To protect borderline plants during winter, stop feeding in late summer. Mulch the area around the roots, once the soil temperature drops, to prevent freezing and thawing throughout winter.
The more tropical the climate, the more pests there are to attack passionflower. Insects pests may include scale, spider mites, and whiteflies. Leaf spotting is generally caused by a fungal disease; remove affected leaves to slow the spread and treat with a fungicide if necessary. Root rot is common in soils that do not drain well.
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| source pic: Bakker.com |
'' Warning '
Some species of passion flower spread so aggressively that they are considered invasive in some regions. Check with local authorities before planting passion flower, and make sure to supervise them to keep them from spreading uncontrollably.
'' Light ''
To keep your passionflower vines healthy and blooming, plant them in full sun to partial shade. In extremely hot climates, some afternoon shade is appreciated. Passionflowers generally need at least four full hours of sunlight a day; more in cooler climates and some partial shade in the hottest areas.
''Soil''
The soil should be well-draining, but rich. Passionflowers grow and bloom best when the soil is kept moist. Soil pH can be in the neutral range, anywhere from about 6.1 to 7.5. The addition of compost to the planting hole will help retain moisture. Some type of support is needed for the vines to grow on—a trellis, a structure, or even another plant.
''Water''
Passionflowers should be given a deep watering immediately after planting. Passionflowers thrive with one or two deep waterings per week throughout the growing season, providing about 1 to 1 1/2 inch of water every week if there is no rain. They do not handle drought well.
''Fertilisers''
Regular feeding is not usually necessary for garden-grown passion flowers, and the use of nitrogen-heavy fertilisers can lead to excessive foliage and stem growth at the expense of flowers. If the vitality of the plant does seem to decline, the plants can be top-dressed with blood, fish and bone or a general fertiliser at approximately 50g per square metre of ground.
Plants in containers should be given regular fortnightly feeds during the growing season with an organic liquid plant food.
''Temperature and Humidity''
Passion flower plants may need winter protection in cooler regions. In zones cooler than zone 6, they often die in the winter unless you bring them indoors.
''Repotting''
New plants from the nursery that are to be grown on in containers should be transplanted into 18cm diameter posts. Some gardeners believe that passion flower plants bloom more profusely when their roots are restricted, so monitor the plant carefully and pot them on only when necessary, probably every three to four years. Use John Innes No 3 potting compost or a similar good quality, peat-free compost.
''When, Where and How to Plant''
Plant passion flowers in spring on fertile, well-drained soil. Although you can start passion flowers from seed or cuttings from a friend, it’s easiest to purchase plants fro ma nursery.
Plant vines in a hole dug three times the diameter of the root ball. Remove the plant from the pot and wash off the potting soil revealing the root system. Prune off any circling or errant roots and plant, add water and the native soil to the hole. Keep passion flowers well watered.
Passion flowers can also be grown in containers, especially in cold areas. Bring them outdoors in summer into a sunny, warm spot. Overwinter the plants indoors in a sunny window. With some luck you’ll get flowers forming in late summer.
''Growing Tips''
Passion flowers can be rampant growers. In fact, in some areas of the South they are considered invasive. Plant where their size can be maintained with annual pruning or grow them in containers. Even in marginal areas, such as USDA zone 6, where passion flower may dieback to the ground each winter, they will grow back from their root system in spring and flower that late summer.
Grow passion flowers in full sun, on well-drained soil and fertilize in spring and mid-summer to get the best growth and blooms. Keep the soil moist with mulch. The mulch also can protect the roots in winter in cold areas.
''Plant Care''
Passion flowers usually don’t need much attention to deadheading and pruning. You can remove spent flowers to keep the plant tidy and pruning should be done in early spring to keep an aggressive plant in bounds.
In areas where passion flowers thrive, so do their pests. Control aphids, white flies and spider mites with sprays of insecticidal soap whenever you see damage. Clean up dropped leaves in fall to reduce fungal diseases on the flowers and foliage.
''Growing From Seed''
Most varieties of passionflower can be purchased as seedling plants. They can also be propagated from either seed, softwood cuttings, layering, or rhizomes.
To save seed, allow the fruits to ripen completely. Open the pods and remove, clean, and dry the seeds before storing. If you are saving seed from hybrid varieties, remember that they will not grow true from seed, but will revert to the appearance of the parent species.
Passion flowers seeds can be slow to germinate. Start seed by soaking for 1 to 2 days in warm water. Discard floating seeds.
Place the well-soaked seeds on the surface of damp potting mix, pat down, but do not cover since they need light to germinate. Place the pot in a plastic bag and seal to retain moisture. If you can provide bottom heat (heating pad) to the pot, you will have a better chance of sprouting.
It can take weeks or months for passion flower seeds to sprout. Keep the soil moist at all times. When sprouts do appear, keep them out of direct sunlight until there are true leaves. Transplant once the plant gets large enough, possessing several sets of leaves.
''Varieties of Passion Flowers''
Common varieties include:
- Passiflora caerulea (blue passionflower): zones 7 to 9, grows to 25 feet with blue flowers
- Passiflora coccinea (red passionflower): zones 10 to 12, grows to 12 feet with red flowers
- Passiflora incarnata (purple passionflower): zone 5 to 9, grows to 8 feet with violet flowers
- Passiflora incarnata 'Alba': zone 5 to 9, grows to 8 feet with white flowers
- Passiflora alata 'Ruby Glow' (fragrant granadilla): a very fragrant variety with 4-inch flowers with cranberry petals and rich purple filaments.
- Passiflora edulis: usually grown for the edible fruit; grows to 5 feet.
''Pests''
Plants may be attacked by aphids, and when grown under glass the vines are susceptible to greenhouse pests such as red spider mite, whitefly, scale insect and mealybug.
''Diseases''
Passion flowers are somewhat prone to plant viruses, especially the cucumber mosaic virus. The virus is transmitted by cucumber beetles and aphids, and it can also spread directly between plants growing in close proximity or through infected seed. Affected plants have a mosaic mottling and distortion of the leaves, and growth may be stunted. Infected plants should be destroyed and the normal rules of garden hygiene applied.
They can also suffer from bacterial disease such as Xanthomonas bacterial spot. Again, any affected plant should be destroyed and one of the more resistant varieties chosen to replace it.
