Passiflora Edulis-with image

We have a passion vine (passiflora edulis) growing quite vigorously on an arch. We have lots of leaves that are a deep green and plenty of the "strings" that wind around everything in sight. All in all, this looks like a very happy plant. HOWEVER, it doesn't want to bloom. I wonder if anyone can help me with this? The plant is in full sun and gets regular fertilizer and water - it has its own dedicated dripper in the low-flow irrigation system we have in our backyard. I even put bloomer on it about a month ago, but no blooms. We are in the Clearwater, FL, area.

Any assistance would be wonderful.

Thanks.

Well, there are two sides to the Epsom's salts theory (works/doesn't work) but it's worth a try to me!

Give it a foliar spray of Epsom's either in the early morning or evening when the sun gets off of it, and then pour any remaining around the base of the plant.

By the way, what is the ingredient in the "bloomer" you used? Just curious.

Pg-
they need an amazingly long growing season(even longer than we in FL and TX have..more like South america tropical, lol). The two best tips are to pinch them back and to grow in pots.

I know you are in Florida, and many Floridians do not have to pot things(because there is little to no need to over winter plants there) but constricting the roots causes the plant to mature faster. I grow a couple of things in pots that are perfectly hardy here(zone 8) just because they are such late bloomers and I want to enjoy them blooming longer...

Pinching it also helps it form more branches and also helps to prod the plant to bloom(in the same manner that prunig encourages new and more vigorous growth in most all plants).

They bloom late(so yours is right on time), and produce fruit at the tail end of the season.

They LOVE the heat and when planted from seed in Spring, do not really start growing until summer heat. They are best started from seed early in November in a heated greenhouse, and planted out late Spring. Once it really heats up they can grow what seems like inches a day!

This is when you really need to pinch the growing tips. Also, this particular passiflora does best with real age. It is a much better producer it second or third year...

Do not give it any more fertilizer. You may be perpetuating the problem by fertilizing. It will love it and provide lots of new growth, but will be so busy kicking out miles of stems and foliage, that it will forget all about the blooms.

The edulis are a little different than most passiflora, so need a little different care. I've learned these things the hard way(trowel and error, lol). My favorite edulis is flavicarpa. mm...mm...good!

-T

Horseshoe ... our bloomer is Sunniland Bloom Special (2-10-10). Nothing really exotic, I don't think. Thanks for the tip on Epsom's salts. We'll give that a try.

pgcarroll

seedpicker ... I can't imagine having more branches than we have on this passion vine. It's quite vigorous and is about 5' tall now; it has completely hidden the trellis on which it's growing. I took some cuttings from the original plant and rooted them. They are also quite vigorous now, but no flowers. Perhaps you're right in that it needs to be around for several years before it blooms. I'll report back when/if it blooms. Thanks!

Well, they bloom at the end of the season, so they probably have another month or so before they bloom. I remember thinking mine had better hurry up if the fruit was to ever set...
Seemed like they waited until the very last minute...
-T