I don't know, I'm trying to start it from seed also, maybe someone wiill tell you. :) Arum

I don't know about pinching it, but I DO know this---once you plant it out, you do NOT want to give it anything very tall to climb on, or you'll never get to actually SEE the flowers. A couple of years ago I planted one on the guide-wire for my electrical pole, and it ran all the way to the top! Flowered like crazy, 30+ feet in the air! I couldn't see the flowers, or harvest the seeds.

Try twisting it back on itself an letting it twine about it's own main stem. Once you move it outside, it'll take off toward the sky!

You CAN pinch this vine AFTER it has several SETS of leaves. Make sure you pinch the vine ABOVE a set of leaves. I'd would leave at least 2 or 3 sets (pairs) of leaves on the plant when pinching at this time. Later in the season if the plant reaches the top of the trellis/support, you could pinch the growing tips at the top of the trellis, forcing the plant to produce more stems.

Judith,

It is amusing that your vine climbed so far up the guide-wire! I bet you had to use binoculars to find the flowers! ;-)

Mine never grew that tall, but I'm a zone "colder," which may have been the reason mine vine only climbed 10 feet (or so). LOL!

I think, since the plant produces TENDRILS, that the Cobaea would climb best with chicken wire as a trellis. At least the plant will have plenty of chances to grab hold if you use chicken wire. And to keep the flowers in "range," I would not go taller than 8-10 feet with the trellis.

Good luck!

Hope this helps,
Chris

Thanks for the advice.

This thing is so spooky, sitting there in the kitchen waving it's little tendrils around. I'm afraid it will take over everything if given the chance. I've never seen anything grow this fast (not even the morning glories).

Maybe I should try to pot it up, and give it a bigger stick to climb?

I might be able to plant it out in a week. Have to go check the 15-day forecast.

I have tried countless times to grow cobea from seeds. I've soaked them inserted them sideways half in soil half not, left them on the top and nothing happens and they compost themselves.

Anyway, I use dead branches for support of my vines. Here is one I used for my tomato. I've outlined it in yellow so you can see it.

{{gwi:1337835}}

They are free and work really well, especially for vines you want to put somewhere else later because you can untwine them easily by breaking the branches.

Any suggestions on germinating cobea would be greatly appreciated!

X

Xeramatheum,
I know what you mean. I tried several times last year. Finally got a couple to germinated and daughter didn't water them for me when I went out of town and lost them.

This year, though, I have 18 that germinated out of 20.
They are all about 8-10" tall. Can't wait for the flowers.
~Nut4Spuds

What kind of growing conditions does cobaea favor?

I have 16 seedlings with two sets of leaves and they are growing fast. When I tried cobaea two years ago, none of my seedlings survived when I planted them in the ground. They appeared to get some kind of wilt. I had the seedlings in three different settings -- a sull-sun spot, a spot that got morning sun and a spot that got sun all afternoon.

I don't think those seedlings died of neglect. Anyway, I'm trying it again and really want this vine to survive and thrive. What does it take to successfully grow cobaea in the lower South Carolina climate?

Hi There,
I did something silly as I put my Cobaea Scandens seedlings outside in a greenhouse, under the sun. They got shocked but the heat and now they look all wilt and sad. I have watered them a bit but I wonder if there is anything that I can do for them to survive???
Thanks for your help!
José

This vine hates me. :( Arum

WOW! I didn't bother to soak my cobaea seeds...just stuck them in seedling starter pots. They grew quickly - I transplanted them into the ground and they are really taking off. Have one in a large pot with a tomato cage for it to climb on...I have to keep pinching that one back...it wants to climb over the backyard fence!

Am still waiting for blooms though.

~ Cat

Cat, are you trying to drive me crazy? :) Arum

Dont you hate gloaters Arum?

However, I finally got some to sprout! I'm embarassed to say how. After finally giving up in disgust, I threw the pot in a corner and forgot about it. 2 weeks later they sprouted!

Jeeze

X

Well, I know nobodys gloating, I just have sour grapes! Those seeds won't germinate for me for nothin! Maybe I better sick with the ones thast do. Man O day, these MG"s are really popping up, and I am soooooooooooooo excited! : Arum

I tried the COBAEA for the first time this year , from seeds. I soaked them in water overnight with moonflowers and morning glories.

It was the most disgusting thing the day after! The cobaea seeds produced some sort of slime! Is this normal? I had to rangle the other seeds from the thick slime. And I only got one cobaea to germinate after potting all of them.

The flowers on the packet of seeds are so pretty!!
I would appreciate feedback
Heather

I germinated only 2 out of 12 seeds last year. I think the seeds need around 75F soil temps if I remember right.

Anyway, the 2 seedlings were weak and small- barely survived. Until the second year- this spring. Now they are scarey monster vines attacking everything. You can't stand still for too long around them or you'll disapear. I went away for 2 weeks and they invaded the bamboo and everything else. Maybe they need a good root system before they take off.

Seems cobaea can weather a zone 9 winter very well BTW if they get a little heat from being near a house.

mine didn't do well.I paid $4 for a pack of 20 seeds.2 did sprout then the stem rotted(well turned black& died)I tried tradeing for seeds,but had no luck so bought.maybe will have luck another year.

I am a absolute vine nut, but I refuse to baby anything! If it dosn't do well, out it goes! Cruel ain't I ? :) arum

A few years ago I planted the seeds and there was no problem with them. It grew like crazy the first year but never bloomed. I cut it down and brought it inside for the winter.

It grew like crazy indoors, maybe 20' or more over winter. I chopped it back again and put it back outside the following summer. Grew like crazy, still no flowers. Was fertilized and watered like all the rest.

Did the winter and summer thing again. Never did see a flower. Beginning to wonder if there is not a male and female version of this plant.

Finally I threw it in the compost heap. God bless it's little soul :-(

Joyce, I can't feel sorry for it! It did you dirty and that's no lie! :) Arum

How are your vines coming? I just put mine in the ground a couple of days ago. I started seed indoors (6) and 5 sprouted. They stayed indoors until 3 days before I planted them. Here's my concern. I meant to slowly introduce them to the great outdoors, but put them out and forgot about them. They're still alive but the leaves are purplish instead of green, what does this mean? Are they on the way to dead and brown? Thanks!
Leigh

Hi Leigh,

The Cobaea foliage WILL have a purplish tinge when grown in full sun. This usually means deep purple leaf edges which are green toward the center of each leaf. So this is normal for your vines. ;-)

Good Luck,
Chris

Yes, Leigh

My one indication of the seed that sprouted is purplish.and growing pretty well.Water them well,

I would still like to know if the thick slime is normal when you soak the seeds overnight..? Only one of my 5 seeds germinated and I wonder if I had an unusual batch.

H-- Thank you for any input

Thanks and good to know about the purplish leaf. They seem to be doing little to nothing so far since putting them in the ground, but I'll keep them watered and wait and see.
Heather, I don't recall the seeds I soaked as being particularly slimy. Don't know if that really tells you anything. I also stuck some leftover seed directly in the soil next to my seedlings just in case. I suspect that even if they do sprout, our season may be to short for flowering. We'll see! It's always fun to have an experiement going on as long as the entire garden isn't affected. We have "drought" conditions in our area which is highly unusual for this time of year. It may be tough pin pointing shortfalls.
Leigh

One of my Cobaea vine just produced some buds! I planted the seeds indoors in mid-April (I think), and the buds are actually on my north balcony. I was expecting less results with less sun, but my south balcony's vine is just growing like crazy, moving into the upstairs neighbor's balcony, but no buds so far. Hopefully I'll have some photos of flowers to post soon...

lush vine in NC..watered fertilized..a few buds which neber mature..any hints??????/
THX

I live in Missouri and I want to plant the Cobaea but I am afraid that it will be invasive or just do nothing. What is the best way to plant this vine?????