Re: [SG] Sweet Potato Vine

Well, Bobbi, I first grew 'Blackie' last year; had one in a pot and one in
the ground.  The one in the pot did not survive inside for long, but the
one that was in the ground had formed a nice tuber, so dug it and potted it
and brought it inside.  Since it was still in full growth (tho' I'd given
it a haircut), I thought it would want a nice sunny spot.  Wrong idea.  Put
it in a room that gets a *lot* of sun in winter and, even sitting on a tray
of wet pebbles it acquired spider mites within a month.  Moved it out of
that room to one that I keep overhead fluorescent lights on for other
plants - no natural sun.  Cleaned it off, etc.  Well, it dropped leaves;
made new ones; dropped them; still had the spider mites and generally
limped along - still living, but not a happy camper.

I kept cleaning it off and planted it outside this spring and it is coming
back to life - new, clean foliage.

My conclusion is that it might be better off in the greenhouse where the
humidity is high although the temps are not....but then, it might be better
to just dry them off in the pot and try to keep them like dahlias or cannas
and worry about whether they are too dry or too wet.   Wish I knew the
"best" way to winter them.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: Roberta Diehl <diehlr@INDIANA.EDU>
> Date: Sunday, June 13, 1999 11:39 PM
>
> Thanks to all who replied on this subject. Very helpful! (Still haven't
> decided just what to do with this darling plant but it is a cutie.) I
> shall definitely remember to keep it well watered, Josh! And I'll look
for
> the yellow and the tricolored varieties as well, now that I know one can
> make cuttings.
>
> I hope someone who has wintered them over will speak up and tell us that
> this is feasible, AND I hope they aren't subject to attacks of spider
> mites and/or mealy bugs indoors like some other houseplants I could
> mention....
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
>
> On Sun, 13 Jun 1999, Kemberly McLain wrote:
>
> I do not believe these are hardy...you could probably keep your cuttings
> indoors for th winter and transplant in the Spring.
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