From my perspective, light is my food. I use sunlight to perform photosynthesis, the process that creates the energy I need to grow, thrive, and most importantly, to produce my beautiful and fragrant flowers. If I am planted in a spot that is too shady, I simply cannot generate enough surplus energy. All my effort goes into stretching my vines towards any available light source just to survive. Flowering is an immense energy expenditure, and without abundant, direct sunlight—at least six to eight hours a day—my system decides it is not a viable investment. It is a matter of resource allocation for my survival.
You may be feeding me, but are you feeding me the right food? If you give me a fertilizer that is too high in nitrogen, you are essentially forcing me into a specific growth pattern. Nitrogen promotes vigorous green, leafy growth. From my point of view, the signal I am receiving from the soil is: "Grow leaves! Grow more vines!" This is what I will focus all my energy on. I become lush and green but have no reason to switch my energy to reproduction (flowering). I need a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus (the middle number in the N-P-K ratio) to encourage bud formation and flowering.
My genetics are coded for the cool seasons of spring and early summer. I flower best when my roots are cool and my top growth is in moderate temperatures. If you plant me too late and I am subjected to intense heat, I become stressed. My physiological response to extreme heat is to shut down flower production to conserve water and energy. It is a survival tactic. Similarly, if a sudden frost nips my buds, it can damage them beyond recovery. My ideal temperature range for happy flowering is between 55°F and 65°F (13°C-18°C).
My roots are relatively shallow and fine. I am not a drought-tolerant plant. When the soil becomes too dry, even for a short period, I experience water stress. The first thing I will sacrifice to conserve water is my flower buds; they are a non-essential luxury in a drought. Consistent moisture is key. Furthermore, because I am a heavy bloomer, I am a heavy feeder. I quickly deplete the nutrients in the soil around me. If you do not provide supplemental feeding, I will simply not have the foundational building blocks to create flowers.
This is a crucial point. My entire biological purpose is to flower, set seed, and ensure the next generation. If you allow my faded blooms to wither and form seed pods, my mission is accomplished. I have no further reason to produce more flowers. However, if you consistently pick my flowers or cut off the faded ones (a practice called deadheading), you are tricking me. From my perspective, my attempt to reproduce has failed, so I must try again. I will redirect my energy into producing a continuous supply of new flowers in a persistent effort to create successful seeds.
