It seems to come from the Garden of Eden and spoils us with tropical flowers. Passion flowers turn out to be less demanding than their lavish appearance suggests. Find out here the central framework conditions for the successful cultivation of Passiflora in the room and garden.
Plant passionflower properly
Taking into account the following criteria, the planting takes place passion flower exemplary in the garden:
- Sunny, warm, sheltered location
- Nutrient-rich, fresh and moist substrate
- Ideally a pH of 5.5 to 6.0
- Planting time from mid-May
- Planting distance 50 centimetres
Clever hobby gardeners plant passion flowers that are not hardy in the ground together with their tubs in order to get them out of the ground in good time before the forest and resettle them in the winter quarters.
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care tips
The care of a Passiflora moves within a manageable framework. How to do it right:
- Keep the root ball constantly moist with lime-free water
- Fertilize every 14 days from April to August
- Prune and thin out in early spring
- Bright and protected overwinter at 10-12 degrees Celsius
Which location is suitable?
The ideal location for Passiflora is sunny, warm and sheltered from the wind. The climbing plants happily stretch out their roots in the nutrient-rich, loose, humus-rich substrate.
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When is flowering time?
The majority of Passiflora are summer bloomers, delighting us with their blooms from May to September or beyond. Some rare species and cultivars bloom in winter, either immediately after planting or from January to March.
Properly cut passionflower
Thanks to a remarkable cut tolerance, nothing speaks against a regular pruning. Cut your Passiflora into shape before putting them away. Ideally, the climbing plant gets its shape and maintenance cut in early spring.
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Fertilize passionflower properly
The passion flower is not a contemptible food. Fertilize Therefore, treat the plant every 14 days with a phosphate-rich preparation. Too much nitrogen promotes leaf growth at the expense of flowers.
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Diseases
The passion flower is considered susceptible to fungal infections, like the ubiquitous one mildew. Therefore, avoid spraying the tendrils with water and make sure the plants are far enough apart. Should the mealy patina nevertheless spread over the pretty foliage, use this home remedy:
- Mix fresh milk and water in a ratio of 1:9 and use every few days
- Alternatively, pollinate the infected Passiflora with rock flour or pure charcoal ash
On the other hand, if the leaves turn black, the sooty mold fungus has struck. In this case, the responsible aphids must be combated first. Then cut out the diseased parts of the plant or wash off the sooty mold with a weak soap solution.
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hibernate
If the temperatures drop below 10 degrees in autumn, the tropical passiflora move to their winter quarters. Here, in the bright location at 10-12 degrees Celsius, she draws fresh strength for the next season. During this phase, do not let the root ball dry out and stop fertilizing. Houseplants stay in their usual place during the winter.
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Propagating passion flower
To propagate Passiflora, you have the choice of the following methods:
- sowing: time-consuming and tedious
- Cuttings: easy
- Offshoot: uncomplicated
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repot
The best time to repot a passion flower is early spring, immediately after pruning. We also recommend repotting a freshly bought Passiflora. As a rule, the sales container is much too narrow and the substrate is inferior.
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Is passion flower poisonous?
No general statement can be made about the toxin content of Passiflora. Within the broad genus are toxic species that contain hydrogen cyanide and alkaloids, while other specimens produce delicious fruit.
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Passion flower does not bloom
If the exotic climbing plant refuses to bloom, these measures can help:
- A two-month dormancy during the winter in the cool, bright place
- A plucky pruning in early spring or fall
- Fertilize regularly from April to August
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Yellow leaves
If the leaves turn yellow, there is usually a lack of care. If the water and nutrient supply is in balance, leaf chlorosis is responsible for the yellowing. In this case, a Passiflora lacks iron because the substrate is too calcareous. Fertilize with a special iron preparation and only water with soft rainwater.
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Is passion flower poisonous to cats?
The passion flower contains toxic substances that are dangerous for cats. This applies in particular to the blue passion flower and other species and varieties.
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Grow your own passion flower
The fascination of hobby gardening results not least from the experience of growing a passion flower yourself. These approaches are available:
- Harvest and sow the seeds from the fruit
- Cut and grow cuttings in summer
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Grow passion flower from seed
To harvest passionflower seeds, cut open a ripe fruit and scoop out the flesh. Clean the seeds with clear water and soak them in 0.2 percent potassium nitrate (pharmacy) for 24 hours. After the germination inhibition has been lifted, sowing can begin.
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Propagating passion flower from cuttings
With the help of cuttings, you can easily grow more passion flowers. Here's how to do it:
- Cut head cuttings with a length of 15-20 cm
- Defoliate except for the top pair of leaves
- Plant two-thirds into lean soil
- Place in the indoor greenhouse or put on a plastic hood
At 20-25 degrees Celsius on a partially shaded window seat, rooting proceeds quickly with regular watering.
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Propagate passion flower via offshoots
One of the advantageous attributes of a climbing plant is the uncomplicated propagation by means of offshoots. To do this, lower the herbaceous shoot of the passion flower into a neighboring pot in spring to fix it there. While remaining connected to the mother plant, the offshoot develops its own root system from a scratched piece of shoot. Separation can take place after 8-10 months.
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The passion flower as a houseplant
A few Passiflora develop an equally magnificent habit in the room as on the balcony. The golden passion flower is one of them, as are the vine leaved and the blue passion flower. Look for a sunny location, with shade in the midday sun. A plentiful water supply is just as obligatory as weekly or 14-day fertilizing.
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Keep the passion flower on the balcony
The passion flower transforms the balcony into an exotic paradise. Plant the flowering beauty in a large container with loose, compost-based substrate. Placed in a sunny, wind-protected location, the climbing plant proves its vigor on a stable trellis. After a bright hibernation at 10-12 degrees, the Passiflora repeats the flower spectacle next year.
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The passion flower as a climbing plant
Most passion flowers are designed as climbing plants. The few exceptions include Passiflora arborea or Passiflora macrophylla, which thrive as a shrub or tree.
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A climbing aid for the passion flower
Without a climbing aid, the passion flower develops low-lying shoots that languish. On the other hand, if you offer a Passiflora a trellis or a similar climbing aid, it will thrive in all its glory. A ring that the shoots can wrap around several times has proven to be a useful climbing aid for indoor plants.
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Is the passion flower perennial?
Passion flower has the potential to thrive for many years. The most important prerequisite for the perennial culture is a winter rest period. In autumn, move the plant to bright winter quarters at 10-12 degrees Celsius.
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Is the passion flower hardy?
A few species have the ability to overwinter in the open air. The blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea) is one of them, because it is hardy down to -15 degrees Celsius. However, the plant withers completely after the first frost in order to sprout again from the roots next spring.
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Prune the passion flower before overwintering
The robust cut tolerance of a passion flower allows it to be cut back before it is put away in autumn. However, if there is enough space in the winter quarters, only cut Passiflora into shape in early spring.
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The blossom of the passion flower
The passion flower owes its sacred name to its unique flower shape. The outer floral wreath represents the apostles without Judas and Peter. The secondary crown symbolizes a crown of thorns and the handles the wounds of Christ.
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The fruit of the passion flower
All of the more than 500 Passiflora species produce fruit, few of which are edible and some are even poisonous. The most popular fruit of a passion flower is the passion fruit, which comes from a Passiflora edulis.
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Is passion fruit edible?
If the pollination of a passion flower is successful, numerous small fruits will develop. However, only a few are edible. The best-known species with edible fruits is Passiflora edulis, which gives us delicious passion fruit.
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The blue passion flower
The blue passion flower has cult status within the large Passiflora family, not least thanks to its profuse flowering and robust constitution. If the plant finds a suitable climbing aid, it will thrive in the room, on the balcony or as a green facade. In mild, sheltered locations, the blue passion flower even survives the winter in the bed.
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The Red Passion Flower
If you are looking for a red passion flower, you will find it in these Passiflora species:
- Passiflora alata
- Passiflora coccinea
- Passiflora vitifolia
All red-flowering passion flowers are not hardy.
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