About Purple Bell Vine
Rhodochiton atrosanguineus, commonly known as Purple Bell Vine, is a beautiful and exotic plant that produces stunning bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink and purple. Introduced from Mexico in the 1800s, this vining annual with heart-shaped leaves will cling and transform trellises or arbors from spring through fall. Growing Purple Bell Vine from seed requires a gardener who is patient, but will reap a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
When to Plant Purple Bell Vine Seeds
Start your Purple Bell Vine seeds indoors 12 to 16 weeks before the last frost. It is important to know that these seeds in particular are slow to germinate and grow early on.
Where to Plant Purple Bell Vine Seeds
This vine is extremely frost-sensitive; wait until the danger of frost has passed before transplanting seedlings to the garden. Harden off the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for a few hours each day. When you are ready to plant, choose a sunny location in your garden with fertile, well-draining soil, ideally with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Enrich the site with compost prior to planting. Space plants 10 to 12 inches apart at the foot of a trellis or support structure. Purple Bell Vine is a vigorous climber, often reaching 8 to 12 feet in a single season.
How to Plant Purple Bell Vine Seeds
Fill the seed trays or small pots with seed-starting mix, leaving about an inch of space at the top. Moisten the seed-starting mix with water. It should be damp but not waterlogged. Sow the seeds on the soil’s surface, pressing them gently into the soil. Purple Bell Vine seeds are small and delicate that require light to germinate, so be careful not to bury them too deeply. Mist the soil with water to keep it moist, and cover the seed trays or pots with plastic wrap or a plastic dome to create a mini greenhouse. This will help to maintain humidity, creating a consistently moist environment for the seeds to germinate.
Provide bright indirect light or use grow lights. Ideal temperature germination range is between 65°F and 70°F . Cooler temps are often more successful than high heat. In fact, some growers note better germination when seeds are kept slightly cooler (~65°F) and consistently moist, but not water logged. Germination is erratic and slow, and you may experience seeds sprouting anywhere between 14 and 45+ days. Some growers report success only after 30 days, so be patient and do not discard trays prematurely.
How to Care for Purple Bell Vine
Once the seedlings have emerged, remove the plastic wrap or dome and move the seedlings to a bright and sunny location. If you are using grow lights, adjust them to be 6 to 12 inches above the seedlings. Maintain temperatures between 65°F and 70°F. Water the seedlings regularly, but be careful not to overwater them. The soil should be moist but not saturated. Begin fertilizing the seedlings with a balanced fertilizer, diluted to half strength, every 10 to 14 days. This will help to provide them with the necessary nutrients for healthy growth. After three to four weeks, when the seedlings have developed their first true leaves, transplant them into larger pots, about four to six inches in diameter, filled with potting soil. Be careful not to damage the delicate roots of the seedlings during the transplanting process. Pinch off the tips of the seedlings when they reach a height of two to three inches. This will encourage the seedlings to bush out and become fuller.
Once seedlings become established in the ground or container, maintain evenly moist soil, avoiding extremes of drought or soggy soil. Feed every two to three weeks with a balanced fertilizer to support vigorous growth. Lightly trim to shape or control size, especially in containers.
In warmer zones that do not experience a frost, Purple Bell Vine will act as a perennial and may bloom almost year round. In colder zones, it lives as an annual and blooms nonstop for several months if given warmth, sun, and regular feeding. Gardeners in the colder zones can reseed each spring, or plant in a container that can easily be brought indoors where it can be kept in a cool but bright location (45°F to 55°F) until time to replant the following spring.