Passiflora SUBPELTATA

Passiflora SUBPELTATA - White passionflower, Passiflora alba, White-flowered passion flower.

Passiflora is a genus of liana-like plants in the family Passifloraceae, native to the tropical and subtropical climates of Australia, Asia, the Americas - particularly in Peru and Brazil - the Mediterranean, and one species in Madagascar. The genus includes about 500 species of visually unique plants. There are annual and perennial varieties growing as herbaceous plants or evergreen climbing shrub-vines, with dissected pinnate or simple fleshy dark green leaves up to 10 cm (4 in) long, which can change shape as they mature. Most species have specifically positioned glands on their petioles and leaves that secrete a liquid that serves in nature to attract ants that protect the plant from caterpillars. Simple unbranched tendrils grow from the leaf axils, reaching out on their own toward support. The stems of the plant become woody as they grow.

Each species blooms with beautiful solitary axillary fragrant star-shaped flowers on long pedicels. Large flowers up to 10-12 cm (4-5 in) in diameter consist of five petals and five sepals with large bracts, framing an ovary of three stigmas surrounded by five stamens with rather noticeable anthers. Between the stamens and perianth are filaments brightly colored, forming a corona of violet-blue color. Varieties with red, white, purple, pink, and green flowers are less common. Flowering can be observed from July to October. In the American tropics, the flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds; in other conditions, this process is carried out manually. After flowering, the passiflora forms berry fruits up to 6 cm (2.4 in) long, containing black seeds. The edible, tart-tasting fragrant fruits of passionfruit and granadilla are widely known. Unripe fruits of all passiflora species contain cyanides.

Passiflora subpeltata is an evergreen climbing vine with strong woody stems that cling to support with tendrils. It blooms profusely with white fragrant flowers 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter. It sets yellow fruits when pollinated with its own pollen. It withstands overwintering at a temperature not lower than 7 °C (45 °F).

The seeds are scarified beforehand (lightly rubbed with sandpaper), soaked in hot water for 24 hours, and sown in a prepared mixture of equal parts sod, peat soil, humus, and sand without burying them deeply. They are moistened from a spray bottle, covered with glass or plastic film, and germinated in light at a temperature of 22-25 °C (72-77 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of the crops. The seeds germinate from 2 weeks to 6 months. Sometimes up to 9 months. The cover is removed after seedlings emerge. Seedlings are pricked out into individual pots after the emergence of a pair of true leaves.

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Passiflora is very popular among flower growers due to its lack of fussiness and rapid growth. It prefers bright lighting, but in the midday summer hours it is better to shade the plant from direct sunlight to avoid burns. On south-facing windows it displays maximum flowering, grows well on west and east windows, and on the sills of north windows and in light shade - it grows, but blooms very sparsely. It can be taken out into the fresh air during the warm season. In the winter period, supplementary lighting with lamps is desirable. It requires a constant supply of fresh air, but does not tolerate drafts. In the summer period, a comfortable temperature is 20-25 °C (68-77 °F); in heat exceeding 30 °C (86 °F), the plant quickly loses its ornamental value, turns yellow, dries out, and blooms very poorly. In winter during dormancy, it needs a cool rest at a temperature of 10-15 °C (50-59 °F); without providing such conditions, it may lose its leaves and even die.

Watering should be systematic and generous from early spring to late autumn. The soil should always be moist; there is no need to wait for drying out, nor should stagnant water be allowed in the tray. In the winter period, watering is reduced to 3-4 times a month. In the summer period, it requires daily misting with soft water. It is important that during spraying direct sunlight does not fall on the plant to avoid burns, so the procedure is best performed in the evening. You can also very gently arrange a warm shower once every 7-10 days without damaging the fragile stems. With insufficient air humidity, the appearance of red spider mites and bud drop are possible.

During the spring-summer period of vigorous growth, passiflora is fed once every two weeks alternately with organic and mineral fertilizers for indoor flowering plants at half dosage. The optimal ratio of elements in the fertilizer is: 4 parts potassium, 2 parts nitrogen, and 1 part phosphorus. Before feeding, the soil must be moistened. It is also recommended to apply foliar feeding once every month and a half. In winter and in conditions unfamiliar to the plant, it should not be fertilized.

Repotting of a young plant is carried out every year in spring, and of an adult plant once every 2-3 years. It is recommended to slightly increase the pot size, because the more space provided to the roots, the longer and lusher the vine will be, but the sparser the flowering. A mixture of equal parts sod, leaf, peat soil, and sand is used as soil. It is best to pot on the plant into a new container without disturbing the root ball. Pruning is carried out during repotting, watering is reduced, and misting is stopped.

The shoots must be provided with strong support and their growth direction promptly adjusted, as they grow quickly and become woody just as fast. In the first year, passiflora develops its main stems, forming the basis of the future vine. Flowers appear only on young shoots; therefore, starting from 3 years of age, in the spring period it is recommended to carry out annual pruning of young shoots at the base of the plant and 1/3 of secondary branches remaining from the previous year that have become bare. After flowering and fruiting, the main branches are shortened by 3/4 of their length, and bare secondary branches are cut out completely. It is important not to prune down to the level of the main stem; it is necessary to leave 4-5 cm (1.6-2 in) of the shoot. Pruning should be carried out gradually, in several passes; this way, a large number of small roots will not die off, and consequently, the plant will not be subject to root rot and the risk of death.