Η Clock or Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea) is a fast growing climbing plant. The genus belongs to the family Passifloraceae, in which there are edible genera such as Passiflora with the famous passion fruit. It originates from Brazil and Argentina. All parts of the plant can be used and have several healing properties except the root.
The Spanish missionaries named it the "Flower of Passion" and dedicated it to the Passion of Christ. In 1609 in Rome, Jacomo Bosio interpreted the parts of the flower in various elements of the crucifixion. The five petals and the five sepals represent the ten Apostles, except for Judas and Peter; the nails of the cross. This symbolism was not accepted by all.
In Japan it is known as "clock plant", as in Greece we know it as "Clock".
Description of the plant
The clock is a perennial semi-evergreen plant, because it drops its leaves in areas with low temperatures. Its height varies from 6 to 10 meters while its width from 1 to 2 meters. Its leaves are green, shiny and pentalobe 8-10 cm long. Its shoots have tendrils to help the plant support and climb walls.
Its flowers are large in diameter reaching 10 cm and have a special shape, they look like a clock. They consist of 5 petals and 5 sepals, their color can be white, blue and purple. The stamens, which look like the hands of a clock, stand out. It blooms in the summer and its flowers remain open for 24 hours. Its fruits are round, small, orange and inedible.
Plant care
Location:
It grows satisfactorily in all types of soils, without particular problems. Prerequisite for the soil to be well drained. Prefers places with sun or moderate shade. In sunny places it grows better and produces more flowers.
Watering:
It does not have high water requirements, except in the summer months when you can increase its watering. Water every 3-4 days during the spring and summer months.
Lubrication:
To achieve high flowering production, fertilize your plants regularly using a water-soluble fertilizer for flowering plants or a granular fertilizer. The slow-release granular fertilizer is added to the soil at planting, following the dosage recommendations listed on the package.
Plants grown in pots and planters may need more frequent fertilization to look better. Apply the fertilizer during the spring and summer period (once a month). You can use either the granular fertilizer by spreading it on the ground between the plants and then watering well or by dissolving the water-soluble fertilizer in the watering can.
Durability:
Withstands cold and low temperatures down to -5 ° C. You need to be careful with strong winds. Suitable for planting in areas with heavy air pollution. It withstands coastal areas.
Pruning:
It is necessary to removal of dried and diseased shoots, leaves in early spring. Apply light shaping pruning to maintain its shape.
Proliferation:
The clock is propagated either by seeds or by catapults. The seeds are sown in early March when the temperature reaches 13 - 18 ° C. It is good to put them in water for at least two hours before sowing.
At the beginning of spring, we place a shoot in the pot in the soil without having cut it from our plant. After about 1 month this shoot will start to form roots. When it is strong, we cut the stem from our plant and transplant it into a new pot with dimensions of at least Ø 24 × 20 cm.
Uses of the plant
The watch is used for: due to its special flower and the ability to climb:
- covering walls, barbed wire and ugly surfaces,
- planting in pots for balconies facing south,
- planting in pergolas,
- individual plantings in gardens, parks.
Enemies and Diseases
It is quite a hardy plant and is not easily infected by diseases and insects. In rare cases it is infested by aphids and aphids. Excessive moisture causes the roots to rot, resulting in wilting and eventually rot of the plant.
