Technique for More Flowers from the Sandpaper Vine - Deadheading

There is a less-known technique for encouraging a wave of flowering for plants. If it is well-known, then I suppose it isn't practiced widely. That technique is called Deadheading. I wrote an article on Deadheading for More Flowers many years ago.

Over the years, I've done deadheading on the Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit), the Rose Cactus (Pereskia bleo), Maiden's Jealousy Vine (Tristellateia australasiae), and the Garlic Vine (Mansoa alliacea), among others. All of these yielded postive results.

This time, I'm writing on my experience with deadheading on the Sandpaper Vine (Petrea volubilis) also known as Purple Wreath or Queen's Wreath. By its nature (vigorous growth and sandpapery leaves), there are some specific considerations, and those too will be discussed.

Wouldn't it be a gorgeous sight to have this display that greets you as you enter your home? And to have this sight a few times in the year at that!

How to Air-Layer Trees and Vines with Just Water

In a previous article, I mentioned how one could easily propagate the Bougainvillea with just water. There was one query asking if other garden plants would respond positively with this approach of propagation. In particular, the inquirer asked about the Gumamela, which is the local term for Hibiscus.

It was rather coincidental that I air-layered a Hibiscus plant with this water technique and sent her photos of the Hibiscus plant I successfully propagated. She was elated to know as she wanted to grow her Hibiscus collections.

It seems that common garden woody plants like the bougainvilleas and hibiscus respond well to air-layering with water. But how about the plants that potentially grow bigger, like vines and trees?

So I put that to the test with a very mature vine of ours which is the Sandpaper Vine or Petrea volubilis, shown below.

Sandpaper Vine Propagation by Cuttings in Water

In a previous article, I wrote how the Sandpaper Vine (Petrea volubilis), also known as Queen's Wreath, Purple Wreath, Blue Bird Vine and Fleur de Dieu, can be propagated by using a simple method. That Sandpaper Vine propagation is by a humidity chamber.

Recently, I discovered another way to propagate the Sandpaper Vine almost by accident.

Intense Flowering of the Sandpaper Vine (Petrea Volubilis)

For a few days now, I've noticed that my Sandpaper Vine (Petrea volubilis) also known as Queen's Wreath has been flowering more than usual. I've had this vine for five years now and have taken interest especially on the vine's first flowering three years ago. It is only now that neighbors even took notice on the masses of flowers bloomed. Some passersby inquired on how it has flowered this way.

Purple Wreath Vine (Petrea Volubilis) Flowering

It has been two months now since I posted an article on the first ever flowering of our Sandpaper Vine also known as the Queen's Wreath Vine (Petrea volubilis).

In that article, I noted paired hairy-like new growths at the axils of the old branches. Although a bit skeptical, I was suspecting that these new growths may be the new racemes.

And I was right. They were all racemes and many of them almost a foot long now. The very first one grew to only about seven inches.

Queen's Wreath Flower Development (Petrea Volubilis)

(This is the continuation of Part 1 - Sandpaper Vine's First Flowering)

Just 2 days after recognizing the flower buds of the Queen's Wreath or Purple Wreath vine, the purple 5-lobed calyces appeared. Notice that further towards the end of the raceme, the flower buds remain closed.

Sandpaper Vine First Flowering (Petrea Volubilis)

Today, DH called out excitedly claiming she might be seeing flower buds on the Sandpaper Vine. The Sandpaper Vine is also known as Purple Wreath or Queen's Wreath and with the scientific name Petrea volubilis.

Single Trunk of the Sandpaper Vine (Petrea Volubilis) - Part 3

(This is the continuation of Part 2)

Removing the guide wire at the top portion of the Sandpaper vine was not as easy as I thought. What I was seeing at the lower portion of the vine's trunk was actually the easiest part.

The top part of the main trunk appears to have been tightly wound by the guide wire as shown below.

Single Trunk of the Sandpaper Vine (Petrea Volubilis) - Part 2

(This is the continuation of Part 1)

In addition to the bamboo stake that props up the young Sandpaper vine, I tied a guide wire on the top end of the bamboo stake and attached it to the vine structure or trellis above it.

The guide wire, which is really a trellis starter, is a dual purpose device. First, it allows the new shoot of the vine to climb it. And second, it correctly guides the Sandpaper vine towards the vine structure or trellis above it.

Single Trunk of the Sandpaper Vine (Petrea Volubilis)

When we bought our Sandpaper Vine (Petrea Volubilis), I already had an image of it when it matures and flowers. Of course, I didn't have an exact timetable for that. But I was thinking it would be around two years.

What I envisioned would be a flowering vine that more or less resembled a small tree. It would have a main trunk that will be as vertically straight as possible. Or the trunk may be composed of a couple of very thick branches probably entwined to one another.

Straighten the Bent Trunk or Branch of a Garden Plant - Part 3

(This is the continuation of Part 2)

Today, I finally removed the splint I devised to straighten a bent branches in a Sandpaper Vine (Petrea volubilis). Based on my observation of this vine from images on the internet, I noticed from the photos that the mature vine doesn't necessarily grow straight up.

Straighten the Bent Trunk or Branch of a Garden Plant - Part 2

(This is the continuation of Part 1)

The double splint method of straightening the bend of the trunk or branch of a plant uses two straight and relatively rigid rods or slats. The branch or trunk is then "sandwiched" in between the two rod or slats. This is a stronger splint and prevents the tying material from touching the branch or trunk.

Straighten the Bent Trunk or Branch of a Garden Plant

In a previous article I outlined the steps in my procedure to propagate a Sandpaper Plant or Petrea Volubilis. In this article, I will discuss a technique to straighten the trunk of the Sandpaper Plant, sometimes called the Queen's Wreath or Purple Wreath.

It is a technique that can be applied to correct not only the trunk but to a severely cured branch as well. Also, this technique may be used for all types of semi-woody to woody garden plants. As long as the garden plants are young enough, then the curve may be corrected.

Propagation by Cuttings in Humidity Chamber (Sandpaper Vine)

I've seen the Sandpaper Vine's flowers many times in photos all over the internet and found them amazingly beautiful. The fact that the flower colors of violet and blue aren't as common as the reds and yellows in the tropics makes this vine even more appealing to me.

The Sandpaper vine's scientific name is Petrea volubilis. Unlike the white Porana volubilis (which I have in a container trellis), this vine isn't aggressively twining at all. Petrea volubilis's other common names are Queen's Wreath, Purple Wreath, Blue Bird Vine and Fleur de Dieu (Flower of God)).