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| I recently purchased a blue thunbergia and this is a new plant to me ... but oh my god beautiful!!! I have no clue what it likes and does not like. Also II noticed that the buds develope a sticky substance...almost like honeydew from aphids .. but it is only on the buds. Have inspected the entire plant and have not found any time of bug life =) Can someone please tell me what this is? Does the plant require ants or other pests to bloom thus creating the sticky substance?
Thanks so much Laura |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by jordan_californicus (My Page) on Mon, May 4, 09 at 23:47
| Here's something to get you started on likes / dislikes: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1968/ Seems like a rather interesting plant. Had never heard of it until your post, I was only familiar with the 'Black-eyed Susan' Thunbergia and some of it's similar cultivars. As far as the stickiness, if the plant appears healthy, then it may be the plant's way of inviting ants onto itself as a defense against other herbivorous insects. Other plants use similar techniques. |
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| There are several 'Blue 'Thunbergias. I have three, and without knowing exactly which one you have, it's difficult to guess what is going on with your plant. Here's a picture of my Thunbergia battiscombei, maybe it's the one? Jim
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| Bossjim that is beautiful. Where did you find it? I've never seen the blue before and would love to get some. TIA |
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| Alexis, I purchased it at a local nursery. It is a zone 9 plant. Jim |
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| Bossjim ... the Thunbergia I purchased is the grandiflora .. does this help at all? |
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| peatpod, I don't recall my Thunbergia grandiflora having a sticky substance on the buds. Of course, it's not in bloom right now, so can't check. Your description certainly resembles an infestation. Jim |
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| Hi Jim, The thunbergia has several blooms! Also the bleeding heart you sent me is also blooming; just lovely. Betsy |
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| Great Betsy, glad you're getting blooms! My sky vine bloomed nearly all winter, but is taking a break right now. It gets full afternoon sun. Jim |
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- Posted by karyn1 MD 7 (bhkalen@aol.com) on Wed, May 6, 09 at 18:43
| I've never noticed a sticky substance on my Thunbergia grandiflora either so I just went out to check a bud and there's nothing. Are you sure there's no insects on the buds that are producing the "honeydew"? Aphid infestations are pretty common with this plant. Have you seen any ants crawling on the vine? I keep mine moderately moist and protect it from late afternoon sun. I'm in zone 7 so mine is container grown. I have several other thunbergia varieties and all get the same care. My other blue varieties are more like small bushes and then there's the Black Eyed Susan and African Sunset (Thunbergia alata) that are vines but I don't think they are nearly as pretty as the grandiflora. |
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- Posted by greenpassion z4-z5 VT (My Page) on Sat, Jul 17, 10 at 14:13
| Hello out there! I am curious about gathering seeds from my blue sky thunbergia vine. I have collected the seeds from my blushing susie, and the orange ones, and am hoping that this will be as easy. Anyone else had any sucess with the seeds? |
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