Product Description:
This plant, Thunbergia alata, is actually a tender evergreen perennial in the acanthus family (Acanthaceae) native from tropical East Africa to eastern South Africa that is hardy only in zone 9 and 10. Because it grows and flowers relatively quickly it is often used as an annual ornamental garden plant in cooler areas. It should be used with caution in frost-free areas as it has become invasive in many warm locations throughout the world. Reaching up to 8 feet in a single season under ideal conditions, but more often only 3 to 5 feet. This flowering vine is as easy to care for as it is charming. The flowers look daisy-like at a distance, with five overlapping, solid-colored petals surrounding a brownish-purple center tube. The medium green leaves are a little coarse and grow opposite one another—they can be either heart-shaped or have a lance-like arrowhead shape.
Light:
You will get the most flowers and the healthiest plants if you grow your black-eyed Susan vines in full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days).
Soil:
Thunbergia alata vines like a well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter with a fairly neutral soil PH (6.6 to 7.7).
Water:
The plants require regular and deep watering throughout the growing season. Soil should remain moist but not wet. Plants grown in containers should never be allowed to dry out.
Temperature and Humidity:
Thunbergia alata vines grown indoors may flower in the winter if they get ample sun and the temperature doesn’t fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Humidity is usually not an issue for these plants, but they can struggle in very dry conditions, so make sure the soil remains moist.
Fertilizer:
That means they exert a lot of energy. So they will need a light feeding every four to six weeks with a complete fertilizer to keep them growing well.
Pruning:
Remove yellow or dying leaves, and plant debris to encourage better-growing conditions. While pruning, always use clean utensils or shears to reduce the chance of bacterial.
Propagate:
- Use clean sharp pruners to snip 4- to 6-inch segments of healthy stem, making the cut just below a stem node.
- Plant the cutting in a small container filled with ordinary potting mix. No covering is required.
- Set the pot in a bright, warm location, such as a sunny window, to grow over the winter.
- In the spring after outdoor temperatures are reliably above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the root cutting, now showing active growth, can be transplanted into the garden or into outdoor containers.
