I left 'Incense' on my deck in a large heavy pot all summer and enjoyed the blooms. I eventually want to plant it outside in a protected sunny pot in my zone 6 garden. Since it is only marginally hardy here, I think I probably should wait till spring before I do that.
I learnt the hard way that passiflora have very fragile roots and this one is planted in a "cage": a perforated pond container so I just have to lift it to get most of the root ball.
Should I wait for the first frost and move it to the dark basement (55F) in moistened peatmoss or put it in a pot near an east window?
overwintering passiflora 'Incense' advice needed
I don't know if this helps but I grow my passies in the house, this is my first year with them but they all seem to be doing fine
Some passiflora are everblooming the whole year if they get enough light and heat. Some go dormant in winter and return when the environment is warm and bright. Incense goes dormant. I doubt that incense would return if left in the ground in zone 6. While dormant I'd water occassionally-only if dry-and keep it by an east window indoors. Similar to a cool greenhouse.
Has anyone overwintered passiflora in a dark basement?
If the plant is too big to take inside, I would take some cuttings, root them, and overwinter the small plants inside under a plant light. If you can prune it back and bring it inside, the east window is definitely better than the basement. If you are going to keep it in the basement, I'd set up a flourescent light on a timer. It will die if it doesn't get some light.
Mark
i don't like to put flowers in dark basements. it seems cruel. i would either bring the potted passi inside or take cuttings, or both if you want lots of them. i have only marginal luck after one overwinter, so best to plant this baby in spring. also, take cuttings next year so if it dies outside, you still have a vine or 2.
mary
Thanks Mark and Mary. I think I will wait for the bigger plant to die to the ground and store the plant in the basement. I will keep the smaller one in the house with my hibiscus. Appreciate your advice!
So happy to have found this thread.
I'm new to Passiflora vines and plan to grow them for the butterflies. I have Maypop seeds planted, too, but no germination to date.
I just purchased and have received a Passi 'Incense' cutting from Georgia Vines. I'd thought to perhaps repot and keep it inside at the window in the breakfast area (it's a big east window) but if this particular vine goes dorment during the winter, would it be better to just place him in the greenhouse for the winter? I will keep the overnight temps at low to mid 40's in the GH. The light will be much better out there but will of course, be much colder temps than in the house.
Mary
Mary, I think you have a good idea! Logee's sold me P. 'incense' two years ago. Beautiful bloom! They say it is hardy to zone 6-7 but who wants to find out in the spring? I brought one in the house, south window, and I waited till yesterday to put the big one in my 55F basement. Hopefully both will make it.
Yours should definitively be ok at 40F. Good luck!
Catherine
Hi Villiers,
P. incense is a cross, (Passiflora incarnata and P. cinnicata), and is winter hardy anywhere in the U.S. because of the P. incarnata parent. If it were planted in the ground, I'd say just leave it there, it will come back in the spring. But in the pot, I suppose it depends on the size of the pot and the lowest temperature you get this winter. I'd probably put a wire cage around pot and all, (after frost), and fill it up with hay or some other organic insulation.
Remind yourself to send this very nice thoughtful man a cutting in the spring. I'm sure the seeds won't stay true to the P. incense, but will revert to one or other parent.
Dig deep, and teach your children well,
Thomas
Hi Thomas,
I already moved the big one in the basement and the other one near a southern exposure window in the house. Hopefully they will both make it.
Remind me in the spring, and I can send you cuttings. They will come true.
Catherine