Today's ornamental sweet potato vines descend from mutations discovered during variety trials of edible sweet potatoes. By 2009, the choices of decorative potato vines included 35 different varieties with foliage ranging in color from lime-green to purplish-black. Early ornamental sweet potatoes sometimes grew roots large enough to burst pots by the end of the summer. Popular vines such as Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red display striking red foliage but grow to smaller sizes that are more suitable for container plantings.
Instructions
1. Cut the end of a healthy Sweet Caroline vine 6 to 8 inches from the tip. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder.
2. Fill a 3-inch peat pot with moist potting soil. Poke a hole in the soil 2 inches deep with your fingertip and place the cut end of the slip in the hole. Firm the soil around the cutting.
3. Water the pot to settle the potting mix around the cutting's stem. Place the pot in indirect lighting in a humid location with a stable temperature between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Cover the potted cutting with an open 1-gallon zip-top plastic bag. Keep the cutting moist by removing the bag and lightly misting the plant and pot daily. Remove the plastic cover when the cutting shows strong growth.
5. Plant the sweet potato vine in the 12-inch-diameter pot after the vine develops at least six new leaves. Harden off the vine by placing it in a sunny location several hours a day over the course of a week and then move the container to its permanent location.
Tags: , ornamental sweet, potato vines, Sweet Caroline, sweet potato, sweet potatoes
