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A hardy vigorous and showy Passion Flower
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Passion flower
Cultivation
Different passion flower have different conditions and requirements depending of the native country. Many species of Passiflora are ideal as decorative container plants on a balcony or patio. Some are suited for cultivation on windowsills. Several species can withstand short spells of slight frost and can be cultivated outdoors throughout the year in the appropriate climate. A few Passionflowers can even survive temperatures down to -15oC; these can be regarded as hardy in much of Europe and the
For a successful cultivation is the imitation of the conditions in the plant’s natural surroundings. Try to obtain information regarding the origin of each species. Is it from hot and humid lowland jungle or from cooler forests high on the mountains? With the exception of many high-altitude species from the
Soil Requirements
Most passifloras, particular hybrids, can be successful cultivated in standard commercial potting soil. To mellow and aerate such soil add perlite, vermiculite or sand. Regular garden soil or compost can also be used, but these carry with them the danger or oil-born diseases. Garden soil should heated or pasteurized in 200cC oven fro about 15 minutes to kill harmful bacteria, fungi and especially pets like nematodes and weevil larvae. This method is rather troublesome and produces an unpleasant odour, but the pasteurized, nearly sterile soil will prevent any damage caused by the aforementioned organisms, and the trouble is justified in view of dramatic consequences of an infestation of nematodes. However heat treatment has the disadvantage of removing all the beneficial soil organisms that would otherwise have a positive effect on the growth of the plant. In their natural surroundings; perhaps the best advise is to try garden compost and sterilized soil or commercial mix and make a comparison between the two.
The soil of potted plants should freshened from time to time. By watering the plant from the top, the soil is compressed, and in the course of time the potting mixture sags. The root ball must be loosened up and placed on a newly layer of potting mixture in the same pot. This procedure however does not make up for repotting plants in a larger container, which should be done in regular intervals depending on the size of the plant. This particularly applies to young plants, which can be repotted twice in one year.
Passionflowers roots rapidly rot in waterlogged soil, so encourage good drainage by adding gravel, pot shards or sand to the base of the potting mixture. Do not allow the root ball to dry out, either. Most passionflower deaths occur from fungal infection that develops after stress of drying out followed by over watering.
A pH level of 6-6.5 in the acid range is favourable. This can be measured with indicators strips. A regular check is also advisable when limey tap water is used. When pH reading is too high add peat.
Fertilizing
Passionflowers need many nutrients if they are to grow well. During their growing period they must be fertilized regularly, and for the rest of the year feeding is adjusted to growth and reduced accordingly. Pot plants have a great need of nutrient supply.
There are many fertilizers from which to choose. Mineral fertilizers are compound fertilizers containing the complete range of nutrients and trace elements.
Organic fertilizers such as horn meal and bone meal must be broken down in by the soil bacteria before the plants can use them. This occurs slowly over a period of time. When plants are repotted, organic fertilizers are simply mixed with the soil or slightly worked into the top of the potting mixture. However organic fertilizers often do not contain all the necessary nutrients in a sufficient concentration, and a mineral fertilizer should be added. For a healthy growth and development of sumptuous flowers the continuous fertilization at regular intervals is necessary so that the plant always has sufficient nutrients at its disposal.
If continuous fertilization proves too tedious, or if fertilizing is forgotten now and again, the alternative is a slow-release fertilizer. A single application provides plants with the necessary nutrients for a complete growing season, and by releasing the nutrients slowly the fertilizer will not burn the plants. This type of fertilizer is best mixed into the soil medium. Plants are also able to absorb nutrient through their leaves though fertilizing through the leaves is only supplementary and will not replace the supply of nutrients from the soil.
Plants that exhibit an increasing number of yellow leaves are likely suffering from chlorosis; a condition cased by a lack of nutrient. Chlorosis may be cased by a pH level that is too high often due to too much lime in the soil or water, or by over fertilizing, water logging, drying out followed by over watering. Lack of light,
pest infestation, or drift from herbicides. Fertilizing with the belief that too much is better than too little is among the most harmful mistake one can make. When the soils contains too much phosphorus or potassium, other important trace elements, such of iron, are bound in the soil and cannot be absorbed by the plant. Over fertilizing can result in salt concentrations that reach such a degree that the water is drawn away from the plant. This leads to wilting of the leaves and the plant dries up in spite of good watering.
Over wintering
Before night temperatures drop below 10oC the more sensitive container plants should be take indoors depending on their resistance to cold. For some of the species the winter is the most critical period and they must not be taken to a dark basement room to do so would be to sentence them to death. The best winter location is a heated green house or conservatory. With the help of supplementary light, the day can be prolonged artificially. Fluorescent tubes are a good choice and should be placed 50-60cm from the plants, this can be easily controlled by and inexpensive timer (12-14 hours light per day is ideal). It is of great importance that passionflowers are kept at the right temperature. While 5oC or even slightly colder is sufficient for some species, many will not tolerate temperature below 15oC.
Good air circulation is indispensable. In moist standing air fungal infections are more likely to occur, and in dry standing air pets like spider mites may become a problem, which are very difficult to get rid of. Yellow leaves and dead parts off the plant must be removed regularly When this remain on the vine or are lying in the pot they are an excellent breeding ground for fungal infection.
During the whole of winter, passionflowers should be only moderately watered and scarcely fertilized, following their reduced winter growth. The root ball need only be a little moist.
As days get longer, passionflowers in greenhouses or conservatories produce new growth. From this point the plants should be watered and fertilized regularly.
As soon as the day temperatures reach 12oC -15oC the plants can be taken outdoors.
Pruning
Once Passiflora are taken to their winter place, the shoots which are often several meters long, are rather difficult to tame. Pruning makes it easier to take plants indoors. However plants should not cut back rigorously and indiscriminatingly that only the stem and a few nodes remain. This especially true for species that grow rather slowly; if cut back too much as long time may pass before they regain their initial size. Furthermore some shoots may dry out, which can result in the total loss of the plant. As a rule plants are cut back to ½ or 1/3 of their original length, always leave some green leaves. If there is enough space to over winter larger plants cut off only the tips of the shoots. Especially in winter after a rigorous pruning back in fall new shoot suffering insufficient light may appear weak or chlorotic and therefore unattractive. These cost the plant much strength, and most should be cut back regularly. If the plants are still rather small or are still flowering in winter quarters pruning should take place in early spring.