My corkscrew vine starting putting on buds, and now is losing all its leaves. Some of the buds have opened and they look healthy, but the vine itself looks awful. It is in a large pot and I have fertilized, but it didn't seem to help. Any ideas? I think it might be potbound, but am not sure I should disturb it while in bloom. Any ideas? Also, want to start cuttings but it looks like all the ends I can find have buds on them. I really need some advice, please.
Sharon
corkscrew vine losing leaves
Sharon-
I know you are disappointed, but don't panic. It is easy to do with corkscrew vine, in my opinion...
They are fussy and yellow easily if over or under watered. Losing leaves means it is stressed, but it should recover.
Taking cuttings right now would not be the best time. The cuttings aren't going to do as well as they would, if the plant were not stressed. It is dropping leaves to conserve energy until it recovers.
It is hard for them to be potbound. They do have roots, but function from a large mailn tuber, and then have many fine feeder roots and securing roots that attach to that...
They can grow in really cramped quarters with no problems. In fact, they bloom a lot sooner if pot bound, so many people grow them cramped in pots, ON PURPOSE! lol...
We still have plenty of time before our first freeze, so I'd recommend you just be patient with it, and let it get back on its feet. You can always take cuttings the night before the first freeze...
Then, it wouldn't risk anything because the foliage would have been frozen, anyway...
-T
Thanks! It really does look odd - long empty vines covered with buds, but as the blooms open they are gorgeous. Will just make an effort to see we water evenly.
They like good, to almost sharp, drainage. The first few years I had them, they stayed alive until late January, early February. I was frustrated that they only had a month to go until Spring, and then died.
I've determined it was not the cold, but the WET cold, that killed them.
The following year I made sure I dug a hole for them very deep and then backfilled it with half the original soil, and half ammendments like: perlite, tiny shredded bark, and sand. I was careful to not pack the soil, but just water it down and let it stay loose.
That winter they all came back and grew better than they'd ever grown.
They seem to stress if they don't get enough water, but seem to be even more stressed if they get too much.
I did not give them ANY water during the winter, and only water them in summer, if we've not had rain in weeks...
Any time we've had a lot of rain, the leaves yellow, and I have to drag out the fertilizer...
Hope this helps...
-T
seedpicker
My first year vines have just now started to put out alot of blooms.I only had one bloom a month ago.They are planted in a large pot which I plan to take indoors before our first freeze.What should I do with them once they are indoors?
seedpicker,
From what you indicated, I think we are maybe watering too much, so will be very c areful until we can repot/take cuttings, and then add lots of drainage. Thanks. By the way, best suggestions on cuttings or rootings???
downscale & stownes-You might want to check the corkscrew Q&A forum. I just posted the answer to downscales question on there for someone in zone 5, and we briefly discussed propagating them.
Downscale-the garage, or crisper in the fridge, are the best places to over winter these, in colder zones. However, mine come back from the ground for me, and you are a half zone warmer than me. So, you should be able to leave yours in the ground.
As long as you make sure you do not water yours in the winter, and that they have sharp drainage, and a layer of mulch, you should be fine. If you did not specifically make sure the drainage was sharp and we have a really wet winter, it could mean trouble. They can take dry cold, but not wet cold...they'll rot.
Just re-read your post and saw that yours are in a pot...in your case I'd recommend the garage. And, then in Spring, plant them permanently outside in a spot in which you've dug a large hole and then backfilled with half the dirt, and half ammendments like perlite, small shredded bark, and sand, with a little compost mixed in.
Stownes-The corkscrew can be layered, or cuttings in coir. But, not when stressed, or in bloom, or setting seeds.
here is that link: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/542364/
Thanks for the link!! I knew I had seen the info somewhere, but couldn't locate it. Have bookmarked all of the info and in case of computer disaster, am planning to also put in handwritten journal to keep in the greenhouse. As of this morning, I don't think it has lost any more leaves so am pretty sure it was overwatered, which is hard to believe around here :-) Now I am anxious to go check for little ants. LOL
Sharon
Sharon-
I'm not too far from you, so our weather is probably similar...yes, hard to believe. They are pretty xeriscape-ish, but then most tuberous vines are..."coral vine", Ipomoea macrorhiza, and other caudiforms, are the same way.
They love our heat and do well with less water.
downscale_babe,
Just moved down here (to FL Panhandle) from NMB area. It's great, but do miss some things about "home". I do love being able to plant a few more tropical type plants than I could before. Good luck with your corkscrew. I planted one of mine in the ground and the other I'm going to pot for the winter so we'll see who likes what.
seedpicker,
Don't remember who suggested I check Logee's for my corkscrew, but I appreciate the info. I received 2 vines on Saturday in great condition. One even has little buds! I'm excited! I planted one this AM in, perhaps, too rich a soil. (Naturally I read all your good advice after I planted.) I planted in about 2/3 mushroom compost and 1/3 sandy soil. What do you think? Maybe for better drainage I should have added more sand. Thanks for all the advice you give on the thread....it's invaluable!
This message was edited Sep 12, 2005 12:39 PM
BDunn-
I think you did great to buy some. Some years there is a sell out, or seed crop failure and they can become hard to find.
Best to get them when you can find them.
I have heard rumor that some companies sell the corkscrew, but the plant ends up being snail vine. They are commonly confused and commonly sold as the wrong thing.
If you post a picture, I can help you ID it...for sure.
I think the 2/3 mushroom compost is fabulous. They seem to respond very well to fertilizer, and without it, can yellow easily.
The only thing I'd suggest, is that while it is still new and easy to fix, that you mix in some perlite and bark. These bigger chunks will help increase the air/oxygen below the soil. Sand is great for drainage, but doesn't necessarily help with aeration. The fine particles actually make it very hard for aeration.
-T
BDunn
We lived in South Florida for 15 years before moving to the Grand Strand 6 years agoIn Florida I grew only Tropicals but I don't know if you can grow what I grew in the Panhandle.If you can, try them and you will love them.Heliconias (not the runners but the clumpers) all kinds of gingers,Bromiliads and orchids naturalized in trees.
When you move you learn a whole other type of gardening.It takes a while to learn what will grow in your new place.It cost me alot of money trying to grow things that wouldn't grow here.I think that the zones that are used is only one aspect.There should be heat and humidity zones as well.Good luck in the Panhandle!
Seedpicker
Thanks for the info.and I will follow your advice.I am really thrilled with the corkscrew.As I posted before I only had one little flower a month ago but all of a sudden the plant is full of buds and blooms.Our soil is all sand so I have no ploblem with drainage but must augment all the time.I have really gotten into vines here.In Florida there was no stopping them and they would take over without constant vigilance.
With all that sand you will need every bit of that compost, and then some.
Each time you or God waters, the waste, AND nutrients get washed down deep into the soil. Corkscrew get depleated very easily. That is why you cannot overwater them, and they yellow easily. They just become nutrient deficient.
I'd suggest you keep that mushroom compost bag handy and spread some over the top of the soil around the corkscrew here and there, to keep it healthy.
I have to do that to mine, and I have primarily clay soil. In sand, you'd need to do it even more...
Sand is great for roses! You can grow lots of neat scrambling vines through rose bushes.
Centrosema virginianum
clematis pitcheri
clematis texensis
...well just about ANY clematis, lol...
thunbergia alata
clitorea ternateas
etc...
Seedpicker
I just ordered clematis armandii snowdrift and c.texensis princess diana from Donahues.I have alot of other clematis but they are all young.
Great choices.
My favorites right now are 'Blue light' and 'sieboldii'...
It is easy to get on a clematis kick!...there are so many wonderful choices.
-T