it and the fragile plant may die. Instead wait 2 seasons (if you got it in Fall wait until Spring) before re-potting plants.
Water the plant well after potting to reduce stress. When doing regular watering of Angel Trumpet plants, also fill the tray under it about half-full with more water. The clay post will absorb some of the water and slowly release it into the soil so the plant stays moist without getting soggy. This process will also reduce the need for frequent watering. How often water is needed can depend on where the plant is placed and the temperature. Indoors plants may only need watering once a week unless running a heater that will dry it out sooner so twice a week will be required watering. If placed outside the plants may only need watering every other day, but once temperature go over 90 degrees daily watering might be needed.
Angel Trumpets are tropical houseplants that may be placed near a window to get filtered sunlight. Although some say these plants like full sun, I found that their leaves burn easily, so position plants where they get only morning sunlight or filtered by a light curtain or slightly opened blinds. I put my plants in my covered pergola late Spring thru mid-Fall and then winter small plants in my kitchen and large ones in my garage as they do not like temperatures below 50 degrees. Direct sum outside can burn leaves, therefore placing the plants under a covered patio/pergola/porch or shade tree where they will only get little morning sun is preferred. If the plant likes where it is placed, it typically will flower each year after it is at least two years old.
Please note that a sudden change in temperature will result in Angel Trumpet plants dropping leaves. Yes, it does look ugly and you may think the plant is dead, but wait! If you keep watering the plant regularly, in a couple of months you will see new leaf shoots and small branches begin to form. Soon after the plant will once again look healthy. Moving the plant to a location that it does not like may also cause leaf drop.
Fertilizing, Pruning, and Propagating Angel Trumpets
I have read that Angel Trumpets should be heavily fertilized to encourage blooms. I try to give mine a mix of Miracle-Gro (which you can find in garden centers or on Amazon) in water the first week of each month, that is NOT November-January). After my plant's trunk got over an inch thick, I also began pushing Jobe's fertilizer sticks (also in garden centers or on Amazon) into the soil as well once plant is moved outside. I waited until plant was more mature as too much fertilizer can burn tender baby plants.
Angel Trumpet plants need pruning at least once a year to stay bushy and full, otherwise a scraggly plant with long branches containing a few leaves only on the tips will be the result. If plants have been outside prior to winter, pruning them before bringing then into the house or garage may be a good time to do this. Cutting plants back to about a foot tall is best, but making them half as high and wide is acceptable. The cut branches may dry out and die, which makes the plant look bad. I discovered an easy trick to prevent drying branch tips! Cut 4 inch wide strips of white paper towels, soak the strips in clean water, then tightly wrap the strips like a bandage around the end of each cut branch leaving a 1/2-inch lose on the end that you can pinch shut so no opening exists for air to get into branch. Re-moisten the paper towel bandages with a spray bottle when you notice they have dried out. When spraying, you may want to hold your hand behind each one or a bowl under each to keep water from going where you do not want it. When you see a leaf, branch, or bulge coming thru a bandaged branch, then the paper towel in that location may be removed.
If new plants are desired, some of the removed branches may be propagated from the pruning process above. Push removed branches that are at least as thick and long as a pencil into potting soil at least two-inches deep to grow roots. To ensure success, plant lots of branches as some may root and others may die. I just stick the branches around the edges of the pot of the mother plant and then dig them out two seasons later to give away. However, you can put 4 or 5 into different pots if desired to get them started and then divide the plants for giving away later.
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