The Passion Flower (Passiflora) is a total showstopper in the garden, mostly thanks to those massive, intricate blooms that keep popping up from late spring all the way through September. But here’s the thing: producing those stunning flowers takes a ton of energy. If you want your plant to keep the show going, regular feeding during the growing season is an absolute must.
Once a week during the growing season
From April through September, your Passion Flower is going to be hungry. I generally recommend feeding them once a week. A standard liquid universal fertilizer or one specifically formulated for flowering plants works great—just mix it into your watering can according to the label’s instructions. You might hear some folks suggest fertilizing every two weeks, but with over 500 species of Passiflora out there, many are heavy feeders. My advice? Start with a weekly schedule at the beginning of the season and see how your plant responds. Depending on your local soil quality, you can tweak the timing as you go.
Skip the fertilizer in winter
As summer winds down, you’ll want to start scaling back. Stop fertilizing entirely by the end of September. This gives the plant a chance to settle down before you prune it back in the fall. To come back strong next year, the Passion Flower needs a real “winter nap,” which only happens when the nutrient levels in the soil drop off compared to the busy spring and summer months.
Find the “Sweet Spot”
While it’s not super common, you *can* overdo it with the fertilizer. If your Passion Flower is getting too much “fuel,” it might stop blooming altogether. Instead of those gorgeous flowers, the plant puts all that extra energy into aggressive leaf and vine growth. If you’re fertilizing weekly, keep a close eye on it. If you see tons of green but no buds, it’s time to dial it back a bit.
When it comes to keeping your Passion Flower happy, just remember these three golden rules:
- Feed every one to two weeks during the season
- No fertilizer during the winter months
- Watch out for over-fertilizing to ensure plenty of blooms
