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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Original poster

Help me! I think I've killed my sister's passionflower

24 replies

Stringervest · 13/08/2022 07:43

My sister asked me to water her plants while she's away. I've focused on the pots as the rest of the garden is hardy and low maintenance... but I forgot about the passionflower. Which is her pride and joy.

When I realised last night I gave it a good drink and gave it more this morning. Many of the leaves have curled up but some seem... ok.

Please tell me it will be ok!

OP posts:
Original poster
Stringervest · 13/08/2022 07:45

Here is a shot which shows some of the bad bit and some of the ok bit.

Help me! I think I've killed my sister's passionflower
OP posts:
Original poster
Stringervest · 13/08/2022 07:46

Please tell me your stories about when you almost killed someone's prize passionflower but then it turned out ok.

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 13/08/2022 07:46

Take the dry crispy leaves off at the bottom and keep it watered. Don’t water it in the heat, morning and evening only.

Doable · 13/08/2022 07:58

Another gardener may know better but if I was looking after this I might

  • take off the dry leaves very carefully with snips (kitchen scissors would do) so as not to risk damaging or cutting any stems
  • water as above, morning and evening to the roots
  • mist the leaves when watering
  • consider adding tomato feed to evening water as a one off only on the basis that the plant is putting a lot of energy into it's fruit.

And, obviously, talk to it in an encouraging way 😁

Fortuny · 13/08/2022 08:05

Passion flowers are one of the very few plants I (black fingers) can keep alive. I really don't think you'll have killed it, it'll just look a bit sparse for a while if you do what the pp advise.

Neolara · 13/08/2022 08:05

I wouldn't worry. We had one and nothing seemed to kill it, even digging it up. It kept coming back for years.

Original poster
Stringervest · 13/08/2022 08:18

Ok this is all very encouraging and I am pleased. If it is dead she will kill me. I'm going to give it a full spa treatment from now on.

OP posts:
CatChant · 13/08/2022 09:42

I’m sure it will be fine. They are ridiculously tough plants.

ThePittts · 13/08/2022 09:44

Passion flowers are so hardy, and self seed as well, I am sure it will survive !

Chewbecca · 13/08/2022 09:44

We barely water our passion flower, it is v forgiving.

MarpleFan · 13/08/2022 09:44

My father has been trying to kill his for years and it keeps making a strong comeback - I think I they’re pretty tough to destroy.

Whatsthestoryboringglory · 13/08/2022 09:46

They’re indestructible and come back very quickly. It should spring back with very little tlc!

aliceinshackles · 13/08/2022 09:46

MarpleFan · 13/08/2022 09:44

My father has been trying to kill his for years and it keeps making a strong comeback - I think I they’re pretty tough to destroy.

2 have died under my so called care.
What's his secret?

Original poster
Stringervest · 13/08/2022 11:12

I'm laughing / sighing with relief at all the people who can't intentionally kill their passionflowers. Phew.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stringervest · 27/08/2022 10:14

Update: my phone won't let me attach a photo but imagine a dead passionflower and you've pretty much got the picture. All leaves are dead.

My very annoyed sister has asked me to ask you:

  • will it come back in spring?
  • if so should she cut it to ground level or leave it?
OP posts:
NecklessMumster · 27/08/2022 10:17

Could you come and kill mine? I've dug it up and cut stem off ( wall climber) but it keeps returning...

Original poster
Stringervest · 27/08/2022 10:18

This is it. I don't think I can be completely to blame. Surely not watering it for 5 days wouldn't be enough on its own to kill it if other people can't deliberately kill theirs?

OP posts:
doodlywoodlydingdong · 27/08/2022 10:19

Oh no! If you gently bend a woody section, if it's dry and brittle to the point it snaps it's dead but if it's still flexible there is hope. If it snaps then go along the entire plant section at a time to check for soft flexible sections. When you find one prune it there. By removing all brittle dead plant there is every chance it will come back next year but obviously it does depend on there being some pliable moist green woody sections.

Original poster
Stringervest · 27/08/2022 10:26

Thank you. I will tell her to do that.

OP posts:
Whatsthestoryboringglory · 29/08/2022 11:29

I’m pretty confident it will come back. I’d just leave it to be honest. I used to cut mine back in the early spring and it went mad after that. Just make sure she keeps watering it despite it looking dead, to be safe.

As per previous posters, I’ve known people hack all evidence of theirs away and the following year it was merrily taking over the whole garden. It’s a survivor.

SignOnTheWindow · 29/08/2022 19:09

I really hope mine's as indestructible as you all say, because my husband didn't water it properly while I was away and it's looking very crispy.

Fingers crossed for them both, OP!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/08/2022 15:14

Mine is in it's 2nd year , I cut back a load of withered vines and it did pretty well , it's looking a but rough now , though lots of fruit . I did a good water and feed yesterday

I have a hop that I thought was done , cut it back and it's bounced into life !

TheYearOfSmallThings · 30/08/2022 15:16

Don't worry - once they are established you can't kill those things.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 31/08/2022 15:51

So , when does it need cut back ? And how far ?

Thanks in advance

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