My Passifloras

[MikeW]

On a visit to L.A., Sean saw some Passiflora Belotii in a local nursery, and made me get four. I ejoyed these vines from the get-go, and later I (inadvertantly) intercepted a package of a number of types Teresa sent to Sean, and became the lucky recipient by default.

The first pic I forget the name of. Sean bought a passion fuit at the farmer's market in Vancouver, then did what people do with seeds to make them into viable planting material for idiots, and sent me some.

2nd - P. Caerulea. Common, but still among my favourites

3rd - P. Belotii

4th - P. Lady Margaret

[MikeW]

1st - P. Blue Bouquet

2nd - P. Citrina

3rd - P. Quadrangularis (sp?)

4th - P. Vitifolia

[Timgod]

I've never tried to do cuttings of my vines. That's probably why I've lost a couple. Mike do you ever take cuttings? If so I might be interested in getting a few from you.
Tim

[MikeW]

Tim -
Yes and no.
I am currently attempting it for the first time, with the Vitifolia. I am trying to get a viable cutting to Teresa, and if this lot works, will be happy to send to you as well.

I don't want to promise anything just yet, because usually when I try this type of stuff, I end up with dead twigs pretty fast. This is a pic of cuttings in water, and this weekend will do the rooting hormone and potting up thing. Also I wave a dead chicken, do a rain dance, and fast for four hours, just so nothing is overlooked.

Cheers,

Mike

[SheilaJ]

I've never rooted passiflora, but my general approach for tropicals is to dip the ends in Rootone, put them in pots with a moistened mix of 50/50 perlite and vermiculite, put a plastic humidity dome over them, and stick them under shop lights in my warm grow room. I pretty much ignore them - check moisture every few weeks, but rarely need to add any. I usually start seeing new growth within 3 weeks to 3 months. Spring or summer cuttings go faster than fall or winter.

I also learned that is helps a LOT if you only leave on the top two leaves, and if they are large, cut them with a scissors into little "mickey mouse ears". This reduces the amount of moisture loss from transpiration so the cuttings don't wilt.

If you don't have a grow room, I would suggest a warm room with moderate to bright light but NO direct sun (will fry everything under the dome).

Good luck!

I've got a P. caerulea on order that should arrive soon. I grew it a few years ago and it was stunning but didn't overwinter in my lovely clay soil. 

[Teresa]

Mike, don't be discouraged if they don't root - vitifolia is one of the hardest passiflora to root out there . . . . (at least by my experience).  I've never been able to get it to root in water and only rarely in anything else.  Sheila's advice is right on tho . . . . that's the way to do it but DON'T forget the plastic dome to hold in humidity.

I think your first passiflora pic is p. edulis.

[Ky Kim]

Those blooms just amaze me.  They're just so unique, and beautiful.

Kim

[Vickie]

WOW sums it up!

[Vickie]

Well  I could not stand it. I went an bought Lady Margaret today. LOL

[Teresa]

Where did you find it Vickie?  She's an awfully pretty one and a good bloomer!

[Vickie]

I found it in a huge greenhouse an about 25 minutes from where I live. I had to pay $35 but it was a nice sized plant. I saw it online but it was $15 plus $15 shipping. And this plant is much bigger. I am going to try and take cuttings in case I loose it. I would like a back up. LOL

[Kittyzee]

Mike,
They are all stunning, but the red vitifolia is absolutely gorgeous!  I never have enough true red in my garden, I'm going to try and change that this year.