From my perspective as a passion vine, climbing is not a hobby; it is my fundamental purpose for survival and success. I am equipped with specialized structures called tendrils. These are not just simple appendages; they are my finely tuned sensory tools and grappling hooks. They extend from my stems, constantly and slowly circling in the air, a movement called circumnutation, searching for something stable to grasp. When a tendril makes contact with your fence or arbor, it triggers a rapid hormonal response within me. The side of the tendril in contact with the support contracts and hardens, while the opposite side continues to grow, forcing the tendril to coil into a tight spring. This brilliant design anchors me securely and provides a flexible shock absorber against strong winds.
While my tendrils are powerful, I am initially a young, sprawling plant with limited direction. My energy is focused on root establishment and seeking light. This is where your early help is invaluable. Gently guide my young, pliable stems toward the base of your chosen support structure. You can use soft plant ties, twine, or even strips of cloth to loosely secure me. The keyword is *loosely*; do not constrict my stems, as they need room to grow and expand in girth. Think of this initial training as showing me the path. Once I understand the direction—"up this fence post" or "along this arbor beam"—my tendrils will take over the detailed work of clinging and climbing.
Left entirely to my own devices, I might send many vertical shoots racing upwards, concentrating my beautiful flowers and fruit high up and out of easy view. To create a lush, full coverage on your fence or arbor, I need your help to encourage lateral growth. As my stems grow longer, gently and periodically weave them horizontally through the openings of the fence or along the slats of the arbor. When a stem is trained horizontally, it disrupts the hormonal signal that promotes vertical dominance (apical dominance). This encourages me to produce more side shoots from the leaf nodes along the horizontal stem. This results in a denser, bushier vine with a greater number of flowering points, creating that magnificent wall of foliage and blooms you desire.
My growth is vigorous, especially in the warm season. Training me is not a one-time event but an ongoing conversation. Regularly check on my progress. New shoots will need gentle guidance towards bare spots on the structure. Be mindful of my tendrils; while they are strong, they can sometimes latch onto unintended supports, like nearby shrubs or even themselves, which can lead to a tangled mess. Gently disengage them and redirect them to the primary support. Furthermore, your seasonal pruning is a form of communication. By strategically cutting back old or overgrown stems, you direct my energy into producing new, manageable growth that is easier to train and far more productive for flowering.
