Hi ya'll
I'm not sure if this is the right thread to put this, so if not let me know. I'm interested in growing a Passiflora or 2 (possibly the alata "ruby glow") and need some information. What type of soil, light, feeding, etc. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction? Thanks for any help.
Eric
Passiflora help
Hi Eric! WELCOME TO DG!
And it looks like we're neighbors!
Passiflora alata likes a nice balanced plant food. If you grow it outside in the ground you'll most likely have to dig it up and winter it over indoors. (An easy way to do this is to leave it in its pot, bury the pot in the ground...then when frost/freeze threatens pull up the whole pot.)
It also tends to bloom on new growth so keep that in mind if you decide to do any pruning.
Hope this helps. Alata is one of my most favored passifloras.
Eric,
I'm no expert but I did plant a passflora by my barn a few years ago.
I started it from seed - passiflora incarnata (from Thompson & Morgan).
Its one of the few hardy here in zone 6. Its grown huge but does not
flower a lot. I suspect it may not get enough light but I'm not sure. It
is very happy though. Part shade, rich soil, on the dry side.
I did a google search - there's a Passiflora Society website with tons of
links: http://www.passiflora.org/links.htm
I've seen a posting that it is overly aggressive & a menace. So be
careful.
Tam
Horseshoe,
Howdy Neighbor!! Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm a little closer to you...I live near Saxapahaw. I am new here as I just joined a week or so ago. After checking the website, I became a subscribing member.Wow... what info!! I just ordered some P. alata, "Ruby Glow" seeds, so here goes :) I'm also growing Epi's and Schlumbergera. Not to mention all the other plants in all of the flower beds. BTW... if you need any "Rose Campions", I'm going to have plenty of seeds. Thanks for all the info.
Eric
This message was edited Jul 24, 2005 5:11 PM
Hi Tammy :)
Thanks for the info and the links. I'm still checking them out. As far as being agressive and a menace, do I need to get out my gun??...lol Was thinking of making it a house plant, I'll keep ya'll posted as to the progress.
thanks again,
Eric
Horseshoe,
I forgot to tell you...beautiful plant!!
Thanks, Eric. Maybe I can root you some cuttings to help get you started. (It was two yrs before my Alata begat any flowers...started it from seed.)
Keep in touch!
Shoe.
Shoe..
Would you , please?? That would be great!! If you're into Schlumbergera (holiday cactus, not sure what kind), I've got a couple of them that I could get some cuttings from. Pinks and salmon colored.
thanks,
Eric
Hi Shoe,
Just checking to see how you made out with the storm last night. No damage here that I can find..just blew out the pilot light for the gas pac ( I hate cold showers...lol). I had just got another rain barrel set up about an hour before it hit. Didn't take no time to fill them up...lol Still waiting on the P. alata seeds to come in, hopefully today. Take care :)
Eric
Glad you posted...it reminded me to take some cuttings and get them rooting. (Yep, I forgot all about it! Sorry!)
Storm was scary, eh? We did fine. Am hoping my garden north of town survived (nice big corn patch out there!)
Will be in touch!
Shoe.
(Brrrr... on the cold showers!)
Shoe,
I got the P. "alata" seeds in today. I had ordered these before I got in contact with you (: I've read several threads on soaking in hot water, boiling water, orange juice, etc. What do I need to do to the seeds? Thanks much for any info.
Eric
Eric...soaking in warm water for a few days will be sufficient.
Hmmm...here is a great link with LOTS of passiflora info. Check it out! (Saves me lots of typing!) :>)
http://www.passionflow.co.uk/seed1.htm
Thanks, Shoe
I'll check it out
OK...just an update. After soaking the seeds, I got them planted and put inside a ziplock bag. Now the wait....lol
Good luck! And be patient!
Will be waiting for a progress report!
Shoe.
Shoe...still no seedlings...lol
Eric
Shoe...
I spoke (typed) too soon...lol Checked the seed tray this evening and I've got not 1 seedling but 3 starting to poke thru :)
Eric
Congrats! You must have done sumpin' right, eh?
Take care of them babies!
Shoe...
Another update...
I've got 4 seedlings in small pots now and 2 or 3 trying to pop up in the tray.
Eric
Good going! I still have some cuttings trying to root in water. So far they still look healthy but no roots yet. I remember it took quite a while last time I rooted them this way so figure its normal!
Shoe.
what is the secret to getting the passi to bloom. I have two reds and a lavender and they don't bloom. They are in full sun, the butterflys are constantly laying eggs, which makes me happy. Sure would like to see some flowers.
Hi purple,
I just a P. Alata "Ruby Glow" off of ebay about 2 weeks ago. It was at least 16-18" tall. Its 2 ft tall now and has a couple of flower buds on it now. And I haven't done a thing, but water it. Do you have any compost in the passi's soil, because I heard/read that it uses a lot of compost in growing. Check out this website. It has a bunch of info on passifloras. Good Luck!!
http://www.passionflow.co.uk/index.htm
Eric
This message was edited Sep 24, 2005 10:59 PM
I'm just hoping I can keep mine alive over the winter here. :-(
Eric, thanks for the link. There is lots of good info. I will try rooting some and put them in clay pots. Mine are in the ground and grow around an old dead tree stump.
If I'm not mistaken, you can cut them back almost to the ground, then heavily mulch them and they'll come back in spring.
Eric
My red one didn't bloom until fall last year.
;)
My P. incarnata will come back each year however, the Alata is most likely not hardy here in my zone (or yours, eric).
Many of the passifloras will bloom only on new growth so be sure that if you are trimming them to keep them in check to not trim too much new growth. And yes...they are heavy feeders. One of my main plants is in a container and it never blooms unless I feed it pretty good, and regularly. The ones I set out in the ground last year I fed with Osmocote and it bloomed like crazy!
By the way, Eric, I finally had success with rooting some Alata, just last week. The ones I had in water ended up rotting (unlike last years success) so I started some more in potting soil; they rooted in a matter of a few weeks!
Hi Shoe,
Good to hear you got some "Alata" to root. Out of those 10 seeds I sowed, I got 4 big enough to pot on. They're about 5-6" tall now. The "Alata" that I got off of ebay is about 2' tall and has what looks like 2 buds on it now. I've got it a 10" pot with a 5' trellis. I also have 3 "P. "Incense" in another 10" pot ( same set up). They weren't as big as the "Alata" when I got them, but 1 is about 3" tall now, but no buds. Question...would it hurt to add some banana peels to the potting mix? Thanks,
Eric
Welp, the peels would offer you some phosphorus and also some potash. However, if they are fresh, during their decomposition they would actually steal nitrogen out of your soil.
I'm one of those who still insists that I see results using Epsom's Salts to encourage flowering. Magnesium (which is what E Salts is) is needed by the plant to produce seed; in order to produce the seed then, of course, it must produce a flower first. A kick in the pants with E Salts seems to stimulate the need for the plant to "get on with it" and go into seed production.
If you'd like to swing by sometime and get a small bag of worm compost you're welcome to try that...it's fully loaded with about anything you need to help your plants.
Shoe...
Thanks for the info on the banana peel, I didn't don't that it would take N out of the soil during decomposition. And I've got E salts too. As for the the worm castings, I've got plenty, but thanks anyway. I got 40lbs a couple of months ago, so I'm in good shape on that. I did add some to the potting mix, but do I need to add any more now or wait? Thanks again,
Eric
You can always add some to the tops of the pots and just very lightly scratch it in. Then, each time you water some of the nutrition will filter down to the roots.
Forty pounds, eh? Wow! You're good to go!
Thanks!! Yeah...I got 40 lbs off ebay for 25.00, including shipping...couldn't complain...lol
Great! If you ever want to get some from a local source, there is a guy out in Cedar Grove (north of Efland/Hillsboro) who has a big worm operation. I'll check his prices this week when at the Farmers' Mkt, for future reference.
Thanks Shoe!! Please let me know what his prices are.
I'll be watching for that info too Shoe. Where do you vend from in Efland? I venture that way regularily.
sidney
sidney, I sell at the Hillsborough Farmers' Mkt as well as off the premises by appt. (Really wish I could open up to the general public though!)
Me too.
;)
Shoe,
What do you sell?
I sold only organic food crops for years, then branched out to plants...veggie seedlings, herbs. Now I sell produce, veggie seedlings (mostly heirlooms) and have branched out to perennials, shrubs, mums, etc.