How to Grow Chalice Vine

Commonly known as Chalice Vine (Solandra grandiflora) a member from a nightshade family which is infamous for the toxic plant reputation. It is more like are admire and enjoy the beauty and not an edible type.

Other characteristics:

I had not come across any fragrance and often mentioned in other websites that it has fragrance. 

Perhaps mistaken for Solandra Maxima where the flower bloom is much more open like an umbrella. I had come across that flower and found that it has a lovely fragrance.

Also this does not bare fruits or seeds. Most likely the bats are polinators and these particular bat species are not found here in my tropical region. I often noticed stingless bees visit these flowers early in the morning at their first bloom where the flowers appear to be more cream white tones.

Later at the second and third day - the flowers appear to be more on the darker yellow tones as they age, soon after the flower fall off to the ground withered.

These are hardy climbing plant which can be heavy and may need spiking or some sort of support when they grow bigger. Also they can be leggy and messy especially stem growing everywhere and therefore a good pruning and identifying some form of direction & shape will be good for this plant.

Care:

Light: This plant requires direct sunlight for it to grow and bloom. It will not do well in total shade and may not bloom at all in shaded condition. 

Watering: A good watering is required based on the size of the plant. When lacking water, the new shoots and leaves will appeared withered.

Feeding: A regular feeding regime will ensure constant blooming cycle for this particular plant.

Propagation:

The best method is use semi-wood cutting and sometimes aerial roots will appear and that would be a good place to take cuttings for better growth. Also propagating the stem in water will encourage roots to grow. I would say this is a hardy plant and may be considered invasive if not checked and kept in proper control. They can grow wildly - do consider a good spacious growing space as it can be a huge big climbing plant.

Pruning:

Do prune after the blooming season to ensure a better growth and more blooms. Do not allow the plant to focus it's energy on new shoot growth or else it will discount on the number of the flowers forming from the vine. The best is to keep it small and compact as there will be more flowers and less vine growing everywhere.

Overall I would say it is an easy plant to grow. Once established there is nothing much care is needed except the periodic pruning regime. This is a hardy plant also I noticed that it is without any pest problems compared to so many other flowering plants - this one fares well.

Chalice Vine

It took ages for this one to start blooming.

I'm surprised that I didn't take these pictures and put them in my blog.
I guess that I took this one for granted.

Basically this is one of the hardy ones.

I have to constantly prune them as they are so invasive - this plant have aerial roots and can easily fall on another and choke on them.

A good pruning will actually help to keep them in check and they do well especially when all the energy is used for blooming.

Unchecked and un-pruned -they will continue to grow and branch out with long messy vine - branching out everywhere but rarely flower.

They need good sun for them to bloom - won't bloom in shaded areas.

Apart from that,

It is truly a beautiful flowering plant to have.

The flowers will last for 3 days - blooming towards midnight

When morning, the flower looks more immaculate - light cream coloured.

Then as it matured - they yellow is more evident and finally by the last day,

in the evening - the whole flower fades it's trumpet and falls off.

It does not have fragrance - not that I had noticed 

(unless they are noctural - perhaps the fragrance is evident during midnight)

I still wonder what creature visit these flowers.

Vines and Creepers by the Gate (Firecracker Plant / Bougainvillea / Chalice Vine)

If I would say not everything is dominated by the Passion Fruit Vine. 

Of which blooms once in a while with the orange-red tones.

The Chalice Vine was growing steadily but seemed never to flower at all.
That is another ordeal of awaiting to do with patience.
I had pushed its vine upward towards the roof side.
If it grace me with flowers - it would definitely be a cascading effect.

Regardless,
Fire Cracker plant never seemed to go slow with its blooms.
That is a burst of flowers spanning over the stalk
Just enough to make the Sunbirds happy.

These dwells at the entrance of my gate.
Few plants - but truly giants like the Fairy Tale.
Jack and the Bean Stalk.
Only if Jack can muster some golden eggs and harp from here.

The Front Lines of the Garden (Firecracker Plant / Caladium / Chalice Vine)

I'm pretty sure that there is something special in your garden.
And without a doubt - there is one special plant which will identify as the masterpiece,
A showcase of the whole garden.
That will be the "Tree of Life" in your Garden of Eden.
Likewise, these are the ones like that..
The only issue is that
I have too many of these showpieces that they all compete for attention.
In a manner of speaking - hot red shouting for attention..

What more in the making of putting a garden in a perspective.
There are no rules when it comes to gardening in my garden.




Otherwise,
I would say, gardening is all about feeling.
What do you feel inside of you when you are in your garden.
What intrigue you? Excites you?
These attracts Sunbirds,
there is never a dull moment when I hear the flutters and the squeaky calls,
the flutters and the garden wildlife riots when life exploding with joy in my garden.

Yes, its all about feeling.
I'm feeling alive when blooms explodes daily in my garden.
Vines, plants and creepers fight a war of dominance to get the best light.
It is indeed the Front Lines of the Battle.