Not every “Passi” lover, as passion flowers are affectionately called by their fans, is also a happy garden or balcony owner. Fortunately, this situation can be remedied by growing suitable passion flower species indoors.
Which passion flowers are suitable as houseplants and how do you care for them?
Passionflowers are suitable as houseplants, especially the species Passiflora caerulea, P. citrina, P. vitifolia and P. aurantia. They need lots of light, water, fertilizer and a climbing aid. In winter they should overwinter in a bright, cool place.
Not every species is suitable for indoor cultivation
Although the over 530 different species from the passionflower family mostly come from the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, they also feel most at home in a warm and sunny spot in the garden or on the balcony in our latitudes. Some species, on the other hand, should only be cultivated in winter gardens because they require a lot of warmth. These, in turn, are not suitable as houseplants because they can grow very high and wide very quickly. Other, smaller species, on the other hand, can be cultivated indoors without any problems. We have summarized some of the most beautiful ones for you in the table below.
Beautiful Passiflora species for the apartment
| Passiflora | German name | flower size | Flower color | Origin | Care effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P. caerulea | Blue passionflower | up to 10 cm | blue-white | Argentina, Brazil | easy care |
| P. citrina | Lemon Passionflower | up to 6 cm | yellow | Honduras, Guatemala | water and fertilize regularly |
| P. vitifolia | Vine-leaved passionflower | up to 16 cm | bright red | Nicaragua, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru | Always ensure there is enough water and light |
| P. aurantia | Golden Passion Flower | up to 8 cm | orange | Australia, Fiji, Malaysia, New Guinea | needs nutrient-poor substrate |
Properly care for passion flowers indoors
Due to its beautiful, eye-catching flowers and the fact that it is an easy-care and flowering species, Passiflora caerulea is probably one of the most commonly kept passion flowers indoors. Just like their relatives “outside”, indoor Passis also need a lot of water and fertilizer. On hot summer days you can water once (for some species several times) a day, and fertilize once a week with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants (€13.00 on Amazon). This should not be too rich in nitrogen, otherwise the passiflora will grow too much and only produce a few flowers. As a climbing plant, Passiflora needs a climbing aid, although round arches have proven useful for smaller houseplants. Passiflora needs a lot of light, which is why a spot directly next to a south-facing window is the optimal location.
Tips & Tricks
Passion flowers grown indoors also need a winter break and should therefore not overwinter in the heated living room, but in a bright and cool place.
