I've acquired a package of seeds labelled P. menispermifolia, purchased from a shop in Costa Rica, which I understand are actually P. nephrodes. I'm hoping to grow these indoors in Kelowna, BC.

Temps should stay above 25c into October so I plan to have these planted late August and hopefully sprouted by the time the temperature starts dropping, then bring them indoors and train them around some wide steel mesh. From what I've read I'm in an out of favor climate zone, however, I'm willing to take the plunge.

What I'd like is for some of you more experienced growers to offer me some tips to put me on track for a successful grow.

I read that these flowers enjoy well draining soil. Are sand and potting soil adequate? I have perlite as well.
What should I look for in a fertilizer? Is a fertilizer even necessary?
Should I have a light source beyond regular house light or a window?

You definitely want well draining soil but regular sand (beach or playground) is terrible to add to soil. It actually retards drainage. Perlite, pumice, crushed granite, Turface, CBC's and very coarse sand are fine to add. You might want to soak the seeds in a mild acid like orange juice for a day or two before planting. I'm not sure how much this actually helps but I do this for all but fresh seed. A basic balanced fertilizer is fine. When they reach blooming size I use something with more potassium, less nitrogen (NPK number - nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium). I'd recommend a grow light, either fluorescent or HID. You don't get enough intensity or a full spectrum with light from window, especially during the winter months.

You might want to join the Facebook Passiflora group. It's very active and there's a number of very knowledgeable people there.

There is a confusion around P. menispermifolia. It is quite the variable species, depending on where it originates. The variety 'Rosea' is considered to be a synonym with P. nephrodes, but some menis look much different, with a color spread from pure white to dark purple.

Year round indoor growth is frequently problematic, but Karyn offered some good suggestions. My primary objective to get it to bloom would be to move it outside any month that will not get frost. Most vines appreciate as much light as you can provide them, so as much true sunlight as you can give them will be appreciated.

Good luck!! Hope to see you on the Facebook forum.

Eric Wortman