Does anyone here grow these? They are related to Brugmansia and have the sweetest little blooms. Here's a couple of pic's of two blooming in the gh this week. You know...like the Datura the DNA does not match up with Brugs to cross pollinate but you know I have to try it. Stranger things have happened in nature...LOL
I have a blue one, but I don't know the variety. Probably a very common one. I've had problems trying to root it. I'm going to be moving it this year, so I wanted to get some cuttings rooted, just in case it didn't survive the move, but it just isn't really easy to root, and from what I've read, it takes a really long time to set roots. I'm still going to try, and may layer some drooping branches onto the ground or into pots to see if that will get them to root easier.
Mine is in a bad location, and doesn't bloom much, plus, where it is, you can't see it, so it has to be moved.
I've heard that putting a piece of willow stem/branch in the water with the cuttings acts as a natural rooting compound. Maybe that would help. I haven't tried it yet, though.
I have had several colors in the past and find the red one blooms best for me but gets more sprawly. Is that a word? LOL! I had success rooting them in the shade on the back deck, just in a pot of fine sand. It did take a while, but at least most of them rooted. My friend Renee has done well with them in peat pots. I have a couple in the garage from last year. I don't know if they are dead or alive, but warm weather will tell.
Nice pictures Brenda. At this time of the year we really need color to brighten our days.
Thanks for the tip about the sand. All we have down here is fine sand, so maybe I'll just dig some up and sterilize it. Last time I got them to root, I did it in just plain old Florida sand mixed half and half with compost.
I tried some in peat and perlite, but they rotted. Guess they like staying sort of dry while they're rooting.
The Iochromas really have my attention...I'm especially attracted to the red and the rich purple colors. I'm trying to tell myself it's enough to be up to my neck in brugs, but it's sure tempting to try their cousins, too!
I have found that they like to bloom best when the weather is a little cooler. They should do well for you, Patrick. I had one called plum, I think, and I wasn't impressed with it. The bright colors catch my eye too.
If all else fails, there is a place in Calif. that sells Iochroma and some brugs too. Lots of other tropicals and unusual plants. I love the impatiens they have. http://www.kartuz.com
ChSam
Chariton, Iowa
Zone 5
This message has been edited by ChSam on Feb 7, 2006 4:24 PM
I like kartuz.I've ordered there before.I was looking to try 2 of their impatiens my next time ordering.the african queen& vareigated one also.I've wanted to try a iochroma but not ran into anyone in my area growing them to know which one to try.I see kartuz has a variety pack where they'll choose me 3.Guess I'll keep dreaming.I'd proably like a red...cause I know I couldn't grow a red brug..lol
Is there a book out on Iochromas?
I realize that this is an old thread but I was so excited to see that some others grow iochromas. I got my first plants the beginning of the year and they have done beautifully. I've had good success with cuttings but they do take a while and aren't nearly as easy to root as brugs. I have a Wine, Scarlet, Frosty Plum and Indigo. The Scarlet only put out a few blooms but the others had loads of flowers. I only got one seed pod to ripen and was very surprised to see that the seeds are tiny. They look very much like fig seeds. I am trying to start some of the seeds using heat mats. Wish me luck.
They don't go dormant like brugs and are growing well inside. I'm not sure of their hardiness but am sure they can't withstand the winter here. They did stop blooming when the temps got to the 40's but didn't drop any foliage and have just started developing more buds.
I've been reading some threads about brug/datura grafts and was wondering if you could graft a brug or datura to an iochroma or visa versa. The only plants that I've attempted grafting with are citrus and plumeria and my plumeria wasn't successful. That might have had more to do with the health of the root stock that I used though.
Sorry I'm going on about the iochromas but I was just so excited to see a thread about them that wasn't started by me
Michele, I live in Jacksonville, Fl also . I have rooted a couple in pure pertilite. It is better to root them when it is cooler here. I tried when it was warmer but lost them all. I protect mine in the winter. Cindy
I have a love hate relationship with mine. I hate that they don't bloom much in the heat and I usually have to fight some kind of mite on them at least once in the summer.
When they flower they put on an amazing show.
I dumped my 2 largest red in the woods. I only kept a small one that I propagated so it wouldn't take up as much space. I think I have had them all. Sunset was the last one to aquire. I lost Grandiflora to rot over the summer. Wine is my favorite color. Royal Blue blooms like crazy.
Dott what does the Sunset and the Grandafloria look like? Do you know of any nurseries that sell iochromas? The only place I've found them is Kartuz and Caldwell. I'd love to get some more varieties.
Karyn
i have tried grafting iochroma to brugs and dats none even tried to take i have succeded in grafting dats to brugs and did have one brug to dat graft but it recently died and also one brug to brug graft. i wll try again sometime to get the iochroma to graft to either. i have also tried to root pieces from the last two iochromas i have no luck. ihad the grandiflora to me it is a pale blue larger bloom than the other iochromas. the last two i have left are sky king and wine red. even the fuescoides < bad spelling did not make it.the last two ihave left are growing and the sky king is finnaly blooming again.will wait till next year to try any more iochroma to dat or brug grafts
in gardening there are no failures only learning experiances unless of course you give up mikey in fl
I have 2 iochromas, 1 NOID that Carrie shared with me and 1 surviving fuchsiodies I got from Kartuz. I'm pretty sure the Kartuz plants came with mites. It wasn't until later this year I found out some mites are invisible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, I over did my efforts to combat them & one cutting died.
Both the remaining plants grew well, but slowly. Carrie's branched out with 4 main branches about 20" long, but hasn't bloomed. The fuchsiodies came with a few buds that opened and later set a few more buds & bloomed, but then no more. Both are now in my garage and starting to drop leaves.
So, not a very productive outcome the first year, but I'll give them another chance next year, as long as they survive their winter storage.
Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place
Hi Cindy
You are in Jax too??? Another Floridian! We Jax brug gals gotta get together! I bought an Iochoma on ebay and it came in blooming!! BEAUTIFUL! but now is is looking like it is about to die. Any suggestions??
I understand they do not tolerate the Florida climates, but hopefully I am wrong!
We Jax brug gals gotta get together! I bought an Iochoma on ebay and it came in blooming!! BEAUTIFUL! but now is is looking like it is about to die. Any suggestions??
