How To Care for Vinca Flowers – Beautiful Flowers

In this article, we will explain how to care for Vinca flowers, a perennial spreading vine with flowers in shades ranging from blue to purple, during the spring until the first weeks of fall. Vinca is native to Southern Europe and North Africa.  Non-flowering stems grow along the ground, while flowering stems are held upright. The Vinca (Apocynaceae family) is also known by the name of Periwinkle.

Vinca plants grow vigorously in areas where the conditions offered are moist, shady areas, and cold winds. Periwinkle can often be seen surrounding water drains and tree-covered streams; because roots and seeds are easily transported by water, easily invading new areas.

Vinca thrives easily in window flower boxes, giving them a shady appearance, in containers, or also in hanging baskets. Although Vinca is an excellent ground cover, it is fast spreading, so it easily escapes the control limits of any grower.

Lands on the coastal side identify Vinca as an invasive pest. A competitive plant of this species forms dense mats of growth; which are responsible for pushing out others and degrading animal habitats in infested areas.

How to Grow Vinca Flowers

In the following paragraphs, we will review How to Grow Vinca Flowers.

Traditionally, Vinca has been propagated using its extensive stems that form roots at the node. Because of this, a small piece of fragmented Vinca is sufficient to start a new shoot.

If you don’t have a Vinca already in your home to propagate, here is where to buy cuttings (Order it here).

How to Grow Vinca from Seeds

Follow all these steps to grow Vinca from seeds.

• We start by preparing the container we will use for planting Vinca seeds.
• Use a seedling tray or seedbed, or you can also plant Vinca seeds directly in a pot.
• Add soil, peat, and river sand.
• Water the soil until it begins to drain
• Spread the Vinca seeds on the surface and just cover them with the same substrate.
• Spray with water very gently, to prevent the Vinca seeds from moving from place to place
• Place in a well-lit place
• The temperature should be kept constant between 68 and 72 °F (20 to 22 °C)
• To maintain constant temperature and humidity, cover with a transparent cover after spraying. It can be made of plastic, acrylic, or any recyclable material that allows light to pass through and keeps it protected from air currents.
• Within the next 10 to 12 days, the Vinca seeds will have germinated.
• Repot Vinca seedlings when they have developed 4 to 5 leaves.
• Keep Vinca plants indoors for a couple of weeks, and then they can be moved outdoors.

Note: You can replace the seedling tray by recycling cardboard or plastic egg cup. Learn more about How to Start Seedlings in Egg Cartons.

How to Propagate Vinca

In the following paragraphs, let’s see the step-by-step learning of How to Propagate Vinca.

Below, we will explain how to repot a Vinca plant from a pot to the ground.

• Prepare the soil for vinca.
• Use an average, well-drained, slightly acid soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
• Be sure to measure the soil pH and adjust the pH if needed.
• Prepare the planting site, and locate a shady spot.
• Dig a hole at least twice as wide as the Vinca root ball with a shovel.
• Place Vinca plant in the hole, with the top of the root ball even with the top of the soil.
• Try not to set it too deep so as not to choke the point where the stems join the roots, this could result in the removal of the plant.
• Add water around the Vinca roots.
• Add a large amount of water thoroughly, mainly wetting the soil around the root ball.

After this, it is important to check it often and add water deeply if the soil feels dry to the touch. While it is a drought-tolerant plant, it should not be neglected.

How To Care for Vinca Flowers

Now, let’s see How To Care for Vinca Flowers.

Vinca care is very simple, they are drought, drought, and heat tolerant. They do not require a lot of specialized care, however, they will thrive if you manage to follow some general guidelines for their water, fertilizer, and sun routine.

How To Care for Vinca Flowers. These are the requirements for proper Vinca care:

1. Choose a site where Vinca grows well, partial shade, barren or sandy areas.
2. Use a good granular or soluble fertilizer and apply fertilizer every two months while actively growing.
3. Vinca requires little water after it becomes established and shows new growth. This usually happens after two weeks have elapsed. Once its leaves begin to wilt, it is time to add water.
4. Prune Vinca once a year to keep it disease-free and healthy growing.

You should also spread organic mulch such as shredded bark, dried compost, or dried grass clippings around the Vinca plant. This will help prevent pests and diseases, as well as help conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature around the roots.

How To Care for Vinca Flowers – Pests Or Diseases

Pests Or Diseases of Vinca. Although easy to grow, Vinca can suffer from diseases, pests, and environmental problems. That is why we will share with you those that are most frequent, and what you should do to correct the problem.

How To Care for Vinca Flowers – Fungi: when watering, direct the water to the soil instead of the Vinca plants to avoid infections that can occur when leaves get wet.

How To Care for Vinca Flowers – Aphids: If aphids become a problem, wash them off the plant with a direct stream of water that will remove them without harming the plant. You should use neem oil to rid your Vinca of pests.

How To Care for Vinca Flowers – Fungal problems: observed when the leaf becomes spotted and suffers from root and stem rot. Keep garden areas free of fallen leaves, and avoid wet growing conditions.

How To Care for Vinca Flowers – Bacteria: known to be infested by the bacteria that causes Pierce’s disease, which is ultimately fatal to Vinca. At this point, it is necessary to eliminate the Vinca plant and remove the soil to prevent the spread of the disease.

The proper watering practice prevents most outbreaks of these diseases and pests. While it is drought tolerant and rarely needs watering, in very dry conditions it requires your attention. By following these tips, you will be able to properly care for your Vinca.

How To Care for Vinca Flowers: More Tips and Recommendations

Providing the plant with some basic requirements, Vinca can flourish even in shady places or outdoors in the garden. Taking into account some tips we will share with you, we are sure you will achieve successful cultivation.

• Repot Vinca plant in early spring or after the flowering season has passed during the fall.
• Examine the stems and leaves of the Vinca seedlings before you buy them.
• Select one that is healthy, vigorous, free of insect pests or diseases.
• Before purchasing, avoid those with yellow leaves, which is a sign of root rot.
• To make it less invasive, select the species with solid leaves.
• Vinca plant is poisonous if ingested in large quantities, so keep it away from children and pets.
• Avoid establishing the Vinca plant in a location where it will be exposed to scorching afternoon sun and extreme heat.
• If your concern is to obtain flowers, grow Vinca in full sun with plenty of water.
• After pruning Vinca, fertilize and water.