Companion Planting
Whether you are growing Angel Trumpet's in a container or in the ground, you may find that planting other plants around them can create a pleasing effect. Depending on where you live, and whether the plants are in the ground or in a container will play a major role in determining your choices.
Some pleasing combinations for perennials include:
Hostas
Campanula Carapatica
Dianthus
Ferns
Daylilies
Heucheras
Nepeta
Some of the possibilities for combinations of annuals include:
Coleus
Vinca (non-trailing)
Impatients
White Zinnias
Nicotina
Artemisia
Verbena
Of course, you can always mix and match any combination of these to find an effect that is pleasing to all of your senses.
Pruning Tips and Tricks
If you decide to prune your Brugmansia or Datura instead of allowing it to grow naturally, you must wait until it begins to "Y." If you have purchased your plant, it may already have a "Y," but if you are growing yours from a cutting or seeds, you will have to be patient.
The purpose of pruning a Brugmansia is to force it to grow more limbs, thereby forcing it to produce more flowers. The proper way to do this is to cut the newest growth off.
Let it grow a bit and snip it here and there remembering to cut as close to the trunk as possible without cutting into the trunk. If you prefer a bushy tree, then you must prune a lateral branch. The cuts here need to be made at the joint, and each joint can produce up to two new branches.
If you prefer to get fancier with your Angel Trumpet, you can opt for a double or triple trunk tree. The easiest way to accomplish this is to twist or braid the two or three different trunks together, but you must start at an early age so that the trunks are soft and flexible.
You will need to cut the leaves off the stems as you go and keep them tied with pantyhose as this will not cut into the stems. Using this method you can use one single colored plant, or two to three different colored plants.
The results can be very unique and varied. Remember there is nothing like having a unique plant that no one else has. You don't have to reveal your trade secrets either.
Last, but not least, you can also prune the roots of an Angel Trumpet without hurting the plant. The purpose of this is twofold, you can continue to enjoy your plant without having to buy a new pot and it will also stimulate new root and plant growth. A full grown Angel Trumpet will be perfectly content in a ten gallon pot as long as you keep the roots trimmed and occasionally
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