Botanical name: Allamanda cathartica
Family: Apocynaceae
The Golden Trumpet also called Common Trumpetvine or Yellow Allamanda is a true beauty which bears flaring yellow trumpet-like flowers. It is a spectacular climbing plant whose leaves are glossy, about 4 in. long and the tubular flowers are about 3 in. in diameter. It can grow up to 8 ft if not pruned. Though a climber, Golden Trumpet does not twine, nor does it have tendrils or aerial roots.
Golden Trumpet is a delicate type requiring warmth, humid conditions and plenty of sunlight. It does not last very long under room conditions if these requirements are not met. Golden Trumpet is native to Brazil. Several varieties of this plant are available. They include grandiflora which has more compact, pale-yellow flowers and handersonii which has red buds and golden yellow flowers.
Golden Trumpet grows best in bright light with at least 4 hours of sunshine per day to encourage flowering. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Water your Golden Trumpet moderately during the growing season while allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist.
Do not allow the soil of your Golden Trumpet to dry out as it can lead to wilting and leaf drop. Ensure your pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Average room temperature between 16-270C is ideal for your Golden Trumpet. Protect your Golden Trumpet from cold draughts to prevent brown leaf tips and or edges. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Golden Trumpet grows best in humid conditions. Set your Golden Trumpet on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Feed your Golden Trumpet with a potassium-rich fertilizer every 3 weeks during the growing season to promote flowering. Withhold feeding during the growth season as growth is minimal. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
Prune your Golden Trumpet by removing dead blooms and leaves to maintain your plant neat and tidy. Removing dead blooms encourages more flowering.
Cutback the plant after flowering to control growth and to encourage new growth from which the flower buds arise.
Repot your Golden Trumpet at the beginning of the growing season in a pot one size larger than the previous one only when the plant becomes pot-bound.
Ensure the pot for your Golden Trumpet has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining soil to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot.
Golden Trumpet can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from stem cuttings.
Take stem cuttings of about 4-6 in. from your Golden Trumpet. Ensure each cutting has 2-3 leaf nodes as this is where new growth will come from. Strip the lower leaves.
Dip the lower cut end of the cutting in a rooting hormone to hasten rooting. Insert 2 in. of the cutting in moist, free-draining soil.
Cover the set up with clear polythene to create a greenhouse effect in order to promote rooting. Place the set up in a warm brightly lit spot. Allow the new plants to be well established before transplanting.
Underwatering is the cause of wilting and leaf drop in your Golden Trumpet; water the plant moderately and maintain the soil moderately moist during the growing season. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Cold draughts will cause leaf drop in your Golden Trumpet. Protect the plant from cold draughts and maintain warm temperatures for your Golden Trumpet.
Too low humidity will cause brown leaf tips and edges in your Golden Trumpet. Raise humidity for your Golden Trumpet by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Three reasons can cause your Golden Trumpet not to flower. One reason is too little light. Golden Trumpet grows best in bright light with at least 4 hours of sunshine per day to encourage flowering.
The second reason for your Golden Trumpet not flowering is feeding it with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Feed your Golden Trumpet with a potassium-rich fertilizer every 3 weeks during the growing season to promote flowering.
The third reason is underwatering your Golden Trumpet.Water your Golden Trumpet moderately during the growing season while allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist.
Naturally, the older leaves of your Golden Trumpet will turn yellow and fall off.
Excessive yellowing of leaves for your Golden Trumpet is due to soggy soil. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining. Remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots for Root-rot.
Common plant pests in Golden Trumpet are Mealy Bugs and Aphids.
Golden Trumpet (Allamanda cathartica) produces a milky sap which contains a strong substance that is toxic to both humans and pets. If ingested it can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pains.
The toxin can also cause severe skin irritation on senstive skin; always wear gloves when handling. Keep this plant out of reach of children and pets.
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