In general, passion flowers are considered to be quite easy to care for, although some species that come from tropical climes are a little finicky. Nevertheless, infestation by plant lice or spider mites is not uncommon, and fungal diseases also occur frequently. As a preventive measure, make sure to keep new plants isolated so that a possible infestation does not ruin the entire plant.
What diseases occur in passion flowers?
Passionflowers can be attacked by insects such as spider mites, mealybugs and mealybugs, which can lead to sooty mold. Waterlogging promotes soil fungi that cause root rot. If overwintered improperly, leaves can also die. To avoid damage, provide adequate light, moisture, care and control.
Insect infestation at Passiflora
Passiflora love the warmth and the sun, but are also very susceptible to spider mite infestation, especially in dry conditions. You can tell whether your plant also has these animals by the characteristic white dots. These appear primarily on the underside of the leaves. If the infestation is severe, white webs appear, which is where the leaf sap-sucking mites get their name. Prevention works best, which is why you should ensure higher humidity in hot, dry summers. Mist your plants with water regularly. Mealybugs and mealybugs are also difficult to combat, as the only thing that helps with these adorable animals is usually collecting and wiping off the affected leaves. Effective pesticides are almost only approved for industrial agriculture.
Damage caused by fungi
As soon as the leaves and sometimes also the young shoots of the passiflora are covered with a black, sooty-looking film, the plant is infected by a sooty mold fungus. This always appears as a result of an infestation by mealybugs, mealybugs or aphids, as the sweet honeydew excreted by the insects promotes the colonization of the fungus. As a result, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. When there is waterlogging, various soil fungi feel very comfortable in the moist substrate and cause the roots to rot, which in turn causes the plant to die. You can recognize waterlogging if the plant looks dried out even though the substrate is still moist. Sometimes repotting helps, whereby the old soil has to be disposed of and the roots (and thus also the above-ground parts of the plant) have to be trimmed.
Damage caused by overwintering
Don't be surprised if some of your passiflora's leaves turn yellow and fall off in winter. To a certain extent this is completely normal. Overwinter your passion flowers frost-free, but cool and, above all, in a bright and ventilated place - if possible not in the immediate vicinity of a heater. Passion flowers need a lot of light even in winter and cannot survive a dark winter.
Tips & Tricks
If your passiflora doesn't really want to bloom, it's usually because it doesn't get enough sun. In addition, the flower buds will dry out prematurely if you do not water and/or fertilize adequately.