Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Mucuna Vine starting to bloom, 1 by Clare_CA

Clare_CA wrote:
Hi Donna, I was surprised too to see so many blooms emerging this year, and I don't know exactly what initiated them. I probably did fertilize it all summer when I fertilized everything else. You could try a Bloombooster and see if that helps. It can't hurt.

Logee's book says:

"Important to prune immediately after flowering to insure next year's blooms; prune severely -- cut back to woody growth once a year then do not prune again until after next flowering cycle.

"Two seasons of growth are needed before it will flower freely. But it is well worth the wait, as these fiery orange flowers arrive in the dead of winter. It propagates easily.

"Mucuna species is a heavy vine that needs space for growth. As a potted plant, it needs to be grown in a large container and given a strong support. Supports such as a trellis or stakes work well for its vigorous growth. Young plants need to obtain some size before flowering. In our experience, for Mucuna species to come into bloom, the plant has to be heavily foliated on at least a three-foot support in a ten-inch pot. Then, it will bud up nicely."

Here is mine now: