Question
Passion flower
Hi Nick. I have a passion flower that is now in its second year, which I grow in the conservatory. It was a large plant whenever I purchased it and has now doubled its size, producing lots of flowering buds ever since I bought it. When the plant is in flowering season, the majority of the buds drop off before the flower opens. The buds that do open and flower only last for around one or two days at the most before they fall off. Would this be normal? If not, what could be done to make the buds open properly and the flower to stay, as very few buds get to the flowering stage? Your help would be much appreciated.
AnswerHi Irene, first of all, you must refrain from fertilizing too much, as the Nitrogen tends to encourage green growth and inhibit flowering; second, the more direct sunlight the better the flowering. The reason for the blossom drop is just commonplace for Passion flowers, some years they send out and fully develop many flowers, other years few. I have a red and a purple and they seem to flower at their pace and I gave up trying to force the issue, but I did cut back the fertilizing and it did improve the flowering sequence. Fertilizers high in phosphorous , the nutrient that encourages flowering, doesn't seem to help Passion flowers. Bottom line, take what you can get, just make sure the Sunlight is bright and the fertilizer is low. Nick
