How to Care for Coral Vine

Coral vine is a rapidly growing, climbing vine that can reach 30 or 40 feet. The small flowers have a color range from nearly white to pink to sometimes a deep coral with heart-shaped leaves. This vine does well in zones 9 and 10 and usually blooms repeatedly from late spring to early fall. Bees, butterflies and birds like this plant. Caring for coral vine can be relatively easy if you follow these simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Insecticidal spray
• Water
• Pruning shears
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Water the coral vine. Keep this vine moist by watering regularly. Set a sprinkler near the coral vine on a low setting and leave for 15 to 20 minutes twice a week or when the ground is dry around the vine. You can also place a garden hose 6 inches away from the base of the vine and leave it trickling for 30 minutes. Make sure it is well drained.

2. Feed the coral vine. Be sure it is planted in quality soil and feed it monthly in the early growing season with a multipurpose outdoor fertilizer. Do not fertilize in the late growing season or the fall or winter.

3. Prune the coral vine as necessary to keep it under control. Remove dead and broken vines and shape it to fit whatever fence, trellis or arbor you have attached it to.

4. Make sure the coral vine gets plenty of light. This vine requires full sun for maximum growth and health. The flowers bloom the most in full sunlight.

5. Troubleshoot the coral vine. Use an insecticidal spray on the leaves of the coral vine to prevent pests. If you have a bug that appears to be doing damage to the vine, catch one of them and take it to your local nursery for identification. The staff there can then tell you which specific insecticidal spray to use on that particular pest. If the vine appears to be diseased, take a diseased portion of the vine to your local nursery and ask the staff there for assistance.

Tips & Warnings

• The coral vine is attractive to bees, so it may not be a good idea to plant it near a doorway.