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ladybug9a

Rangoon creeper in container, anyone?

Does anyone grow rangoon creepers in containers? I just got both the single and the double varieties and planted them in large containers. I dont have space in the yard, and no fence or anything for them to grow on, plus the area I want them in is completely paved which is why I chose to put them in containers.
Has anyone else had success in containers? Any tips on how to care for them?
Thanks!

Comments (42)

  • 7 years ago

    Thank you so much! the information is extremely helpful. I just got them, and the single looks good, the double arrived with few leaves and seems to be not that great.


    how large of a container do you use? When do you provide compost? sorry about the questions, but I am eager to grow them, and super excited to find someone who has done so successfully.

  • 7 years ago

    Glad to be of help. The plastic grow tub looks like it might be 20G (18" diameter, 17" deep). I haven't moved it since I planted the vine, and after several years the tub is still intact without any cracks. If the roots have forced their way through the bottom, I haven't seen any evidence of it. I keep the container top-dressed with compost throughout the tropical season. The higher the heat index, the greater RC's appetite. When the level drops, it's time to add more. Except for a final goodnight snack of fertilizer, I stop feeding it after tropical summer is replaced by tolerable summer. Good news: Despite back-to-back nights of freezing temperatures, the monster remains evergreen.

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked Irving Ragweed (Austin 8b)
  • 7 years ago

    Thanks a lot for the information, I am going to copy what you are doing!! Is yours the single or double? I got both and while the single looks fine, the double is struggling.

  • 7 years ago

    Until you mentioned it, I wasn't aware of the single vs. double distinction. My Rangoon creeper has always been vigorous and healthy. Does the single perform better than the double?

  • 7 years ago

    I just planted both, so will have to wait and see. So far, the double shed most of the leaves, but is alive. Hoping that as it warms up it will do better. Single came to me in great shape, lots of roots and once planted, it did not lose its leaves. Now I see new leaf buds. So far it does seem more vigorous, but in all fairness, its been just a few weeks since I planted them.

  • 7 years ago
    I grow the double variety in container Rekha. I am in Northern Virginia and it's such a carefree plant to grow. I have grown it in a 24" container and now grow it in a 5 gallon container. Its happy in either situation. I have to water it a little more now though. It takes root pruning well too. Mine is a 7 yr old plant. Double blooms sooner than single. Single takes around 2 yrs but double blooms the same year. If you have frost in your area at all protect this plant from it. New growth gets affected by it pretty soon. For me it drops all its leaves during winter in my basement. But if given sufficient light it can sprout new leaves. It needs water quite a bit in full sun and summer. The leaves turn yellow otherwise. Hope this helps.
    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked jasminegal
  • 7 years ago

    My new ones are sprouting leaves now. Cant wait to see what they do over summer

  • 7 years ago
    You will love them. The double is one of my favorite plants ever.
    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked jasminegal
  • 7 years ago

    Jasminegal, do you have yours in full sun? My single is in full sun and my double is in morning sun.

  • 7 years ago
    Yes Rekha. I do grow it in full sun but you might want to see how it does in full sun of Texas. Here in Northern Virginia I have to water it twice during peak summer or it does suffer. You probably can get away with full morning sun and afternoon shade.
    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked jasminegal
  • 7 years ago

    My single has a few blooms and the double has some buds!! I am over the moon...what do I need to do to keep the blooms coming through the summer?

  • 7 years ago

    what do I need to do to keep the blooms coming through the summer?

    (1) Don't let it dry out and (2) fertilize it. Monthly applications of a slow-release organic fertilizer keep mine blooming all summer. I've never used a high-phosphate fertilizer because I haven't had to. (3) Vines generally prefer to have their feet in the shade. If the container receives of lot of summer sun, pile on the mulch.

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked Irving Ragweed (Austin 8b)
  • 7 years ago

    Mine is in a large self watering planter, so hopefully it is good water wise. I will make sure I mulch them well.


    What fertilizer would you reccomend?

  • 7 years ago

    I'm biased toward organic fertilizer, so I use Soil Mender's Yum Yum Mix 2-1-1. Medina Growin Green has also worked well. I've never had to use anything as potent as bone meal to keep the blooms coming. Just for the fun of it, I also add a handful of earthworm castings.

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked Irving Ragweed (Austin 8b)
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Mine is about to bloom for the second time this year, both the single and double have buds. Peak summer, they put of growth but no blooms. They got plenty of water.


    ETA: both varieties seem vigorous to me both in growth and blooming. I dont know what they will do during winter tho!

  • 6 years ago

    H

  • 6 years ago

    . I don’t see my post so I will repost it. I grow my Rangoon creepers in 3 x 3 x 3‘ parts they are plastic. I bought them at 4 feet and now they’re 6 feet tall. They need lots of mourning sunlight. They also need extreme amount of drainage so I took a three-quarter inch drill bit and drilled for holes in my plastic pots drainage is the secret. Also I use super thrive. Do you not use miracle grow miracle grow is a chemical and it’s like Giving a drug it wants more and more. With the super thrive it will take what it needs with miracle grow it just needs more chemicals more chemicals and more chemicals and it won’t thrive. There is an organic miracle grow if you choose to use that but super thrive brings plants back from the dead. So drastically cut back your vines. It’s gonna break your heart but you got to do it. I now have new growthAnd all it needs now is the sunshine

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked HU-718718017
  • 6 years ago

    Correction I grow mine and 3 x 3 x 3’ plastic pots for the same reason you do we have a cement yard with Bermuda grass on top so I cannot plan anything in the ground

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked HU-718718017
  • 6 years ago

    Very happy with them this year, have been keeping them well watered and fed and they are blooming pretty continuously so far. Both lost all their leaves even with a very mild winter and came back around april.



  • 6 years ago

    Mine is not in a container, but just wanted to share a pic all the same.

  • 6 years ago

    Wow -- that's beautiful! Looks like it gets lots of sun. In what sort of climate do you grow it? North, south, east, west ... Texas?

  • 6 years ago

    Beautiful! How old is it?

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Rose, I’m in the South. Louisiana.


    Rekha, it’s about 6 years old. These two plants are actually cuttings from a plant i had in my previous house, which was too big to transplant. So I planted some cuttings from it when we moved.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    With the crazy low temps we are expecting, im.not sure what will happen to these here !

  • 5 years ago

    Any updates from those who had the polar vortex? I covered and wrapped Christmas lights but lost power for 3 days!

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    It's not the same, but your question prompted me to check my Ragoon creeper in the ground. The stems are still green below the surface. Pretty good for a tropical vine! I'm sure the snow in San Antonio helped.

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked roselee z8b S.W. Texas
  • 5 years ago

    Sorry, just seeing this. We had a deep freeze and freeing rain in Louisiana for a full 3-4 days. I covered the Rangoon creeper at the ground level as well as throw a tarp on top. I check it every day or so, and think I’m seeing some greening up of the wood way at the bottom. Not sure if I’m deluding myself. Keeping my fingers crossed and will update soon.

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked nutsaboutplants
  • 5 years ago

    Both mine, the double and single look totally dead:(

  • 5 years ago

    Even if you think its for sure dead, do NOT cut it!! I am sad how quickly people pulled out plants after our blizzard in South Texas. I don't give up on my most favorite plants like the most beautiful-Rangoon Creeper! I'd say just leave it alone, don't cut it at all. Maybe a handful of fertilizer, and water it regularly. I'd like to bet it will come back, just may be later than we wanted. Some of my plants are taking longer than 4 months to recover from that blizzard in 2020. Hope this helps someone 😉😁🤗💐🌺🌷🪴

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked Patricia Sheka
  • 5 years ago

    I have not touched it. Still hoping but it could not look deader! My husband on the other hand chopped down all the supremely dead looking Ixora and I think they are gone. But not pulling anything out at this point. Maybe in the fall if I have to replace.

  • 5 years ago

    Yes that's a good idea. I had to cut my ixoras down too lost them all. But yes your better off cutting them than pulling plant out of course. Ill say a prayer for your Rangoon Creeper 😁🤗

    I'm so glad I found this blog thread, my Rangoon is my absolute top favorite out of hundreds of plants I have!😍 I have to keep mine in a pot as well. So thank yall for your helpful advice!

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked Patricia Sheka
  • 5 years ago

    I just went ahead and bought both the single and double. If my original ones survive that is great. I'm going to plant the new ones in the ground and hope that protects them

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Rekha, where did you find your new plants? (Which nursery, city?)

  • 5 years ago

    I bought mine from Emerald Godess, online. Plants look great.

  • 5 years ago

    Hey so my R.C. branches are breaking from its canopy shape. Its in a large pot, needs to repotted. What kind support do y'all use for your R.C. vine? Trellis, Archways, fence?

    Don't know if it I need to tie it up to a support?


  • 5 years ago

    My Rangoon Creeper here in San Antonio is in the ground next to a lattice trellis Bob built to hide the trash bins. Since it does not twine on its own I weave a few branches in and out of the lattice. From there it grabs onto a nearby KIdney wood tree and hangs down as SHOWN HERE. You can tie it to a strong post or trellis and it will cascade down making an even more beautiful display than it is now. Show us how it does when you put a support for it to grow on.

  • 5 years ago

    Wow!! Thank you!!🤗 I noticed it doesn't twine or grab on its own, so you answered my question! I tried a stake for now, will be getting a trellis for her soon😍 here's my R.C. after pinning up to a couple stakes. This will do until I get a trellis, although I really want an archway arbor trellis for her!😉

    Oh and another question, how do y'all keep her raised up. I don't want the pot on the ground so I temporarily put it on a shelf. Do y'all have your R.C. raised up? I'd like to have a good view by having it raised 😃


  • 4 years ago

    I live in zone 9 houston. By what time of the year would the dormant rangoon creeper starts showing signs of life? My one year old creeper seems dead by all means. I am thinking if i should trim it down to the roots and see if it helps. Any suggestions are helpful, Thankyou.

  • 4 years ago

    I trimmed mine a bit, the single is showing some sign of life, double seems dead.

  • 4 years ago

    Mine is in the ground and has already reached 6 ft up the trellis. However, many years ago since it had not bloomed at all I dug is up and gave it to a friend. It returned three years later and now blooms well. Yours could still return. Evidently it grows back from a very small piece of root. But if yours is in a pot it may not. I'm in San Antonio.

    ladybug A 9a Houston area thanked roselee z8b S.W. Texas
  • 4 years ago

    Thankyou so much Rekha and Roselee..