Am I doing something wrong? My Passiflora citrina keeps getting yellow leaves. I pick them off, and just figured they were "old" leaves, but the plant has lost maybe 5 leaves in the last few weeks! Is this normal? I'm in sunny S. California, and I grow my passies indoors, in a west window, so they get several hours of semi dappled sun daily. I also noticed it blasted a bud! There's another one forming, so I'm wondering if its related to the yellowing leaves maybe? The plant is about 3 ft. long now, and in a square 5" pot. Thanks.
Randi
Yellowing leaves?
Randi,
A 5" pot sounds small, although it may not be depending on the size of the plant. It may have used up some needed nutrient. What kind of potting mix are you using, and how long has it been in that pot?
Mark
I'm using about 40% peat, and 60% perlite, and I received the plant in this pot, so don't know how long its been in there. I have to water it often--about every 4 days. Man, passies are thirsty plants! In the space I have for it (too many other plants, lol!) I can only up it to about a 6" pot.
I put some Nutricote pellets in the pot, thinking it might be missing some nutrient, even though I've been fertilizing with Dynagrow monthly. Hope this improves things.
Randi,
Your mix does sound pretty heavy on the perlite. When you repot it, I'd use some standard Miracle Gro or other potting mix along with some good compost or aged cow manure (get a bag and let it sit in a plant pot outdoors for a month or two). As the day length decreases in the fall some plants do get yellow dropped leaves. If the vine has active healthy growing tips then its probably OK. About the water, if you run an AC all the time, your inside humidity is probably pretty low--that will cause plants to dry out pretty quickly.
Mark
Thank you Mark! I didn't realize Passies should have less perlite than some other plants. It does make sense to use less on passies though, as they dry out so quickly. I do have plenty of horse manure (we have two horses). Would that work as well? And yes, the plant is actively growing! I see what people mean about them growing quickly now! Good heavens, I had to put taller stakes in both my Citrina and Blue Eyed Susan this summer. My Manta is a little slower, but I hear its a smaller plant anyway. Boy, do I love them, especially the Manta. Its just too cute. I'm glad as heck that I decided to buy it. And yes, when it gets to 90 degrees, we do run the air.