Quick Tip – Jasmine Vine Support

The smell of Jasmine is terrific. I love growing the plant indoors in the winter and outdoors on the porch in the summertime. I found a vining variety a few months ago, and it quickly thrived and outgrew its pot. After transplanting, the vines took off, sometimes appearing to grow an inch or two a day. I am hoping for a lot of bloom in the Spring, so I didn’t want to cut it back, but I needed portable support.

What I chose as support was inexpensive and light, and it works great with a shower curtain hook. A length of delicate chain cut the height of the window frame and attached with any hook allows the Jasmine vines to twine and grow upward. It hangs loose; attaching it to the pot or plant is unnecessary. Thigmotropism is the growth process that causes the Jasmine to twine and climb.

In plant biology, thigmotropism is a directional growth movement which occurs as a mechanosensory response to a touch stimulus. Thigmotropism is typically found in twining plants and tendrils

Wikipedia

The Jasmine is behaving perfectly. I will unhook the chain in late spring and carry plant and vines onto the porch.

Plantings – Vine Supports

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I love vining flowers of all types: morning-glory, cardinal vine, sweet pea, moon flowers, trumpet vine, these and vegetable vines can all be found growing in my gardens. What I don’t like is the need to purchase an expensive trellis or make do with garden twine. This year I have begun using Greenbrier vine as a support for my vines. Harvesting a bit of this vine from the woods does no harm, although it is a cover for wildlife, it can also be quite invasive and choke out trees and other native vines.

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I begin with my longest piece of Greenbrier and poke the end into the ground. I weave several additional pieces of the Greenbrier around this first vine. I then attach more strands to any wood that is not covered with aluminum using a small push-pin. So far, this has worked very well, As the vines become heavier, even though the Greenbrier has hardened, I will need to add some nails or staples for added support. I like the natural way the vines grow up these brambles. Instead of a formal pattern or a column of plants climbing twine, the vines follow the more natural path of the Greenbrier.

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