I would like to try and grow some passiflora in pots this year. Can any share their experience? What kind of pots,soil and fertilizers are you using.
passiflora in pots
Marie, I use a fast draining soil mix,use a large pot as they will grow quickly and fill the pot,.I use 3 - 5 gal size pots.I make a tee pee trellis out of 3 bamboo stakes tied together at the top and wrap twist tie around it at several different heights. I just keep wrapping the stems in and out of the trellis as they grow.Fert. I use osmocote 14-14-14 or any balanced type.Moring sun is best, noonday sun is the worst in your climate.
I do as Eclipse does.
Marie,
I grow a couple dozen different Passifloras, all of them in pots. There's a slim possibility that P. incarnata may be able to get through our winters with heavy mulching, but otherwise I can't grow a single Passiflora in the ground. But I don't let that stop me from enjoying them.
I grow nearly all of my Passifloras in 8" clay pots. For a trellis, I make a double ring out of two wire hangers and some wire. Once every couple weeks, I do a quick clean up by removing any dead leaves and wrapping new growth into the ring. Below is a picture of P. citrina that I have grown in this way. It pretty much blooms year round in a bright window.
For soil, I use whatever is on sale at Menard's or Home Depot (as long as it is decent quality). I don't fertilize my Passifloras often, but when I do, I use a basic 20-20-20 (Peter's, for example).
Erick
Here is a picture of P. 'Purple Haze' that I grew the same way. This one has only bloomed a couple times for me. I am working to change that, as the flower is gorgeous.
One big advantage to growing Passifloras in 8" pots is portability. It's easy for me to move them from grow room to porch to garden, etc., as well as bring them to the shower for a good rinse. And since Passifloras only bloom on new growth (to my knowledge...anyone is welcome to correct me if I am mistaken here), it never hurts to trim them back some, as long as it's not too dramatic.
The only pests I battle with my Passifloras are spider mites. Susceptibility to them varies among species/varieties. For example, I have never seen them on my P. citrina, P. 'Purple Haze', P. subpeltata, P. mollissima, etc., but they are a constant battle with my P. loefgrenii, P. 'Lady Margaret', P. 'Incense', etc. Even though I, overall, loathe the idea of using pesticides on my plants (they even smell like evil), I have reluctantly embraced a systemic for the latter group.
Erick
And a final comment....
I grow larger-leaved Passifloras (like the P. edulis 'flavacarpa' pictured below) in 12" pots. For a trellis, I use a tomato cage modified a bit at the base to stick in the soil. An occasional clean up and wrapping in of the new growth keeps these vines looking great. And they look dramatic in the garden.
One of my big plans for the gardens this coming season is to include more Passifloras in 12" pots, for (hopefully) dramatic effect. To that end, I am planning to pot up a half dozen or so species/varieties into 12" clay pots with tomato-cage trellis' in the next couple weeks. A big job, but hopefully it will pay off!
Marie, I heartily encourage you to add Passifloras to your garden! Good luck to you.
Erick
I have some small ones in 4 inch pots right now. Do you think clay post would work in my hot climate? I am thinking of keeping them on my front porch so they only get morning sun. my past experienes with trying to keep anything alive in pots has not been good. But after all the passion vines thatdid not make it through our unusual hard freeze I would rather have to tote them in in the winter then have them al die again. Does anyone know if I can plant them in the ground and then dig them up in the fall?