How to Plant & Take Care of Angel Trumpets

Angel trumpet plants require rich soil full of nutrients and plenty of water. Angel trumpets (Brugmansia spp.) need full sunlight but they will also tolerate partial shade. The plants grow in USDA zones 9 to 11. The plant can grow up to 25 feet in height, resembling a small tree. It produces yellow, white or pink flowers that look like trumpets. The plant needs special care during the winter because it does not tolerate frost. Allowing the plant to go into a dormant period will ensure that it stays alive and healthy for the next growing season.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• 2-10-6 NPK fertilizer
• Compost
• General-purpose fertilizer
• 6-10-4 NPK fertilizer
• Mulch
• Large pot

1. Plant the seeds outdoors once the threat of frost passes. The soil temperature needs to remain above 50 degrees F. Select a location where the angel trumpets will receive full sunlight. The angel trumpets will need afternoon shade during hot summers.
2. Apply a 2-10-6 NPK fertilizer over the soil according to the package instruction. Water the soil to release nutrients. Plant the angel trumpet seeds in the soil and cover them with 1/4 inch of compost.
3. Water the seeds when the top 1/2 inch of the soil dries slightly. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate, which can take up to 15 days.
4. Thin the seedlings when they germinate. Keep the plants spaced 3 feet apart.
5. Water the angel trumpets weekly to moisten the soil. Cut back on watering the trumpets during weeks that receive significant rainfall.
6. Fertilize the soil with a general-purpose fertilizer every two weeks throughout the growing season. This will keep the soil full of nutrients.
7. Apply a 6-10-4 NPK fertilizer yearly to the soil before the plant grows in the spring. Read the package for the proper dosage instructions. Water the soil deeply to mix the fertilizer into the soil.
8. Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch around the trumpets to reduce the weeds. The mulch will help to retain the moisture level in the soil as well.
9. Move the plants indoors during the winter when the temperatures begin to drop below 40 degrees F. Transplant the angel trumpet to a large pot. Allow the soil to dry and only water it every two weeks when the top 2 to 3 inches feel dry. The leaves will fall off the plant and it will go into dormancy. Maintain a temperature between 40 and 45 degrees F.
10. Move the plant to a warmer location in the spring. Water the plant well and prune it lightly. Prune broken stems and old branches to help encourage branch production.
11. Transplant the trumpet outdoors when the soil warms again. Add nutrients to the soil and water the plant well.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear gloves when handling the angel trumpet because all parts of the plant are toxic. Plant the angel trumpet away from areas where children and pets play.