Parthenocissus QUINQUEFOLIA

Parthenocissus QUINQUEFOLIA - Virginia creeper, Five-leaved ivy, Parthenocissus quinquefolia.

Can be grown as a bonsai.

Parthenocissus is a genus of climbing woody plants in the family Vitaceae. It includes about 10 species and is distributed in East Asia and North America.

The stems of representatives of the genus are long and climbing, often with adhesive disks on the tendrils. The leaves are palmately compound or simple, arranged alternately. The leaf surface is smooth or slightly pubescent. Shoots can quickly wrap around supports, forming dense green walls.

Flowering occurs in mid-summer. The flowers are small, greenish-white, gathered in small panicles. The fruits are small rounded berries of a bluish-black color with a waxy bloom. The seeds are rounded, smooth, with a dense coat.

Virginia creeper is a fast-growing vine capable of climbing to a height of up to 20 m (66 ft). The stems are thin, woody, with tendrils and adhesive disks that allow them to cling to any surface. The leaves are large, palmately compound, consisting of five leaflets, bright green in color, turning crimson or purple in autumn.

It blooms in June-July. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-white, gathered in branched inflorescences. The fruits are small, dark blue berries, inedible, with a dense skin and two seeds inside. Fruiting continues until autumn.

Before sowing, cold stratification is carried out for 2-3 months at a temperature of 2-4 °C (36-39 °F). The seeds are mixed with moist sand and kept in a refrigerator. Afterwards, they are sown to a depth of 1-1.5 cm (0.4-0.6 in) into a moistened loose substrate with the addition of peat and sand. Sowings are covered with glass or film and ventilated regularly. A temperature of about 20-22 °C (68-72 °F) is maintained.

Seedlings appear in 3-8 weeks. After the appearance of 2 true leaves, pricking out into individual pots is carried out. Young plants are grown under good lighting and moderate humidity, avoiding waterlogging.

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Cultivation in tubs and containers on balconies and loggias is possible. A well-lit spot is preferred, but partial shade is also tolerated. When grown indoors, providing support for the stems is recommended.

A temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F) is maintained in summer, and not lower than 5 °C (41 °F) in winter. Watering is carried out regularly during the warm season as the substrate dries out. In winter, watering is reduced, and water stagnation is not allowed.

A loose drained substrate based on sod soil, humus, and sand is used. Repotting is carried out in spring as needed. A drainage layer at the bottom of the container is mandatory.

During active growth from April to September, all-purpose fertilizers are applied twice a month. In winter, feedings are not performed.

Sanitary and formative pruning is carried out in spring. Propagation is performed by cuttings as well as by seeds. To obtain seedlings, seeds are sown into a loose substrate after stratification.