Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - August 27, 2008
From: Rosenberg, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Vines
Title: Inducing flowering on vines
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
My daughter presented me with a lovely Passiflora coccinea a few months ago. It is growing marvelously in full sun at the base of a pine tree. I'm wondering, though, if I were to limit the amount of new growth, would it bloom more? The same applies to a. . . I forgot the scientific name; a Sky Vine? Thank you for your help. Love the site!!!!ANSWER:
Rampant plant growth and limited flowering are often signs of excessive nitrogen. Try cutting back on feeding or stop feeding altogether for awhile. Sometimes, allowing the vine to dry to wilting between waterings (not to the point of hurting the plant) will also induce more flowering. Finally, sometimes flowering is a matter of timing and the plant will simply flower only when the time is right.
Your Sky Vine is probably Thurbergia grandiflora, a native of the Indian subcontinent.
More Vines Questions
Non-blossoming trumpet vine
November 05, 2007 - About 9 years ago I started a trumpet vine, from seeds that I got from plants that were invading an empty home. I saw how invasive it was. It had worked its way into the windows and front porch and ...
view the full question and answer
Is purple bindweed good for a screen growing on a fence?
September 12, 2012 - We cleared a bunch of dead trees and tree limbs (mostly cedars and some oaks) on our semi-rural property in Driftwood and now we're left with an undesirable view onto the neighboring property. We're...
view the full question and answer
Finicky Trumpet Vine in Stockdale Texas
June 06, 2011 - I need help dealing with a very old trumpet vine. It was my grandmothers and she died in 79. It's always been beautiful till 99 when my grandmothers house burned down. It was right behind it. It cam...
view the full question and answer
How to propagate Clematis texensis in Austin, TX?
May 14, 2012 - How do I propagate a Clematis texensis Buckl. Scarlet leatherflower from the seed pod?
view the full question and answer
Identification of a vine with red berries in Weatherford, Texas
October 17, 2014 - I have found a vine with red berries that I would appreciate an ID for. How can I send you a photo or two of it?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |