The passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is conditionally hardy. Plants with this trait cannot withstand real frost. The exotic climbing beauties must be allowed for cultivation over several years. With regard to the general conditions in the winter quarters, the passion fruit is pleasantly flexible. How to overwinter a passion fruit successfully.

The passion fruit should be placed before the first frost

Ideal: spend the winter in a bright and cool place

As a summer sun worshiper, the passion fruit also favors a bright, light-flooded location in winter. Cool temperatures put the passion fruit into a winter growth dormancy. This is beneficial for a lavish flowering period and the much desired fruit yield. Furthermore, the floral climbing artist does not shed her leaves. This saves the energy required for a renewed budding next year. This is how you optimally overwinter passion fruit:

  • Grant: in good time before the first frost, preferably at temperatures below 10° Celsius
  • lighting conditions: bright to shady with shading in direct sunlight
  • temperatures: 8° to 15° Celsius

Recommended winter locations are: conservatory, cold house, glazed terrace, stairwell or bedroom. Incidentally, all evergreen, partially hardy potted plants like to keep company here until next spring, such as magnificent Dipladenia and Sundaville, star jasmine and oleander.

Optional: Overwinter passion fruit in a dark and frost-free place

Is it crowded in bright winter quarters? Then the passion fruit plant tolerates a dark place in the basement or in the windowless garage if necessary. In the shady winter location, temperatures of 5° to 8° Celsius are ideal. Please select the location, observing the rule of thumb: the darker, the cooler, but always frost-free.

Of course, the difficult conditions will not leave your Maracuja unscathed. Without light, the evergreen climbing plant throws off its leaves. At the beginning of the next season, the passion fruit quickly compensates for the loss of leaves.

Care in winter mode - tips

With a slimmed-down care program, accompany your passion fruit through the cold season. The following tips summarize what is really important now:

  • Don't fertilize passion fruit after putting it away
  • Water sparingly, adjusted to the general conditions in the winter quarters
  • Extra tip: Use a watering indicator in the substrate to avoid waterlogging

Don't worry if, despite your best efforts, the shoots dry back. Passion fruit plants tolerate pruning well. A strong pruning in February/March solves the problem. Take this opportunity to repot the passion fruit in fresh substrate for the perfect start to a blooming outdoor season.

tips

In the flower box (€16.99) with an integrated trellis, the passion fruit makes itself useful as a representative privacy plant. Evergreen leaves and colorful ray flowers on epic long tendrils combine to form an impenetrable wall of green. Only when it gets too uncomfortable on the balcony and in the garden seat does the picturesque climbing beauty move to the winter quarters.

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Trees