How to Create a Container Planting Combine with upright, heat-loving annuals such as coleus or dracaena. To trim specific areas, use a pair of shearing scissors and cut stems back to around a quarter inch from the node. See how you can personalize your home's entrance with holiday front door decorations, including evergreen wreaths, garlands, pinecones, and pops of plaid. For a brighter look, the lime colored leaves give a vibrant tropical feel. Change the water once weekly to prevent it from stagnating and attracting insect pests. Above ground, pesky flea beetles and cucumber beetles can eat portions of the foliage, but that’s of less concern as the plant is so quick to grow. Use a well-draining pot large enough to accommodate it comfortably. Caterpillar populations can be controlled by natural predators, such as ants, but a severe infestation may require more direct treatment. BH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. Newer varieties of sweet potato vine are compact, have denser leaves, and are less likely to vigorously spread. The most destructive pest is the sweetpotato weevil, which targets the root system of the plant rather than the foliage. For younger sweet potato vines planted in flower beds, you can help the plant retain moisture by layering mulch on top of the soil, while stays damp for longer than the soil itself. If conditions become too dry, then the plant will sustain its leaves on water from its tuberous root. Sprawling habit, 4 to 10 inches tall, 4 to 5 feet wide, and trailing to 6 feet long. Plant sprawling varieties along the front of a mixed border for easy pops of summertime color. In some instances, lavender flowers can bloom on the vines, but they are generally considered uninteresting in comparison to the foliage of the sweet potato vines. This makes a good container plant – while it’s still a quick grower, it’s not as fast as other cultivars, and it is gorgeous when trailing from a hanging basket. Deeply lobed, maple-like leaves light up the garden with bright lime-green color. If you live north of zone 9, however, take steps to care for sweet potato vines over winter to prevent them from freezing. The large mature size makes this a good choice for ground cover edging in a bedding display, in a hanging basket or window box. var theDate=new Date() Vines sprout quickly and grow enthusiastically, encouraging anticipation and interest in the young mind. It makes an excellent container plant, with its trailing vines falling over the edges of pots in an effortless and attractive manner. Watering the soil regularly will help to create humidity around the plant. Ornamental sweet potato vines don’t produce many flowers, which means they often don’t produce seeds. In Hawaii, where the plant is called ‘Uala, it’s used medicinally, and at least one variety was used as a fish bait. Once these plants have begun to grow robustly indoors, they will be ready to transfer to large mixed containers with other plants. This variant of the sweet potato vine has been cultivated for its vibrant green foliage. The sugary liquid will soon seem to turn into a black powdery substance, which is actually mold developing on the plant. Pruning can be done at any time of year. It works well as an ornamental houseplant, as well as for yearlong ground coverage in outdoor flower beds. Keep soil moist and fertilize lightly but regularly. Purple sweet potato juice has long been used for food coloring. Leaf shapes range from thin, fingerlike to heart shapes. Modern Plants for a Bold and Beautiful Garden. Select a well-draining soil (test your soil if you’re unsure) and place it at the same depth that your potato vine seedling was at. Dig up the tuber in fall, before the first freeze, and store it in a cool, dry place. Though they are certainly interesting to look at, you will soon be sick of the sight of them when they start munching on the ornamental leaves of your sweet potato vine. Most of the time, the sweet potato plant is planted in the spring. It’s better to avoid using weedkillers near your sweet potato vines just to be safe. Plant a sweet potato in water, and almost before your eyes it transforms into a sprawling vine with lime green or purple-tinged leaves. In full sun, the Margarita produces a bright chartreuse leaf with a hint of yellow, but if grown in the shade, it is deeper green in hue. If you want to grow your sweet potato vines as decorative plants, find a small three- or four-inch seedling pot with good drainage. This plant can become quite unruly if left to its own devices and will benefit from an occasional pruning session. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Sweet potato vine loves lots of sunlight and does best in the heat of summer. The deep-cut leaves are splayed out in almost a star shape, creating a very visually attractive plant.