Brunfelsia - Lady-Of-The-Night

(Brunfel'sia)

DESCRIPTION: These are evergreen, flowering shrubs found in tropical America. They are grown outside in southern Florida and California. They can be grown inside greenhouses where outdoor climates aren't suitable. They need a greenhouse with a minimum temperature of 55 degrees. These plants grow 2 to 8 feet in height, have woody stems and big, oval to oblong leaves. Their flowers, which grow in clusters, are large and purple or cream in color.

POTTING: Repotting is done after they've finished flowering. The best compost for them is a mixture of two parts fibrous loam and one part each of peat, leaf mold, and sand. When the flowers have faded, the shoots should be cut back by half. Sprits the foliage with water to encourage the growth of new shoots. When these are a half-inch or so long, the plants are taken from their pots and a bit of the old soil is removed, after which, they are repotted in slightly larger pots. Pinch the tips of the shoots so they will branch. When they have formed a good supply of roots, they may be given a dilute liquid fertilizer during their season of growth. Keep the air humid by wetting the floor, benches and their foliage quite often. They need a lot of water in the summer, but less in the winter.

PROPAGATION: Shoots that are 2 inches long may be inserted in a propagating case in the greenhouse in June or July.

VARIETIES: B. (Franciscea) calycina and its varieties, eximia, floribunda, macrantha; B. calycina (This one and its varieties are sometimes called Yesterday-Today-and Tomorrow); B. americana (Lady-of-the-night); B. undulata; B. latifolia.

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