Angel's Trumpet

Taxonomic Name: Brugsmansia

Nightshade Family

Herbaceous or Woody Plants

It is difficult to imagine a more dramatic house or patio plant that the angel's trumpet. A close relative of the tomato, the potato, the petunia, and the tobacco plant, it outstrips its relatives in the majesty of its flowers and its overall aspect. Forming thick stems, foot-long leaves, the angel's trumpet is in its greatest glory from spring to early fall, when it produces huge, dangling flowers that exude a wonderful perfume at night. While the angel's trumpet does require more fertilizing and watering than many other indoor plants, your extra efforts will quickly be rewarded.

How to Care for Your Plant:

LIGHT: The more direct sunlight, the better. Some angel's trumpet plants will also do fine in very bright indirect light.

WATERING: Your plant needs evenly moist soil year round. Never allow the soil to dry out. When you water, do so thoroughly. At least a little water should come out of the pot's bottom drainage holes, but the plant should not stand in saucer water for more than thirty minutes.  

FEEDING: Feed your plant monthly with an all purpose houseplant fertilizer. When the plant begins to form its pod-shaped flower buds, supplement with two applications, one week apart, with a blossom booster-type (very high middle number) fertilizer.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: To forestall the advent of aphids, mites, or other pests, apply a tablespoon or two of systemic insecticide granules to the soil every six weeks.