How to Grow a Passion Vine

There are about 400 different species of passion vine, in every imaginable color. These vines generally bloom in the spring and throughout the summer months. Depending on the species, the flowers can range in size form 1/2 inch to 6 inches across. Planting and caring for a passion vine can be relatively easy if you follow these simple steps.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Trellis, fence or arbor
• Individual containers for planting seeds
• Garden soil
• Garden trowel
• Pebbles
• Gardening gloves

Start With a Seed

1. Prepare your seeds. Purchase a packet of passion vine seeds from your local nursery.

2. Plant your seeds in individual cups filled with garden soil, about 1/2 inch deep. Be sure to plant the seeds in late winter if you want to transplant to your garden in the spring. Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the cups for water drainage.

3. Water the seedlings regularly-- one to two times daily, to keep the soil slightly moist--and make sure they get plenty of sunlight. Put them in a windowsill with good light exposure.

4. Acclimate your plants to the outdoors before you transplant them into your garden. Set them outdoors for a few hours everyday, increasing the time each day for a week.

5. When the vines reach 6 to 8 inches in height, it is time to transplant the seeds to your yard.

Plant Your Passion Vine

6. Purchase your passion vines from a local nursery if you did not grow them from seeds. Look for one that has healthy green leaves and is already blooming. If you cannot find one at a local nursery, you can look for an online nursery that will ship one to you.

7. Choose where you would like to put your vine. Part shade is best. The passion vine is a climbing vine so plant it up next to a fence, trellis or arbor.

8. Plant your passion vine by digging a hole 6 to 8 inches deep, depending on the size of your vine's roots. Fill the hole with quality garden soil and be sure that the roots are completely covered.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant multiple vines 4 to 6 feet apart in an area with sunny to partly sunny exposure.
• Put a few pebbles at the bottom of your hole before adding the Passion Vine to ensure good water drainage.
• You may need to attach your vine to a stake until it gets big enough to attach to the fence, trellis or arbor.
• This is a tropical vine, so it typically needs more water than other outdoor plants.

[greenqween]

on 10/8/2008 Love Passion Vine and flowers. Mine is 2 years old, healthy and flowers profusely, but, never sets fruit. How can I make it set? I live in the California Central Valley.