| Description: |
Twining climber that can be controlled to make a good basket plant. Flowers are white with red centers in flat clusters. |
| Environment: |
Suitable for the home or a greenhouse |
| Lighting Needs: |
Does best in full sunlight coming from the South/West |
| Soil Type: |
A GOOD general purpose potting soil (a soil that retains water yet drains well) with a little added sand or if you want to mix your own take:
3 parts coarse sand or perlite, 2 parts garden soil, 2 parts humus (leaf mold), 1 part rinsed aquarium charcoal chips and a dusting of bone meal and limestone or a couple of eggshells (which can be substituted for limestone).
Always use a pot with a hole.
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| Watering: |
Drench the soil and let it become barely moist between waterings. If you use rainwater, be careful as it could be acidic. Use warm water. |
| Fertilizer: |
Feed only twice a year, once in April and once in July with a water soluble fertilizer. |
| Plant Pests: |
Prone to aphids, mealy bugs and rarely spider mites or scale. Always inspect any new plant for pests before introducing it to your home or greenhouse. |
| Propagation: |
Stem cuttings
in the summer.
It is best to propagate any type of cuttings in a mixture of moist peat and perlite. Cover the pot and plant with a plastic bag secured by a rubber band to prevent the moisture from escaping. Place in indirect sunlight or under a fluorescent light. Repot in its regular mix after it has been growing for a while.
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| Gardening Tips & Care: |
Needs something to climb or support if it is planted in a pot. Plant is poisonous if ingested. Do not keep around children. Do not turn or move once buds have appeared. Do not remove dead flowers. Requires good ventilation and reduced watering in the fall and winter. Be careful not to over-water.
An ideal plant for a hanging basket.
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