It is a vine with exotic and very beautiful flowers. Growing it at home is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

Despite its outward amazing originality and love for warm regions, blue passionflower is unpretentious and grows well in a continental climate. Once established, passionflower will calmly survive the cold winter and will delight you with luxurious, bright flowers.

Passiflora blue has many names. In the people it is called the Passion Flower or the Cavalry Star. Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Madagascar are considered its homeland. The plant is a vine reaching a length of 9 meters. As it grows, the stem of the vine becomes woody. Passionflower can independently attach and grow on vertical surfaces. Her long mustache helps her in this.

Blue passionflower received the name Cavalry Star because of its similarity with the order.

The flowers are quite large (about the size of a palm), bright and from a distance reminiscent of a star. The petals are arranged in layers. First the larger and sharper petals, and then the smaller and thinner ones in the center. The pistil and stamens are large, strongly protruding. The pistil is dark, burgundy, and the stamens are bright yellow. The unusual passionflower flowers fall off within a day after they bloom, and then more and more new buds appear.

The peculiarity of the plant is not only the unusual flowers, but also the shape of the leaves. Passionflower has large leaves, up to 15 cm in diameter, cut into individual “fingers”. Each leaf has 5-7 such fingers. Passionflower blooms in spring and summer. Its flowering lasts a long time, up to 4 months. It can be grown both at home and in open ground. However, passionflower tends to grow rapidly in length, so it becomes crowded at home very soon.

When the flower fades, a soft, edible fruit is formed. In blue passion fruit, this fruit is tasteless, however, some types of passion flowers produce sweet fruits (for example, passion fruit). However, even tasteless fruits can be used as food for the valuable vitamins and minerals they contain. As a rule, passionflower is grown for decorative purposes. This flower can not be called capricious, but it requires certain conditions, for example, maintaining the temperature level at a certain level, which may seem too difficult for a novice gardener.

Among the many varieties of this flower, blue passionflower is the most unpretentious in care. However, like all members of the Passionflower family, the plant grows well only if certain conditions are met, from which it is not recommended to deviate too much.

All conditions for growing passionflower are feasible, simple, but mandatory:

• Lots of light. Blue passionflower grows and colors exclusively with plenty of light. Liana is not afraid even of direct sunlight, so in spring and summer it can be taken out onto the balcony. If passionflower grows in an apartment, you need to choose the brightest place for it or provide it with artificial light. Additional lighting is definitely needed in winter, when daylight hours are reduced. For passionflower to grow and bloom well, it must be exposed to light for at least 12 hours a day.
• Warm. Despite the tropical origin of the flower, it does not like drought and heat too much. The ideal conditions for growing blue passionflower are temperatures from 20 to 26 degrees. It is undesirable to raise the temperature above 30 degrees. In winter, 14 degrees will be enough.
• Large amount of water. Passionflower loves moisture and good . In spring and summer, it needs to be watered especially abundantly. But it is important to maintain a balance. Passionflower will not tolerate both drought and waterlogging. Even in winter, when the flower stops blooming, watering is not stopped, but only reduced to maintain the growth and life of the plant. It is advisable to moisten not only the soil, but also the air in the room where the plant is located. Passionflower loves humidity, and dry air causes the flowers to begin to fall off.
• . Passionflower needs feeding during the flowering period. At this time, the plant is fed weekly with complex fertilizers. In autumn and winter, feeding is stopped.
• . Blue passionflower definitely needs to be pruned, not only because it is actively growing, but for a more lush appearance. The long vine does not find enough strength for the flowers. You need to trim before the start of active sap flow and flowering, in early spring, leaving a third of the length of the stems. It is also not recommended to severely prune passionflower; this can lead to the death of the plant.

Reproduction: seeds and cuttings

Blue passionflower can be propagated by collected fruits or apical ones. Both methods are quite effective and simple.

Passion flower cuttings:

• To propagate passionflower by cuttings, small tops with internodes are cut off from the mother plant.
• The resulting cuttings are planted in a warm, damp place (greenhouse, box, etc.) or placed in a small container with water and placed in a bright place so that the cuttings take root.

Propagation by seeds:

You can increase germination using hydrogen peroxide. First you need to select the seeds. Fill them with water, remove the ones that float, and leave the rest. The remaining seeds should be placed in a glass container and filled with a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide will dissolve the shell and at the same time disinfect the seeds.

After all these procedures, the seeds are placed in a solution (100 ml of water + 50 drops of hydrogen peroxide), the jar is closed (made of transparent glass) and left for a week. The jar should be stored in a dark place and not opened for 7 days.

Transplanting passionflower and varieties

Passiflora may need it if it has already grown greatly and the room (or old pot) is cramped for it. The transplantation process does not require any special manipulations. From the softened, moistened soil, carefully dig up and pull out the passionflower. You also need to carefully shake off excess soil from the roots. The best time for replanting is the beginning of spring before the sap begins to flow. In summer, transplantation is possible, but not in extreme heat. It is not advisable to touch the flower in autumn and winter. It is in a dormant state, and such manipulations can lead to the death of the plant.

It is often recommended to replant passionflower after purchasing it at a flower shop. Typically, the pots in which plants are sold are designed only for transportation, and instead of full-fledged soil, they contain peat. In order for the plant to take root, it needs to be replanted and the soil in the pot changed. Such a transplant is considered forced, and therefore does not depend on the month or time of year.

Passionflower grows very quickly, so at home it can be replanted every year, changing pots and pruning shoots.

If the plant is old enough and already in a large pot, it can be replanted as needed, and instead of replanting, replace the top layer of soil with a new one. If the passionflower has grown so much that the soil has become unsuitable, do a complete replanting, replacing all the soil in the pot. When transplanting, carefully shake off the root and remove all the soil; the plant is transplanted into a new pot without the earthen clod.

Afterwards, you need to care for passionflower in the standard way. To create more gentle conditions, you can increase the temperature and humidity, creating a greenhouse effect for some time.

The most common varieties of blue passionflower are the following:

• Constance Elliot C. This variety, although it belongs to the blue passionflower, has white flowers. The leaves are five-fingered, bright green, the flowers are white, resembling snowflakes.
• Star of Mikanc. This variety has bright pink flowers and burgundy or purple centers. The flowers of this plant look so bright that they can be mistaken for artificial.
• Lavender Lady. This flower also has pink buds, but the color is softer and more delicate, with a purple tint.

Most often, there are no special problems with blue passionflower. In most cases, blue passionflower diseases are associated with violation of care rules. To improve the situation, in some cases it is enough to adjust the watering regime and change the temperature.

Common diseases and pests of blue passionflower:

• Anthracnose. This fungal disease can affect many plants. transmitted through infected or remnant plants. If passionflower is infected with anthracnose, it must be removed along with the soil. No treatment can be active against this disease. The fungus affects the entire above-ground part of the plant. Brown spots, initially single, can be found on the leaves. They grow and merge together. The same spots appear on the stems. In the affected areas of the plant, the movement of nutrients is disrupted and it dies.
• Spider mite. Spider mites appear quickly, but removing them completely is very difficult. This will quickly spread to all neighboring plants, so the fight against it needs to start as early as possible. Spider mites can be identified by the thin web between the leaves of the plant. To get rid of a tick, you need to thoroughly and repeatedly wash the plant with cool water, treat it with a solution of laundry soap, or a solution of orange peel infusion.
• Mealybug. These pests are popularly called hairy lice. They are quite large and easily recognized at first glance. First, you can replace the insects themselves, and then the white coating that they leave on the plant. Mealybug slows down the growth of the plant and weakens it. If there are not too many of them, you can collect pests with your hands or remove affected leaves and shoots. In case of severe damage, you can treat the plant with special agents that are absorbed into the plant and poison the insects.

It begins to hurt when overwatered: its stem rots. With a lack of light and moisture, buds do not form at all, and passionflower does not bloom. Most diseases can be avoided by monitoring air and soil humidity. Excessive dryness leads to pests such as spider mites, and excessive moisture leads to rotting of the roots and stems.

More information can be found in the video:

In indoor conditions, the growth of the vine is very slow due to several factors:

• growing in a pot
• uncomfortable climatic conditions

Although, with proper care, the vine delights with incredible flowering, which delights everyone. Passionflower is considered a rather unpretentious plant. It can even be cultivated in garden plots.

Almost everyone has heard about the fruit passion fruit. But not everyone knows that this is the fruit of passionflower.

Species and varieties. Photo

We invite you to familiarize yourself with a photo selection of our heroine

The plant got its name because of its large flowers and vines. The flower also has a woody stem and large leaves (20 cm in diameter). You can grow such a plant using all the methods listed below, including from seeds.

Incarnate (incarnate)

This species is frost-resistant. It has flowers of various colors. The fruits are yellow in color, pleasant to the taste, but with sourness. This species is very useful in medicine. Extracts are often used in tea. The plant extract is combined with St. John's wort and valerian.

One of the most magnificent vines. Its beautiful pink flowers with a diameter of 12 cm will not leave anyone indifferent.

Passion flower is difficult to confuse with others

The fruits of banana passionflower (granadilla) are yellow in color: they are edible. Used fresh. They are also used to make preserves and jams. It is noteworthy that the fruiting of this species is really abundant. In the first year the plant bears fruit.

Winged (Brazilian passion fruit)

This type is popular in the country of carnivals - Brazil. The flowers are red and bright orange and have long stamens. Passionflower: The fruit is large and aromatic.

There are also known species such as passionflower variable, blue passionflower, tetrahedral passionflower, graceful passionflower, scarlet passionflower, passionflower alata ed.

Care

Do you need to replant passionflower after purchase? It is believed that replanting should be done every year. It's best with the onset of spring. If you are lucky enough to buy a passionflower in a flower shop or online store and you see that the pot is not comfortable, then, of course, you need to replant it.

Before replanting, you need to trim the plant's vines by one third. But you need to preserve the main shoots, so be careful when replanting. It is advisable to keep a clod of earth on the roots: this way the plant is guaranteed to survive. Old plants with a pot capacity of 3-5 liters do not need to be replanted.

Soil composition and soil fertilizers

The plant in the open ground feels great only on the sunny side. It is advisable to provide her with some kind of support.

Passionflower feels great in open ground

For planting in a pot, it is best to take sand, deciduous, soddy soil and peat in equal parts. You can put a little less sand. Passionflower is considered unpretentious and feels good in any soil.

In the summer, top dressing should be carried out several times a month (usually three times). You need to feed only after watering. Use mineral and organic fertilizers. For this purpose, mullein infusion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.

Watering and lighting

Abundant watering and very good lighting are the two conditions that must be met when caring for passionflower. It is even recommended to specifically keep the soil of the plant slightly moist in summer. In winter, watering is moderate, but regular.

Air humidity is also of decisive importance: spraying is necessary in spring and summer. Only the rays of the sun should not fall on the droplets, otherwise the leaves will get burned.

Optimal temperature for growing

In summer, the growing temperature starts from +18 C. The same temperature will suit the plant in winter. Although passionflower is usually kept in hotter conditions (+24-25 C), because it is a southern plant. But there should not be a sharp increase in temperature, because then the leaves will turn yellow and dry out, and the number of buds will be reduced. The plant may even die.

Trimming

In the first year, passionflower should not be touched, as it grows vines and the general appearance is formed. In subsequent years, flowering and fruiting begin. Shoots that have already produced fruit can be pruned. Moreover, strong vines should be left, and only secondary ones should be shortened by approximately one third. Pruning the plant in the second year of life is in order.

Reproduction

There are two types of propagation of passionflower. Each of them has its own characteristics.

Propagation by cuttings is easy

Cuttings

Cuttings of passionflower occur in the summer. First, a woody vine with leaves and buds is cut off and germinated in a glass of water. Roots appear only after two months. It is not recommended to change the water. You need to put a piece of charcoal in a glass.

How to grow from seeds?

Propagation of passionflower by seeds is the most common, since seeds can be bought in many online stores, and delivery can be arranged by mail. Planting takes place in February or March. At very warm temperatures (from +25 C), the sown seeds will sprout within a couple of weeks. It is recommended to soak them for a day before sowing. Some people disinfect the soil before planting by keeping it in the oven for 10 minutes at +200 C.

Diseases and pests

Passionflower can be attacked by various pests - aphids, scale insects, and scale insects. They usually settle on the underside of leaves. The flower should be examined carefully.

If insects are detected, the plant is washed with soapy water. In severe cases, passionflower can be treated with insecticides. In general, all traditional pest control methods are used. However, you need to be careful with the concentration of substances so as not to destroy the plant.

Please take note!

Why doesn't passionflower bloom?. If passionflower If it doesn't bloom, it means it doesn't have enough light. However, this is not the only condition.

When a plant already has sepals, but they do not open, this means that it does not have enough strength.

You need to start feeding the flower with various fertilizers. In summer, passionflower should be fertilized regularly.

What to do if the leaves dry or wither?

Leaves may wilt or turn yellow from heavy watering. Do not flood the flower. Passiflora can also be attacked by a spider mite: carefully inspect the plant.

Useful and healing properties

With a disease such as alcoholism, the extract reduces the desire for alcohol. You need to take 40 drops 3-4 times a day. Treatment is carried out for several months, but then the craving for alcohol may reappear.

At the end of the article, we bring to your attention a video fragment about the propagation of passionflower by cuttings. Enjoy your viewing, friends, and let the flowers of your passionflower be beautiful, the fruits will be juicy and the harvests will be plentiful!

Hipperastrum, also known as amaryllis, in Greek means “cavalry star”, for its magnificent shape of flowers and bright color.

The genus Hipperastrum has about 8 species, grows in the subtropics and tropics of America, and in nature is more often found in forests and on mountain slopes.

Large bright flowers resembling a lily were brought from Europe in the 18th century. The exotic flower quickly fell in love and began to be grown in winter gardens and greenhouses, but new varieties are bred exclusively in Holland.

Flower care and maintenance

If you have planned for the plant to bloom for Christmas, then in August take care of the correct maintenance of the bulbs, namely, they need 16 degrees and moderate, infrequent watering.

After a period of dying and yellowing of the leaves, watering is stopped, and a dormant period begins, which lasts about 2 months. In the second half of October, the temperature is raised to 22 degrees and the plant is placed on the sunny side.

When the top of the peduncle reaches 4 cm, we begin watering with warm water; when the arrow of the peduncle reaches 10 cm, we begin to water abundantly, maintaining a temperature of 20 degrees.

We fertilize every 2 weeks alternately with organic and mineral fertilizers.

Spring flowering is more common than Christmas flowering and is achieved by a long period of dormancy.

rest period

While the leaves remain green, the plant continues to grow, it deposits substances for next year's flower bud. This means we continue to water and feed the plant. Watering as it dries out, the earthen lump should not dry out. As soon as the leaves begin to wither and turn yellow, the plant is signaling to you that its dormant period is approaching. We stop watering and fertilizing gradually.

Transfer

The plant is replanted every 2-3 years, the soil is prepared from turf soil, peat and humus, with a little drainage at the bottom.

Pests of hipperastrum

The plant is not susceptible to pests and diseases, it is possible in rare cases to be affected by gray rot, this happens due to stagnation of water in the pot, so carefully water it, especially in winter.

Reproduction

Like all bulbs, it reproduces by separated small bulbs during transplantation. Just plant them side by side and care for them in the same way as you would for an adult plant. With proper care, the bulbs will bloom within 3 years.

Passiflora blue, or cavalier's star

Blue passionflower, synonyms: passion flower, cavalier star (Passiflora cerulea L.) is one of our most beautiful indoor vines. Her homeland is Brazil. It grows very quickly, making it very suitable for creating elegant garlands over windows and doors.

Loves space for both stems and roots. The stems are green, faceted, up to 6 m long. The leaves are evergreen, alternate, very graceful, 5- to 9-palmated-lobed, bluish-green, up to 10 cm in diameter. Their lobes are narrow, lanceolate, entire. Long spiral tendrils grow from the leaf axils; with them, passionflower clings to the support, on which it forms a solid green mass of leaves.

In nature it is shade-tolerant, but in indoor culture it grows well and blooms only in good light. It blooms on annual shoots, so it is pruned short in the fall. It is thermophilic, but for successful flowering and fruiting it requires mandatory winter dormancy, and at this time it should be in a bright, cool room, with a temperature not lower than 7-12 ° C, with rare watering.

In unfavorable indoor conditions, it sometimes overwinters in a leafless state. In March, the plants are brought into a warm room. For better flowering, in the spring the plants are cut into 3-5 eyes, from which shoots bearing flower buds will develop. All zero shoots coming from the root collar are removed. Plants that are not rested or pruned do not bloom. With a lack of light and heat, passionflower forms a large mass of decorative leaves, but also does not bloom.

Passionflower flowers are axillary, very original, huge, single, in the form of a four-tiered star. At the bottom they have five green sepals, then a row of pale blue, or bluish-blue, greenish-blue, or yellow petals; five stamens and a pistil with three reddish-brown stigmas fused on a style, at the base of which there is a disk of numerous narrow lilac cilia. The diameter of the flower reaches 10 cm. It is very similar to an ancient order, for which the plant received one of its popular names. Each individual flower is short-lived, but the flowering itself is very long, lasting from May to October.

After flowering, the peduncle branches are greatly shortened, and non-lignified shoots are cut out. The fruit is a large, chicken egg-sized, fragrant, tasty, yellow or orange berry; falls off when ripe. For growing passionflower, it is necessary to have a support made of wooden slats, wire or cord. Passiflora should not be exposed to the open air, although it likes to grow in well-ventilated areas, it does not tolerate drafts at all - it sheds buds and leaves.

It is propagated by seeds, layering, grafting, stem and root cuttings. Seeds are sown in February - March. The temperature for their germination should be 20-24°C, and sufficient soil and air humidity must be maintained. In indoor culture, passionflower is often propagated by cuttings, green in early spring, and semi-lignified in June - July. Cuttings are cut with two leaves and planted in a mixture of peat and sand (1:1), or clean sand. At temperatures not lower than 20°C, rooting occurs within a month.

With good care, passionflower can bloom the very next year after rooting. Requires mandatory annual transplantation; it is carried out in the spring, at the end of March - beginning of April. Loves rich but light soil mixtures. They are usually prepared from turf and humus soil with the addition of sand and peat (2:2:1:1), or from turf, heather and deciduous soil (1:2:1).

Passionflower tolerates dust and gas pollution well in rooms. Loves sun and abundant watering, but does not tolerate stagnant moisture. And when the soil dries out, its buds fall off. Watering in summer should be frequent, almost daily, and abundant, combined with spraying of leaves, and moderate in winter, spraying should be stopped. During the period of active growth, passionflower spends a lot of nutrients, and therefore, it must be regularly fed throughout the growing season, especially with phosphorus fertilizers.

The main pests are aphids, scale insects and spider mites; control measures are standard. As a deciduous ornamental plant, passionflower is unpretentious and easy to grow. But it is quite difficult to achieve its flowering, much less fruiting. Even in open ground (on the Black Sea coast), it bears fruit irregularly, and the harvest is usually small. And if it blooms in your room, and even more so bears fruit, this will be a real reward for all your efforts and labors.

Vladimir Starostin , candidate of agriculture. Science, dendrologist

10.10.16

Photo: photosflowery.ru

Other publications by Starostin V.A. look at his personal page

This unusual flower came into our “photoherbarium” from the outskirts of Sochi. There it grows as a powerful vine, decorating walls and fences in gardens. In mid-latitudes, the plant is grown as an indoor crop. Many flower lovers brought this vine from the southern cities where they spent their holidays. You can often see cuttings in a glass on the train, which passengers carry thousands of kilometers away. Sometimes fruits are also collected in the hope of sowing their seeds. Let's get to know this plant better.

Three names

Here is blue passionflower (Passiflora caerulea). Obviously, the name is given for the blue rim that adorns the flower. Translated from Latin, “passionflower” literally sounds like “passion flower” (passio - suffering, flos - flower). This name immediately intrigues. The unusual structure of the flower is also surprising.

In ancient times, passionflower was considered a symbol of the suffering of Christ, “an instrument of the passion of the Lord.” The stamens with large oblong anthers and the pistil with three cross-shaped stigmas resembled instruments of torture, and the blue threads of the receptacle resembled the crown of thorns on the head of Christ. The pointed tops of the leaves were identified with a spear, the tendrils with a whip, and the columns of a flower with the nails of a cross.

Due to its similarity in shape, passionflower is called the cavalier's star. This name is most often used by lovers of indoor floriculture, who are far from scientific terms. It is grown in sunny windows. It is used as a decorative vine with tendrils on the stems, with which it firmly clings to the support. Without support it grows like an ampelous plant.

Growing

Several types of passionflower are known. Flower growers dream of purchasing the edible passionflower (P. edulis) with white petals. The fruits of this passion flower are known as passion fruits, or granadillas, the same ones that are added to yogurt. In its homeland, this Brazilian vine produces two harvests a year. Flower growers also try to grow such exotic fragrant fruits on their windows, and the most persistent ones succeed.

Blue passionflower is one of the most unpretentious species, but it is grown as an ornamental crop. The fruits have no practical value. They are similar in shape and size to a chicken egg. When ripe, they are bright orange, tasteless, with numerous seeds. The flowers are large, solitary, 7-9 cm in diameter, bluish in color, with a weak aroma.

Blue passionflower is grown in the ground in the southern regions where the soil does not freeze. Stems and leaves can withstand frosts down to -4-6C without damage. In the range from -6C to -8C the leaves freeze, from -8C to -10C - the above-ground part. But the roots are able to overwinter in non-freezing soil and produce new shoots in the spring. If wintering conditions are more severe, the plant is grown as an indoor crop.

Passion flower can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and root shoots. Seeds do not require stratification. They are sown to a depth of about 5 mm and keep the soil moist until germination. At room temperature, seeds usually germinate within two weeks. At the age of 5-6 true leaves, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place, in pots with a capacity of at least 1 liter; as they grow, the pot is enlarged. To sow seeds and transplant seedlings, you need to use a high-quality soil mixture. It is best to buy Living Earth soil from the Fart company.

Under favorable conditions (bright windows, regular watering and fertilizing), blue passionflower grows very powerfully. In open ground, annual growth can be up to 6 m per season. Indoors, the growth rate is more modest, and yet the plant quickly entwines the support.

When propagated by seed, young plants usually bloom in the second year. An indispensable condition is a sufficient amount of light. In the dark season, lighting is desirable. With a lack of light in winter, passionflower can completely shed its leaves. In spring they grow back. Despite the unpretentiousness of the species, abundant and long-lasting flowering can be achieved only with sufficient and uniform moisture throughout the growing season. When the soil dries out, the buds do not form or fall off.

Cuttings are the most effective method of propagating passionflower. It is better to take cuttings from the middle of well-ripened shoots; they root easily at room temperature, both in water and in soil. With vegetative propagation, plants bloom in the year of planting.

Blue passionflower is self-sterile, that is, it does not form fruits when pollinated by its own pollen. To bear fruit, you need to have at least two plants grown from seeds. In the open ground, pollination is carried out by insects; in rooms, artificial pollination is necessary. However, blue passionflower is grown for its beautiful flowers, and not for its fruits. In the summer, it is taken out into the garden in a pot, and there, under the “living” rays of the sun, it grows very quickly. At the same time, you need to remember about regular watering and fertilizing, then the flowers will not keep you waiting. Since the fruits are tasteless, it is better to cut off the ovaries so that there are more flowers.

You can find this article in the magazine "Magic Garden" 2009 No. 6.