Plant Propagation: Passiflora (Passion Flower)

[zapatero]

I have a passiflora coccinea plant that I have had very poor satisfaction trying to propagate. I've tried nodal cuttings, tip cuttings and air layering. I've tried rainy season and dry season. I've tried several different growing media. I've read books, journals, and web pages. Still little joy. I am looking for someone here in Thailand who has had better results than I, propagating this or similar vines, that I might learn from.

Thank you very much for any leads or ideas.

~~zapatero

[cooked]

Maybe http://www.passionflow.co.uk/passiflora-online-journal.htm

will help. I only ever tried from seed with P. edulis. the bloody things are all over the place now.

[zapatero]

Thank you for your reply and link, cooked. Sorry for my delay -- I've had a crisis to attend to.

That is an interesting article. It demonstrates "whip" layering, which if one is attempting to propagate by layering, is the best way. Unfortunately, my variety, (or at least my plant), has no whips. So "air" layering is the only possibility for me. I have made several attempts at air layering this plant, all of which have failed. That is, coincidentally, until yesterday, when I observed some timid evidence of small root shoots on one stalk. If successful, this will be a hard-won victory for me. But we're not there yet. First, the layer has to be removed from the parent plant, and then it has to survive transfer and potting. We will see...

I will post back if anyone is interested.

Thanks again for the reply and link.

[samuijimmy]

Thank you for your reply and link, cooked. Sorry for my delay -- I've had a crisis to attend to.

That is an interesting article. It demonstrates "whip" layering, which if one is attempting to propagate by layering, is the best way. Unfortunately, my variety, (or at least my plant), has no whips. So "air" layering is the only possibility for me. I have made several attempts at air layering this plant, all of which have failed. That is, coincidentally, until yesterday, when I observed some timid evidence of small root shoots on one stalk. If successful, this will be a hard-won victory for me. But we're not there yet. First, the layer has to be removed from the parent plant, and then it has to survive transfer and potting. We will see...

I will post back if anyone is interested.

Thanks again for the reply and link.

Yes, do post how you make it with this !

[samuijimmy]

Zapatero

This idea keeps going through my mind: !!!

Perhaps try laying one or two leaders on the soil,(or even in a pot with some decent soil and sharp sand) and place a rock or a "U" type piece of heavy wire to pin it down.... try at a nod.... perhaps with a small slit .... Leave for a while, keeping moist and see if roots develop! ( The Thai's seem to like using Vitamin B1 to help with rooting, not sure if I am convinced that helps?)

Might be worth a try!

[zapatero]

You're right on samuijimmy, based upon everything I've read. And you are consistent with the link posted by cooked above. Ground-layering. My problem is that I have no leaders that are accessible to the ground, they're all intertwined up into a chain-link fence! So I am stuck with trying air-layering. That is, bonding a wad of rooting medium onto a stem somewhere up there, and trying to keep it properly moist until roots appear. Much more difficult to achieve success than your way, but I have no choice.

Thus far I still see roots progressing, but based upon my previous lack of success, I won't believe it until I actually have the rooted segment severed from the parent plant and growing by itself in a pot. We'll see...

Thank you for your interest.

~~z