Winter has come to Florida. Ordinarily, our temperatures remain in the 50 - 70 degree range. As of late, we're getting temperatures in the 35 - 60 degree range which means we have to be ever vigilent about the slightest trends toward freezing. Despite the low temperatures, we've had some of our crosses from last year setting rather nice blooms. These are part of the group we may be registering within the next month or two. So, this is a sneak peek at what's new for 2011. Hope you enjoy them...

We've managed to get renewed growth from some survivors of last year's freeze! These Brugmansia seedlings made it through the hot Florida summer and are finally blooming again! The hard work and wait was worth it. Make a note of these crosses. It may be use for your breeding program.

As promised, we've started compiling a list of the best on-line plant dealers. The categories range from Amaryllis to Brugmansia, Begonias to Passiflora, Hibiscus to flowering tropical vines and seeds. These retailers offer excellent product, responsible packaging and shipping, courteous service and prompt problem solving. Once again, if you have a favorite seller, let us know.

Oftentimes, as I read through the various plant forums, i encounter letters from new hybridizers. After doing their homework, making a plan and racheting up their expectations, the much awaited blooms arrive. Some of those blooms are a sobering moment. The color isn't there. There are no real distinguishing characteristics that make the resulting blooms different enough to warrant being registered. Worse yet...ewwww, a pure white bloom. More often than not, the novice hybridizer says, "It just came out...white!" - as if this adds to the crash and burn. If you see something of yourself and your experience in this, take heart. We have a few insights into the situation that just might alleviate your angst.

Florida is cooling off. Autumn has arrived, and with it comes cooler days and nights, less humidity and relief for sun-baked Brugmansias. Much to our relief, we were fortunate to have some seedlings survive last season's freeze. One of them, The Chief x Sam has finally bloomed. We were pleasantly surprised...

Beware of the word "rare". One of the most satisfying aspects of growing Brugmansia is growing them from seed. Compared to many other plants, Brugmansia has a relatively fast turnover rate. Plant a seed, and you have a flowering plant within 12 - 18 months. That's pretty fast when you consider something akin to an amaryllis bulb takes three years from seed to flower.

Brugmansia "Jacayna"

Jacayna is a very interesting Brug. The plant is stout and a very vigorous grower. Leaves are ovate, wide and a tad serrated. Cuttings root very easily. Nice, strong fragrance. All are fine qualities. The flower, however,  is  unusual with it's wide, pink-yellow-white colored corolla that sometimes sports seven distinctive corolla teeth. She's obviously got a distinctive suavoleans look about her, yet there's something indefinable about what's lurking in her genes.

How To Collect And Store Pollen

After you've studied the Brugmansia Family Tree and set up your cross-pollination filing system for organizing your crosses, its time to begin collecting a variety of pollens for your hybridizing arsenal. An effective and efficient program depends on having pollens available when you need them. Plants tend to bloom in staggered flushes, so oftentimes flowers with pollens you wish to use as pollen donors simply aren't in bloom. When this happens, you have a missed opportunity and may well lose a season of seed production. 

Plan Your Hybridizing Program 

If you've been growing Brugmansia for a while and are visiting the various Brugmansia websites and forums, you've had a chance to see some of the new cultivars being produced by home gardeners like yourself. Creating new cultivars is a very exciting adventure, but new plants don't arrive on the scene without some pre-planning and organization.

Proper Soil Mix For Growing Brugmansia

One of the most important requirements for Brugmansia propagation and growth is a proper soil mix. Whether you're propagating cuttings, placing your plants in containers or putting them in-ground, the soil environment you provide for them will determine the quality and longevity of your plants.

Propagating Brugmansia Via Air Layering

If you've been a good parent to your Brugmansia plants, they've grown tall and have produced many flushes of beautiful, sweet smelling blooms. You're a success! Now, after reading all about this hybridizing stuff, you're interested in starting your own hybridizing program. You've studied the Brugmansia cultivar history, you have some ideas about what kind of results you'de like to acheive and you've selected the Brugs you want to use for setting pods. There's only one problem. You can't reach the flowers! They're up there, and you're down here! The solution to the problem is air layering.