Stictocardia Beraviensis ( Hawaiian Bell)

Hello
My name is Neil in Key West, Fl. This is my first post here and Im trying to get some help with by Stictocardia Beraviensis ( Hawaiian bell) . I wanted to post its best photo for my first post but Im afraid its not looking so well these days.

Early in the summer it got so covered in whitefly and mold that I had to cut it back . It has regrown pretty fast but the leaves are much darker and curled under at the sides. It's an ongoing battle with whitefly and have beed using an organic spray treatment.

I'm far from an experienced gardener and was wondering if anyone else had one.

Its supposed to like full sun .

I also have a very active passion vine that im going to have to trim back. Any suggestions or should I just trim away.

Thanks Neil
Zone 11B
Key West , FL.

It's gorgeous Neil! Ü

re: passion vines I've trimmed mine back to 6" above soil level and they've come back twice as strong.

Hello Neil, welcome to the garden! That is a beauty. It has been on my wish list for a while now. If you bought it online can you tell me where? I have not been able to find them for sale. Thanks for posting your pic, it is just stunning.
Of all the things I have used in my battle with whitefly & aphid, the thing that works the best for me is just plain old soapy water. I have it in a spray bottle (about 1 Tablespoon of dishsoap to the water does the trick) and I spray the tops & bottoms of the leaves. If the plant is in the shade I don't rinse off the soapy water. But if it is, I do. You will have to experiment with each plant you try it on to see what it can handle. It even works on ants. My folks have alot of citrus and they get that black mold & whitefly on it and I told them about the soapy water and they bought a small 1 gallon sprayer & they have been thrilled with the results. They can use it as often as they need to & it does not harm the fruit. They don't rinse it off, they notice that by leaving the residue on they don't have to spray much at all. But the sticto looks to have a much more tender leaf.
Hope that works for you. :~)
Donna

Donna
logees has it
Its been on my wish list for years
I just keep putting off sending in my order...LOL
Life gets in the way

Neil, yours is gorgeous!

Wonderful! Neil dmailed me that Top Tropicals has them too. I have the page marked, I will do the same with Logees. Much appreciated!
Donna

Neil-
Welcome! Glad you decided to post.
And, what a great "starter" photo, of a great vine!

I'm sure next time you decide to trim it, everyone on this forum will want to arrange for your trimmings, lol...

It really is pretty. I've always held off buying one, because I don't like red. Yours is showing it as more coral, I like coral. (I always figured those catalogs doctored the picture a little...and sure enough...)

The curled leaves are a sign of stress. (Possibly from being cut back...)

Whiteflies and aphids can be attracted to stressed plants, but they also are attracted to "ideal conditions"(that is why they love greenhouses), so hard to say why they are on your vine...

Has the vine been getting enough water? Has it been getting too much? The leaves in your photo look nice and green and healthy...so doesn't look to be over or under watered...

It doesn't even look like it is getting too much sun, because the leaves are still green and not scalded...

I think you might just have a healthy vine in ideal conditions. The only other thing I can think of, is if maybe your vine isn't getting enough air circulation. If you vine is positioned in a "dead spot", or spot protected from wind and air flow, by the house, or fence, (especially in a corner of the fence which is by the house)...then it may just be that the whiteflies like that they are never disturbed...

Sometimes a thorough jetting the vine down with a hard spray of water will disrupt the whiteflies. If you do this fequently enough, they'll move on...They don't like to be disturbed. Same goes for aphids. They love plants that are stressed, or in poor air circulation.
-Taylor

Thank you all for the suggestions

Now that i got the compliments on how great it looked in the Spring , here is its current photo. Notice the leaf color is much darker and they don't even get to form the nice heart shape pecause they start curling or they look like they are pinched in one area so they grow a funny shape.

I did spray with soapy water today and I moved it out of its corner. Its so difficult down here in the summer as most plants just cant take the summer sun.

Maybe a silly question, but how do I know if its getting too much water.

It also has a noy so pleasant smell, from the leaves

I have it on a drip irrrigation system.

Thanks Neil

Welcome, Neil. This is a great group! This is definitely a eye catching vine that I've also admired.
:) Donna

Wow I have never seen that. It is gorgeous. Welcome to the site!!!!

Neil-I can see the curled leaves, but for the most part, I think it looks really healthy!

If you wereover watering it, the leaves would become yellow with green veins...

Or, the top of the soil would grow mushrooms and fungus. Overwatering will rot the roots and can kill the whole vine.

I think yours looks really good, and since you moved it out of the corner and the temps are cooling off, I'm sure it will rebound in no time.

Sprinkle a little epsom salt and some alfalfa pellets on the surface of the soil, and then water it in with some superthrive, and it will REALLY perk up!
-T

Wow
Morning Glory mania, I love it. Terry has moved my original post to this forum and Im glad she did because I didnt know much about Morning glory vines.

So what can anybody reccomend for Zone 11b hot and humid wet in summer dry in winter.

Thanks Neil

Welcome to the world of Morning Glories Neil. That is a beautiful bloom! I have never seen anything like it.

Susan

wow another beauty............yes Welcome to Daves Neil I know you will love it here. The vine is just beautiful and yours looks just fine. Do you know if it is easy to root or not?
I know lots will love to have cuttings and try there hand at getting it to grow.
And also if you want more Moring Glorys let me know and I can send you some seed. Always glad to help a newbe get started................
Dee

Neil,
Oh my, how beautiful!
I too would LOVE to have seeds or cutting if you have any to share. As well, I have BUNCHES of Japanese Morning Glory seeds to trade.
Thanks,
Emma

Emma,
I dont have any seeds but Ill be happy to get you a cutting when it starts growing again. It wasnt looking so hot for a while and I need to get it out of the pot and to in the ground, Ill be happy to get you a cutting when it gets going again.

Neil

Neil,
Thanks so much - I appreciate that.
I have lots of plants and/or seeds I can send you in exchange.
This is exciting!
Emma

Neil if you get any seeds, I would luv to trade with you.
:) Donna

I got my strep. from Logees . It is growing well and the vines are about five feet in length but no blooms yets.

RIP
Sorry it didnt make it. Cant handle the sun here in Key West. Im going to stick it in the ground somewhere out of the way and see what happens. Maybe it will come back.

I'm sorry to hear that. It was doing so well for you.

Maybe part sun will work better...

Sorry to hear about your beautiful vine. I know I just hate losing a good one.

Neil, hopefully it will come back. Maybe it just went on alittle vacation.
:) Donna