It seems to come from the Garden of Eden and spoils us with an abundance of tropical flowers. Passion flowers turn out to be less demanding than their lavish appearance seems. Find out here the central framework conditions for the successful cultivation of passiflora in the room and garden.
How do you properly care for a passion flower?
In order to successfully care for a passion flower, it needs a sunny, warm and wind-protected location, nutrient-rich and moist, humus-rich substrate and regular fertilization. Cut the plant annually in spring and overwinter it in a bright and protected place at 10-12 degrees Celsius.
Planting passionflower correctly
Planting a passion flower in the garden is exemplary if the following criteria are taken into account:
- Sunny, warm, wind-protected location
- Nutritious, fresh, moist substrate
- Ideally a pH value of 5.5 to 6.0
- Planting time from mid-May
- Planting distance 50 centimeters
Clever hobby gardeners plant non-hardy passion flowers and pots in the ground in order to get them out of the ground in time before the forest and relocate them to their winter quarters.read more
Care tips
The care of a passiflora is within a manageable range. How to do it right:
- Keep the root ball constantly moist with lime-free water
- Fertilize every 14 days from April to August
- Cut and thin out in early spring
- Winter bright and protected at 10-12 degrees Celsius
Which location is suitable?
The ideal location for Passiflora is sunny, warm and protected from the wind. The climbing plants happily stretch out their roots in the nutrient-rich, loose, humus-rich substrate.read more
When is flowering time?
The majority of Passiflora are summer bloomers, delighting us with their flowers from May to September or beyond. Some rare species and varieties bloom in winter, either immediately after clearing or from January to March.
Cut passionflower correctly
Thanks to its remarkable pruning tolerance, there is nothing wrong with regular pruning. Cut your Passiflora into shape before putting it away. Ideally, the climbing plant receives its shape and maintenance pruning in early spring.read more
Fertilize passionflower properly
The passion flower is not a food contempt. Therefore, fertilize the plant every 14 days with a phosphate-rich preparation (€26.00 on Amazon). Too much nitrogen promotes leaf growth at the expense of flowers.read more
Diseases
The passionflower is considered susceptible to fungal infections, such as the ubiquitous mildew. Therefore, avoid spraying the tendrils with water and ensure there is sufficient distance between the plants. If the mealy patina still spreads over the pretty foliage, use this home remedy:
- Mix fresh milk and water in a ratio of 1:9 and use every few days
- Alternatively, dust the infected passiflora with rock dust or pure charcoal ash
If the leaves turn black, however, the sooty mold fungus has struck. In this case, the aphids responsible must be combated first. Then cut out the diseased parts of the plant or wash off the sooty mold with a weak soap solution.read more
Wintering
If the temperatures drop below 10 degrees in autumn, the tropical passiflora moves into winter quarters. Here, in a bright location at 10-12 degrees Celsius, it gains fresh strength for the next season. During this phase, do not let the root ball dry out and stop fertilizing. Houseplants stay in their usual place during the winter.read more
Propagate passionflower
To propagate Passiflora, you can choose from the following methods:
- Sowing: complex and lengthy
- Cuttings: easy
- Offshoot: uncomplicated
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Repotting
The best time to repot a passionflower is early spring, immediately after pruning. We also recommend repotting a freshly purchased passiflora. As a rule, the sales container is much too narrow and the substrate is inferior.read more
Is passionflower poisonous?
No general statement can be made about the toxic content of Passiflora. Within the broad genus are toxic species that contain hydrogen cyanide and alkaloids, while other specimens produce delicious fruits.read more
Passionflower doesn't bloom
If the exotic climbing plant refuses to produce the flowers it longs for, these measures will help:
- A two-month break during the winter in a cool, bright place
- A bold pruning in early spring or autumn
- Fertilize regularly from April to August
read more
Yellow leaves
If the leaves turn yellow, there is usually a lack of care. If the water and nutrient supply is correct, leaf chlorosis is responsible for the yellowing. In this case, a passiflora lacks iron because the substrate is too calcareous. Fertilize specifically with a special iron preparation and water only with soft rainwater.read more
Is passionflower poisonous to cats?
Passionflower contains toxic substances that are dangerous for cats. This applies especially to the blue passion flower and other species and varieties.read more
Grow your own passion flower
The fascination of hobby gardening results not least from the experience of growing a passion flower yourself. These procedures are available:
- Harvesting and sowing seeds from the fruit
- Cut and grow cuttings in summer
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Growing passionflower from seeds
To harvest passionflower seeds, cut open a ripe fruit and scoop out the pulp. Clean the seeds with clear water and soak them in 0.2 percent potassium nitrate (pharmacy) for 24 hours. After the germination inhibition has been lifted, sowing can begin.read more
Propagate passionflower from cuttings
You can easily grow more passion flowers using cuttings. Here's how to do it:
- Cut head cuttings with a length of 15-20 cm
- Defoliate except for the upper pair of leaves
- Plant two thirds in lean substrate
- Place in the indoor greenhouse or put a plastic cover over it
At 20-25 degrees Celsius in a partially shaded window seat, rooting takes place quickly with regular watering.read more
Propagate passionflower via cuttings
One of the advantageous attributes of a climbing plant is its easy propagation using offshoots. For this purpose, lower the herbaceous shoot of the passionflower into a neighboring pot in spring to fix it there. While it remains connected to the mother plant, the offshoot develops its own root system from a scratched piece of shoot. The separation can take place after 8-10 months.read more
The passion flower as a houseplant
A few Passiflora develop a habit that is just as magnificent in the room as on the balcony. The golden passionflower is one of them, as are the vine leaves and the blue passionflower. Make sure it is in a sunny location, with shade from midday sun. A plentiful supply of water is just as mandatory as weekly or fortnightly fertilization.read more
Keeping the passionflower on the balcony
The passion flower transforms the balcony into an exotic paradise. Plant the flowering beauty in a large container with loose, compost-based substrate. Placed in a sunny, wind-protected location, the climbing plant demonstrates its growth power on a stable trellis. After a bright winter at 10-12 degrees, the passiflora repeats the flower spectacle next year.read more
The passion flower as a climbing plant
Mostly passion flowers are created as climbing plants. The few exceptions include Passiflora arborea or Passiflora macrophylla, which thrive as a shrub or tree.read more
A trellis for the passion flower
Without a trellis, the passionflower develops prostrate shoots that languish. However, if you offer a passiflora a trellis or similar climbing aid, it will thrive in all its glory. A ring that the shoots can wrap around several times has proven useful as a climbing aid for houseplants.read more
Is passionflower perennial?
Passionflower has the potential to thrive for many years. The most important prerequisite for perennial culture is a winter rest period. In autumn, move the plant into bright winter quarters at 10-12 degrees Celsius.read more
Is passionflower hardy?
A few species have the ability to overwinter in the open air. The blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea) is one of them because it is hardy down to -15 degrees Celsius. However, the plant moves in completely after the first frost in order to sprout again from the roots next spring.read more
Cut back the passionflower before overwintering
The robust pruning tolerance of a passion flower allows it to be cut back before putting away in autumn. However, if there is enough space in the winter quarters, do not cut Passiflora into shape until early spring.read more
The blossom of the passion flower
The passion flower owes its sacred name to its unique flower shape. The outer wreath of flowers represents the apostles without Judas and Peter. The side crown symbolizes a crown of thorns and the stylus symbolizes the wounds of Christ.read more
The fruit of the passionflower
All of the more than 500 Passiflora species produce fruit, very few of which are edible and some are even poisonous. The most popular fruit of a passionflower is the passion fruit, which comes from a Passiflora edulis.read more
Is passion fruit edible?
If a passion flower is successfully pollinated, numerous small fruits will develop. However, only a few are edible. The best-known species with edible fruits is Passiflora edulis, which gifts us with delicious passion fruit.read more
The most beautiful varieties
- Alata: enchanting variety in rich red with a long flowering period from May to September; not hardy
- Ladybirds Dream: Purple-colored passiflora for obelisks and trellises with a height of 150 cm; hardy
- Constance Elliot: White-flowering climbing plant with a powerful habit up to 300 cm high; hardy
- Anastasia: pink petals surround a wreath of white ones with a deep red eye; not hardy
- Byron Beatuy: large-flowered passiflora that combines different shades of blue; not hardy
- Minas Gerais: breathtaking look with purple petals and burgundy heart; blooms in winter
- Inspiration: blue floral wonder that exudes a wonderful scent; not hardy
The Blue Passionflower
The blue passionflower has cult status within the large Passiflora family, not least thanks to its lavish blooms and robust constitution. If the plant finds a suitable climbing aid, it thrives in the room, on the balcony or as a facade greenery. In mild, protected locations, the blue passionflower even survives the winter in the bed.read more
The Red Passionflower
If you are looking for a red passionflower, you will find it in these Passiflora species:
- Passiflora alata
- Passiflora coccinea
- Passiflora vitifolia
All red-flowering passion flowers are not hardy.read more
