Just wanting to share my young Aristolochia. I am excited beyond belief with it's progress. I received it as a thin, sparse, dormant cutting and in three weeks it has changed ever so much! There were no leaves at all and now. I think it likes being right near my Bearded dragon's spot heater and light.
And a side view....just for good measure.
Congratulations! That looks like a very healthy and happy plant. I just noticed that my A. californica has broken dormancy as well.
Erick
Erick
So you are practiced at Aristolochias then? So what's my next step? How big do I let it get before slowly moving it away from the heat source and then finally repotting and transporting outside? I assume I need to acclimate it slowly to less heat before moving right?
Any other secrets to making sure it stays healthy?
Do you have any other seeds of A.'s you might be willing to part with for SASBE? Or I have a few fimbriata seeds and elegans that I could trade straight up...
Anyway, help me on my journey of understanding this plant better....
Thanks
Shannon
Hello Shannon.
I am a vine afficiando, and Aristolochias are near the top of my list (along with Passifloras). I currently have a couple dozen species and am always on the lookout for new ones. I could probably find a few seeds for you. I will send you a Dmail. Thank you for the kind offer on the A. fimbriata and A. elegans seeds, but I happen to have those already.
That said...This is my first year growing A. californica, so I don't have any advice based on experience to offer you. In my humble opinion, I think your plant is well established and thriving, and therefore ready to be moved to a larger pot. I would definitely give it the most light you can indoors (a bright window and/or growlights), but the supplemental heat is probably unnecessary (unless you keep your house at 0F or less....LOL). Your plant should enjoy warm days and somewhat cooler nights. When it goes outside is totally dependent on your weather.
I would guess regular watering to keep it evenly moist, and occasional light fertilizing.
Anyone with experience growing A. californica is more than welcome to correct or expand upon my advice!
Regards,
Erick
Hmmmm...passifloras eh? I love those as well and am dabbling a bit in it. I have a couple of small plants just started of passiflora incense and passiflora incarnata. Really super small right now but am sending in the vermies to bulk them up a bit. Do you use any special fertilizer for these guys?
I traded with a local gardener for a passiflora crimson tears so should be getting that one soon.
Let me know if you do not have any of these and I'll propogate them for you in the future.
Shannon looks like it's doing great for you! Way to go!!
Erick, I to am a vineaholic. Do you have any of the A. Californica to trade?
:) Donna
Shannon,
It sounds like you have a good start to a nice Passiflora collection as well! P. incarnata bloomed up a storm in my garden last year, and I just recently picked up P. incense. Please keep me in mind for a rooted cutting of P. 'Crimson Tears' later this spring, if you would be so kind. I would love to add that one to my collection.
I don't fertilize my Passifloras very often, but when I do it's with a basic Peter's 20-20-20 or similar.
Donna,
So far I just have the one A. californica that is breaking dormancy and putting out new growth. Once it fills out more, I plan to try to root a few cuttings and will be happy share one with you if I am successful.
Erick
Erick... You got it. Think we have a good thing going! Do you like Lapageria Roseas or Fucshias at all? And I just got my hands on a pink porterweed, night blooming Jasmine, ipomea batata variegated (although we haven't worked our relationship out yet...she doesn't like it under the lights or heat, doesn't like it in the one shaded area I put her in outside....just not sure what to wo with her and she is supposed to be one of the easiest to handle of my collection!) , syngoium variegata, and more. Awesome plant trade! So let's take our time, propogate for each other as time goes on! Donna, you're welcome to join as well.
Rooted cuttings of the A. californica sounds good to me. Shannon I've wanted a Lapageria Roseas for a long time!
:) Donna
Shannon,
That sounds like a great plan. I'm sure we will be plant trading in the future! You have a lot of very interesting vines.
Erick
Erick, absolutely!
Donna, I hear that the laps are pretty hard to propogate but if I ever perfect it, we'll see what'cha got in trade...
Keep in touch both of you.
Shannon
