Kathy Ann brought my vigna back to my attention. It has been so hot and humid lately all over the US and I am sure mostly everyone has been like me and just doing watering and not much inspection of their plants. Kathy Ann made me curious so I had to check mine out last night. I have buds forming. We had such a great thread going last year on our vigna's and I wanted to find out how everyone's is doing again this year.
Dott
This message was edited Aug 4, 2006 8:17 PM
How's everyone's Vigna's (fragrant corkscrew vine) doing?
I had a bloom on one and nothing since then. I have them growing on a trellis on the side of my 16ft long potting shed/shade house. On the opposite end I have dutchman's pipevine. The pipevine got obliterated by pipevine cats and when they were done there, they actually relocated to my vignas at the other end out of desperation and ate quite a few of the leaves from those vines too. Now I have chyrsillis (sp?) hanging all over it. LOL
I just transplanted several more vines nearby. It has been so hot that even with almost daily watering, many things are not blooming that should be. Even my morning glories, ragoon creeper and cypress vine have yet to bloom. The snail vine is blooming constantly but now as heavy as usual.
Things are growing well and fast, just not blooming. At least with the long growing season here, I am hoping to see some action when it cools down.
Jan...
I moved mine this Spring, so I know I set it back some, but I think I am seeing the first buds forming.
Mine in blooming and as stunning as usual. I was afraid that heat wave would fry it, but apparently 115 degrees is nothing to the corkscrew vine. LOL The leaves did not even burn.
Pudgie,
Do you grow yours in full sun. I think mine may have too much shade to bloom also.
I'm going to experiment and put several in the full sun and see how they do.
I have some in full sun that are in ground, they are blooming. Then I have one on the east side of the house under a shade cloth canopy, so filtered morning sun and it is not blooming yet. But it was a little later last year too. I expect something within the next couple of weeks. I sure hope yours does bloom, what a disappointment!
Good luck,
Donna
Donna they seem to do great in the heat. I haven't had any burn on mine either. I put mine in a larger container this year with a large tomatoe cage for climbing. Mine is sitting in full sun from around 8 am until after 5 pm. It did not grow as rampant as it did last year but it doesn't have an that antenna to climb on this year. I don't expect much blooming this time of year with the heat except for the Vigna.
Dott
All interesting. Mine was a baby last year when I got it from Logee's and bloomed a little. This year it has really taken off with size and is very healthy, but very few blooms.
It's in full Florida sun all day and doesn't burn at all. Do you think it's too much sun and too hot?
Remember last year when we were all talking about the ants they'd find on the blooms? We were beginning to wonder if we needed them for good blooming? Well, at the first of the season I had a few ants on the few blooms, but now I don't even see ants.
Also, my blue sky flower vine is growing very well but has had only 2 blooms so far.
What do ya'll think?
This message was edited Aug 4, 2006 10:22 PM
Same problem here with most of my vines. Good growth, no blooms. The passiflora incense is blooming close to normal. I have passiflora edulis taking over one side of my shade house but no blooms. Blue silk morning glory bloomed well in the beginning but is dying off now. Now near as well as last year.
Dott, I agree, they do fine in the heat, and they do good in partial sun. I think they do fine pretty much anywhere except shade as long as they don't get over/under watered. LOL
But then I have mine planted in adobe and I am sure that is a bit soppy down there, so what do I know? LOLOL
Did you all see that picture I posted of my one year corkscrew tubers?
http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=2033598
I cannot even imagine what is under the ground of my old one. What is the longest that anyone has grown these in pots? I only have 1 in a pot that is in it's 2nd year, the rest only stayed in pots 1 year before going into the ground. After seeing those tubers I took out, I live in fear of my potted one exploding through the clay pot and walking to the flowerbed. hehehe
Hey, I have been playing close attention this year to see if anything is attracted to those sticky pads besides ants. I know that flying insects try to go to the flowers, even hummingbirds try, but I have not seen them showing any interest in the pads. I have only seen the ants at them, but to be fair, nothing that attempts to land really has time to do much of anything except flee for their lives when the ants swarm them. I actually saw a carpenter bee fly off with an ant on it. LOL
I sure hope you all get some blooms soon, this screwy weather is wreaking havoc!
I am posting a picture of my blooms when the sun was just coming up this morning, not to rub your noses in it, but to share with you in hopes of holding you over until yours blooms. Honest! Don't throw things at your monitor. LOL
Our weather has been beautuful, my plant is four years old, bloomed lots last year,and is just showing now for this year. Will post when in bloom.
LOL Donna, I wouldn't dare throw anything at the monitor. I seen the tuber pic you posted and I didn't realize they could get so large. Mine was planted in a 12 inch container last year. When we went to lift the pot to bring it in, we realized the roots had snuck out of the pot and went every which way they could in the ground. This is my 4th season growing the same plant in a container. I repotted it in the spring. I don't know the dimensions of the pot but it is a square one that holds 1 cubic square of potting mix. Mine is currently sitting in a spot of the yard where the grass is dead so DH can mow around it. While watering this morning I seen a mess of ants again close to where I grew my vine last year, I have to find a spot in this same area again but where the vine can't get away from me like last year.
IMCANADIAN, It's amazing you see blooms with such a short growing season. You must have the magic touch. This vine seems like such a late bloomer in my zone. I look forward to seeing your when it blooms.
Dott
wow, 4 years in the pot! Impressive, and great to know. I can put my fears of bursting pots to rest. lol
So last year's escapee roots were regular looking or were they tuberous? I wonder if my tubers only got that big becuase they had the room they had? They were in a big tree pot and those are pretty tall, almost 2ft.
IMCANADIAN, what are your average summer temps?
Hello All.
My Corkscrew Vine, which I started from seed in April, is lush and full and growing like a weed, but no buds yet. I'm hoping that will change soon!
Erick
The roots were regular looking roots. When I repotted, I did notice a tuber with lots of smaller roots.
Erick you vine looks great. Those brugs of yours are doing quite nicely. I'd say you have a green thumb.
Dott
My vine is still doing well with a few flowers and lots of buds.There are no pods forming and not as many ants as last year.Last year it was in a pot in part shade and this year it is in a bigger pot in full sun.If I get any seed and have more than one vine I will try to plant them in the ground.I'll take more pictures if anything looks different.I think it really started blooming late last summer too.
Nancy
Dott,heres a photo of mine today. It has never set seed, do I need to help it? Are they easy from cuttings? Any tips out there? I should start some for my sister and mother.
Pudge, As for average summer temps(shame on me) I don't pay attention to stats like that but I would say July and Aug. are usually in the 80's and 90's. Joelle
Joelle is yours in a hanging basket? Either way it looks great. A bunch of us found out last year that the ants are the main pollinators of this vine. I can't remember who but someone here was hand pollinating theirs. My vine was to high for me to see what what pollinating it. I have propagated them from cuttings but I find seeds so much easier. I use semi ripe woody cuttings when I do propagate.
There are still remants of my vine from last year still on the antenna. I haven't gotten nasty enough to get DH up on the ladder again to remove it. I will try to remember to get a pic tommorrow of this years vine under control.
Here is last years. Now the antenna it is growing on is above the house and the whoe top of the antenna was covered.
Erick, that looks like a really healthy vine! IMCANADIAN, I am amazed at the pot size of yours. How long has it been in there? Good job Dott on mastering cuttings, it is beyond me. And I get so many seeds and near perfect germination, that I stopped trying to root cuttings. Hats off to you! :~) And loved your antenna pic, that is one happy vine! LOL
Tonight I was headed outside to sit next to the corkscrew, I do that often in the early morning and the evening when the fragrance is at its strongest, and just breathe. Well, the wind is whipping pretty good here so I did not even think to take my camera out, and of course, I wish I had. I ran back in for it and by the time I got back she was almost done. But I got a decent shot of her bravery.
And after she left, the ants were milling all around every flower I saw her on and checking out all the pollen she knocked off.
She was a big one and I guess with the vines whipping in the wind they could not do their usual swarm. Not really sure, but that is the first time I have seen anything have success at that particular plant. I was really rooting for her. LOL She was not interested in the sticky pads, either. Just the pollen. She was really shoving herself up into them. Really aggressively. I found that interesting. Usually the carpenter bees just land on top of stuff and stick their beak through the side and get their pollen that way.
HI, I'm fairly new and I don't remember posting on this forum before.... I love vines.
I read with great interest last years thread on the corkscrew vine. I have 4 new plants, 2 of them I got a month ago and planted one each side of an arbor I have.
One side of the arbor gets more shade than the other. The vine on the shadier side ( morning sun only) has gone crazy with growth. It has gone up and over the "arch".
The other side (morning and a bit of afternoon sun) has more normal growth, it is about 3/4 the way up it's side. The two now meet. It has been interesting to see the difference in growth rate.
The last 2 vines are in pots and I am going to keep them potted incase we have a freeze this year then put them in the ground next spring.
I 'll be suprised and very happy if I get blooms this year.. they are so young and I got them late in the year.
Michelle
Donna your photos are gorgeous!
my plants are doing very well but I haven't looked for buds yet, will have to go out today and see.
I gave my vignas some Bloom Booster last week as they have been slow to bloom and I went out last night and they have several buds starting. Will give them another dose this weekend. Our soil is mostly sand and doesn't have alot of nutrients so I guess the extra was the boost they needed.
Jan...
Hi Shellabella, I am a vine nut too. :~) That is really interesting about your different growth patterns on your arbor. I sure hope you DO get blooms this year, then you will know what all the fuss is over. LOL Thanks Laurrie, and what are you waiting for? Go look! LOL
Jan, I have never used Bloom Booster, do you use it alot and are you happy with it?
Dott, do you have flowers yet?
I just tried it for the first time because almost all my vines are really slow to bloom this year except snail vine and p. incense.
Jan...
No flowers yet just lots of buds. I am hoping for flowers by the end of the month. From my photo records I didn't get open flowers until the very end of Aug so the vine appears to be right on time. Her is a pic from this year as I promised. I have been very much able to keep it under control this year.
Dott
Mudpies...I looked at my vine really close today and I think I saw many very small buds just starting.......
and they are on both sides of the arbor. Crossing my fingers!
... I used bloom booster on my crape myrtles this year, worked like a charm...lots of stuff in my neighbors yards seem to be blooming late...after all we had less rain this spring than usual.
Shella, I have my fingers crossed for you too! :~) I think I need some bloom booster. Is that the one that miracle gro makes?
Dott, that is a healthy looking vine! Won't be long now. :~)
Yes Bloom Booster is by MG.
Jan,
...I was wondering how much shade your vigna's are in?
The last two I have I was thinking about putting in pots and training them to some big trellises by the pool.
Pool is screened in.
There is lots of indirect light there....... but not much direct sun...only some in the a.m. ... the neighbors trees block most of the direct morning sun.
I have had them sitting there in their little pots for a couple of weeks to see how they do and they are growing fast .....leaves are darker green than the ones on the arbor.
Now that yours have buds ... Do you think mine could bloom even in that type of light? I guess I could always move them if they don't.
One thing I did notice about the ones on my arbor..on the fast growing side the roots are in shade most of the day.
Here's to lots of blooms for everyone!
The ones that are budding now are in quite a bit of shade. They are on the side of a structure that gets some protection from morning sun and a large neighbor tree that shade from late afternoon shade. I'd say it gets about 2-3 hrs of full sun during the hottest part of the day. Around 10a-1pm. I have others in pots that are starting to bud and they get a bit more sun, about 5 hrs or so.
Thanks Jan!
I'm going to try to get them planted this weekend. I just looked and there seems to be a bud on one of those...hard to tell when they are just starting..could be a leaf bud..but looks like a bloom bud.
I recently purchased some wall pot holders and I will put the pots on the wall next to the trellises high enough so they get the most sun. The trellises are from "floor to ceiling" the base gets no sun at all.
Dott, your Vigna looks very lush and healthy. Congratulations! I, too, utilize a tomato cage for staking and it works beautifully. I just invert mine. If you would be so kind...how do buds look different than new growth?
Erick
I just wanted to say that after my last post I was out by the corkscrew vine and noticed a tiny little butterfly going from bud to bud....I had never seen one like that before..... I looked it up and it was a grey hairstreak. I didn't know the vine would be attractive to them! LOL...I HAVE to get a camera now!
Shella, I think they are attractive to most things, the ants just bully them all away! LOL
Hi Michelle,
I had several different butterflies hovering mine so they must be starting to get a scent we can't detect as yet.
Hi everyone
I purchased my seed from 3 different sellers on ebay a total of 24 seeds, only 3 germinated. However, these 3 are growing well and are about the same as Erick's. We have been having some unusually hot weather in the high eighties and low nineties so I guess this has helped with the growth. I too would like to know how to distinguish between new leaf/stem growth and a flower bud if anyone perhaps has photo's.
Keeping fingers crossed that I do get blooms over here in the UK.
Regards
Sue
Good morning all!
Alrac and Erick..... I don't have a camera so imagine something about 1/8th to 1/4 " long that looks like a tiny bunch of grapes. The grapes would be little "bumps" and the shape a bit conical. That I discovered was the bud cluster ...... I spotted one a bit bigger which confirmed my suspicion.
A new leaf that is the same size looks flatter. At least that's what I observed. There is a good bud pic in the PF I think. When they are super tiny it is hard to know what you are looking at.
I never expected blooms this year because my plants were not large at all when I planted them next to the arbor at the very end of June. They were in 2.5 " pots and only about 5" high. I amended our "sand" with a little peat, some store bought potting mix and a little cow manure.They grew like something out of a science fiction movie....but then this is Florida. I fed them Alfalfa Tea.... with worm castings and Hydrolized fish emulsion added. I make sure that I don't over water them. Hope this helps.
Good luck Sue, I hope they thrive for you. I went out and snapped some pics for you. You can see that flowers and leaves don't share a stem. Right below a leaf set, you will see a new little stem with bumps on it and that is the flower stem. It will grow and grow and you will see the bumps that exude the sweet sticky sap that attracts the ants, then as it gets longer and all the bumps get farther apart, the flower buds will start growing and spreading apart and then you have little white things that are shaped like tic tacs that are a little curved. LOL
So I guess the short answer to your question is, if there are already leaves on the stem, the buds you are seeing are leaf buds.
Jan....yeah I think your right about the scent the critters have much better noses than we do!
I looked up the butterfly and it was a Gray Hairstreak .
They like the legume family and this vine is of the Papilionaceae family which means: From the Latin papilio (butterfly), after the shape of this family's flowers; the pea & bean family.
Don't the seed pods also look like peas?
To me this stuff is the interesting part of gardening...how things grow and attract wildlife.