Angel's Trumpet-short lived flower?

Anyone growing these (Brugmansia, formerly was datura meterloides--spelled from memory)

I've got one growing (all white flower). I seeded it a bit late (May
20th) but it has grow quickly. It bloomed its first flower 3 days ago but I only got to enjoy it for a day. The plant was wetted down from a thunderstorm the night after the flower opened. The next day it was drooping down, mashed closed. After that it started browning throughout the petal tip and when I touched the 8" petal cone it separated from the bud.

Is this normal?
Are the flowers that short lived or was this because of the rain?
Should I cut the petal-less flower base off to avoid a seed pod and encourage more growth.

I haven't been fertilizing this much. It is growing in a pot of equal thirds mix of composted manure, peat & perlite. I've got two more flowers growing now on it and it looks like a bunch of branches are starting in the V of each existing branch.

I am hoping to overwinter this plant indoors this year (it is Zone
9-10 I believe) and repot in a tub for next years growth.

some side info...

We are experiencing occasional torrential downpours (2 inches in an hour). We have already reached August's average rainfall. This plant is more sheltered since it is against the house wall facing SW and under an overhang so it doesn't drown like many of the other plants do.

This plant has also been attacked twice by bugs chewing the leaves which is a shame cause they are supple and velvety to touch and very attractive. One left yellow eggs everywhere and tiny yellow inch-worms. Another were colorful Orange and black beetles. I think they were stripped more than dotted. I have been cleaning them off by hand.

DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
1st Year Gardener

I've read that Datura was reclassified as Brugmansia but information is confusing. It looks like Datura meteloides didn't get changed. My seed packet said d.m. The Sunset book says D.meteloides have upward facing flowers and Brugmansia hang downward. I don't know how true that is... mine start straight up but when blossomed hang downward facing.

Good to know that plant is surviving me.
Well they are hardy to Zone 9-10 and I'm a Zone 6b/7. I'd like to try and grow this larger. I know most treat it as an annual except in a few nurseries which sell them as 7 foot trees.
DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
1st Year Gardener

I have at present two Brugsmansias'. One is roughly 5 1/2 feet with nearly 10 flower pods. At present two have opened. The first flower has been beautiful for the past 4 days. I am in zone 5-6. We have had much rain here, the flower tips hang down and group together when it rains but seems to reopen once dry. These are supposed to be peach but resemble more dusty rose. I have pics of the one, the other is not in full sun and not as large.

How does one post a pic in this?