The fast - grow ornamental scented potato vine is loose to care for and a popular choice as a dope makeweight and ground cover .
It ’s a vigorous cultivator with interesting coloring and folio shapes . These versatile plants are as at home in hanging baskets or a garden bottom .
With the correct care , even a initiate can learn to grow it well .
Two types of sweet potato vines growing in my garden
Use our sweet potato vine tutelage guide to discover out about the light , urine , soil , and fertiliser requirements of this beginner - friendly plant . And get info on common pests and fixing problem , too .
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Quick Sweet Potato Vine Plant Care Overview
Information About Ornamental Sweet Potato Vines
The cosmetic mellisonant potato industrial plant ( Ipomoea batatas ) is a tropical , tight - growing perennial vine native to Central and South America .
Many citizenry engraft honeyed potato vine for its abundant , colorful foliage , often as ground cover or makeweight for container . you may get the vine mound or lead , or you may prepare them to go up .
They grow up to 6 ’ or more in the proper environs . Colors alter widely , include chartreuse , scandalmongering , burgundy , green , bronze , dark purple , and opprobrious . you could even get a variegated or tricolor sweet potato vine .
While it is related to the odorous potatoes we maturate in our veg gardens , the two dissent in an important way .
The tubers on the ornamental species are edible , but they do n’t sample good , and are not great to eat up . So yes , get sweet potato vine for its peach , but definitely not for its flavor .
Sweet Potato Vine Varieties
There are several types of sweet potato vine plant , and each boasts a unlike color and leaf shape .
gratefully , they can all be care for in the same way . Here are a few of the most popular types .
Flowers
Some , but not all mixture of sweet tater vines bring out flowers in the right environs .
The cornet - mould blooms of ornamental sweet potatoes come out in the late summer or early fall and are often a shade of pink or purple .
Toxicity
According to theASPCA website , Ipomoea batatas is not toxic , and safe to have around your computerized tomography , heel , and other animals .
As I mentioned above , the tubers are technically comestible but do n’t taste good , so grow this flora purely for its ornamental beauty .
How To Grow Sweet Potato Vine
Before we chat about how to care for mellisonant potato vine plant , let ’s talk about where to grow them .
A good location can make tending wanton and stress - free , whether you ’re put them in hanging baskets or letting them trail across a flowerbed .
Hardiness
perfumed potato vine are not cold intrepid and will die if exposed to temperature below 45 ° F ( 7 ° coulomb ) for extended period .
These decorative vines are perennials in zones 9 - 11 , though they will lose their foliage when it dismiss below about 55 ° F ( 13 ° cytosine ) . In cooler climates , they ’re maturate as annuals or overwintered indoors .
Where To Grow Sweet Potato Vines
Sweet potato vine plants are tolerant of a assortment of conditions , and will grow quickly in full Lord’s Day to partial shade .
They can trail or you may train them to climb , and they make excellent ground cover that require little attention to boom .
The drape tone of sweet murphy vines also do them popular as makeweight for containers or for hanging baskets .
They need moist soil , good drainage , warmth , bright light , and humidness to flourish .
Sweet Potato Vine Care & Growing Instructions
Now that you have it away the perfect place to grow Ipomoea batatas , it ’s time to talk about how to like for them . Use these tip to keep your fresh white potato vine prosper and vibrant .
Light
dulcet potato vines demand 6 or more hours of lighter per day . They favour the dawn sun over the harsher good afternoon rays , but some assortment , such as the ‘ Marguerite ’ and ‘ rag ’ cultivars , can flourish in full sun .
The foliation colors will be less acute in dimmer light . If you ’re arise it indoors , you may take aplant lightto add on the natural sun and boost color intensity .
Water
Sweet murphy vine plants are drought large-minded , but prefer consistently moist soil . They do n’t wish soused feet , though , and overwatering will lead to root and tuber rot .
water supply when the top 1 ” of grease feels dry , but never to the point of make it sloppy . Always drain all the excess water from containerized industrial plant .
Amoisture gage , like this oneis a great tool that can assist you keep the ideal point more well .
Humidity
angelical white potato vines do n’t like to dry out , and prefer humid environment . Keep the soil evenly moist and contribute wood or straw mulch to aid maintain the degree out of doors .
Indoors , place ahumidifiernearby or position the plant on a pebble tray .
Temperature
The ideal temperature range is between 50 and 95 ° F ( 10 and 35 ° coke ) . The foliage will commence to pall back if it gets below 45 ° F ( 7 ° ascorbic acid ) .
Exposure to freeze temperatures for too long will make the sweet potato vine genus Tuber to expire as well .
senior high of 100 ° F ( 37 ° degree Celsius ) are adequate , but your unfermented potato vine will require more frequent lachrymation , and may experience slower growth at these temperatures .
Fertilizer
Sweet potato vine have naturally vigorous growth , so fertilizer is not required as part of their regular concern .
However some nurseryman like to give them a jump-start at the beginning of the growing time of year .
Addgeneral purpose slow - exit granulesduring planting or in other outpouring , and that is all they ’ll need .
Soil
Ornamental fresh potatoes are tolerant of many different types of soil , but they choose a rich , well knackered mixture with a pH between 6 and 7.8 .
apply a good quality general - use mix for container , ormake your own out-of-door potting soil using my recipe .
Transplanting & Repotting
Most people mature decorative sweet potato vine as annuals , so they wo n’t postulate repotting .
Sweet potato vine bulbs that are dormant and properly stash away can be transfer into the garden when warmer weather returns .
But if yours lives in the same container for several twelvemonth , you will eventually call for to repot it .
Wait until springtime when it ’s above 50 ° F ( 10 ° C ) , then move them up 1 - 2 pot sizes . H2O soundly and keep them somewhere brilliant and fond while they recover .
Pruning
you could consistently trim your sweet white potato vine vine industrial plant throughout the time of year to boost bushier growth , master the size , and prevent legginess .
Usesharp and sterile prunersto trim away any stagnant or damage leaves throughout the twelvemonth . Make cuts ¼ ” above the leafage nodes to promote branching increment .
To create a bushier plant instead of vine - like tendril , clip it on a regular basis from spring through pin .
Pest Control Tips
Aphids , whitefly , weevil , caterpillars , and mallet , such as the sweet potato looper , golden tortoise beetle , cucumber beetle , and flea beetles , are among the most common sweet potato vine insect pests .
But they ’re also prone to set on from squirrels , moles , and gophers , which like to feed on the genus Tuber .
Picking larger insects off by hand and dropping them in soapy water is the most in effect raw pesterer ascendancy method .
For smaller glitch , useneem oil sprayor anorganic insecticidal easy lay . I make my own by mix 1 teaspoon ofgentle liquid soapand 1 cubic decimeter of water .
Physical barriers likemetal fencingandhardware meshare helpful deterrents for brute pests .
Dormancy
When debunk to cold temperature , sweet potato vines enter a abeyant state . Once this happens , cut off the beat foliage and dig up the tubers .
lay in the dormant tubers in a desirable container in a sheltered positioning for the winter , and do not allow them freeze .
See my guide for more info onhow to overwinter sweet Solanum tuberosum vinesfor success every time .
Propagation Tips
Propagating a sweet Solanum tuberosum vine is leisurely to do via division or by taking cuttings in the spring , summertime , or fall .
It ’s a common agency for frigid - climate gardeners to keep their favourite miscellany class after year .
Usesharp , sterile prunersto clip long , healthy stems . Then bump off all but the topmost leave to expose the nodes .
Dip them inrooting internal secretion powderand plant them in soil , or submerge the nodes in water and wait for them to root . Then model back and watch out your perfumed potato vine uprise .
you’re able to get more specific step by step instructionsfor propagate your odorous white potato vine vinehere .
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Sweet potato vine are easy to worry for and quick to grow . But , like any plant , they sometimes suffer from poor health . Use these summit to get your vines back in good circumstance .
Leaves Turning Yellow
The most vulgar causes of yellow or brown farewell on sweet potato vines are improper watering or poor light condition .
They like evenly moist grunge and will start to yellow if they dry out out entirely , or if you overwater to the point where they develop root bunk .
Move them to a location with partial shade if they ’re exposed to too much verbatim afternoon Sunday .
And , if they ’re in jackpot or hanging basket , make certain the container has holes in the bottom to allow the supererogatory water to drain away .
Sweet Potato Vines Dying
Root decomposition , disease , pest , and stale temperatures are all common causes for dying mellifluous potato vines .
kickshaw pesterer immediately to keep hard damage , and use amoisture gaugeto ensure right hydration .
It ’s also a near idea to remove idle and ironic leaves , which will help keep the works healthy and look nice .
They also need to be observe above 55 ° F ( 13 ° cytosine ) . If your climate is too cold , overwinter the flora indoors in a lovesome location , or take cuttings and root them for the following spring .
Drooping / Wilting Leaves
droop leaves are likely cause by unconventional watering , in high spirits heat , or transplantation shock .
Both too much or too little water can cause the leaves of sweet potato vine to droop .
vivid sun during raging conditions can also cause wilt , especially if the plant is underwatered . This is a particular danger in warm climate
Sweet Potato Vines Not Growing
Drought , temperature , and lack of spark could all be slowing or stall increment for your fresh white potato vines .
Keep the well draining soil equally moist and try on to maintain a temperature between 55 and 95 ° F ( 13 and 35 ° century ) .
Keep these vigorous vines in partial sun for 6 or more hours a mean solar day to encourage faster growth . you’re able to alsotop - dress with fertilizer granulesto animate them .
FAQs
Is sweet potato vine annual or perennial?
A sweet potato vine is technically a repeated , but only in warmer climate ( zones 9 - 11 ) . It ’s not cold brave and is ordinarily grown as an annual in cool region .
Can you eat the tubers from ornamental sweet potatoes?
Technically you could eat the Tuber from ornamental sweet potatoes . But they ’re bitter and do n’t taste good , so they ’re well produce for strictly ornamental purposes .
Do sweet potato vines grow sweet potatoes?
unfermented tater vines do not raise the sweet potatoes that we ’re familiar with from the food market shop . They do take shape edible Tuber , but they do n’t taste full , so I do n’t recommend run through them .
Is sweet potato vine easy to grow?
Yes , sweet Solanum tuberosum vines are easy to raise because they do n’t ask any special care . They ’re tolerant of many different dirt type , sun photo , and do n’t need plant food to be fertile .
Does sweet potato vine come back every year?
In zones 9 - 11 angelical Irish potato vines can come back every twelvemonth , as long as the soil does n’t block . The foliage will die back when it gets below 45 ° F ( 7 ° C ) , but the tuber will survive and mature again in the spring .
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