Purple Passion - Gynura Aurantiaca

Gynura aurantiaca. Copyright: Trees.com

Contents

1. Top Tips
2. Location, Water, Humidity & Fertilisation
3. Common Issues
4. Origins, Temperature, Propagation, Repotting & Toxicity.

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Top Tips & Info

• Care Difficulty - Easy to Moderate
• Your Purple Passion will need to be kept in a relatively bright area, away from deep shade or draughty/cold conditions. Remember not to over-expose your specimen to the sunlight; we'd recommend a north-facing window to provide bright, indirect light still, but without the risk of sun-scorch. 
• Allow the soil's top third to dry out in between waters, reducing this slightly in the winter months. Avoid excessive dehydration as the risk of crisping foliage, stunted growth and eventual plant death is always a risk factor for your Purple Passion.  
• Fertilise using a 'Houseplant' labelled feed every four waters in the spring and summer, reducing this to every six in the colder months.
• Transplant every three years using a 'Houseplant' labelled compost and the next sized pot with drainage holes.
• As Purple Passions are classed as 'Monocarpic', they'll only flower once in their lifetime, within five years of ownership. Scroll down to the final paragraph in 'Common Issues' to learn more about prolonging its life for longer. 
• Fun Fact: Its leaves are covered in small hairs (called trichomes) that contain Anthocyanin pigmentation to block sudden rays of sunlight in the wild that break through the jungle's canopy above!

Location & Light - 🔸🔸🔸

The amount of light and the current season of the year will directly govern the frequencies of waters per month. Specimens placed in darker areas must be kept on the drier side to life, whereas brighter locations will require more soil moisture to lubricate photosynthesis.

We'd recommend keeping your Purple Passion in the warmest and brightest possible location without the risk of direct sunlight. Although a north-facing windowsill is best, you can still keep the specimen in either an east or west-facing windowsill, as long as you keep an eye out for dry soil. Within a foot of an LED grow-light, or two feet away from a non-LED grow-light is also brilliant for good, quality growth. 

Water - 🔸🔸

Your Purple Passion must be kept in reliably moist soil, as inconsistent moisture levels may result in crisped growth and an unhappy plant. Allow the compost's top third to dry out between waters in the growing period, reducing this slightly in the autumn and winter to replicate its dormancy. Under-watering symptoms include dehydrated foliage, leaf-plantlet death & browned areas forming on the leaf edges. These issues are usually caused by too much light/heat or just forgetfulness - remember, the brighter the location, the more watering you'll need to do. Over-watering symptoms include the central foliage beginning to yellow rot, little to no new growth, yellowing lower leaves and eventual plant death. If you feel that over-watering is to blame for its demise, click here to learn more about root rot and how to address it.

Humidity - 🔸🔸

Average room humidity is enough to satisfy this plant, as long as you don't live in an overly-dry climate. Never situate it within a few metres of an operating radiator due to the enriched chance of browning leaf-tips. If you are indeed worried about dry air, create a humidity tray to provide a moist and stable environment for your plant, which will also have the added benefit of slowing the rates of drying soil!

Fertilisation - 🔸🔸

Fertilise every four waters during the growing period before reducing this to every six in the autumn & winter. Although an 'All-Purpose' fertiliser will still do the job, we'd recommend using a specific 'Houseplant' labelled fertiliser as it'll support the vital thirteen nutrients that this species will need to grow.

If you're interested in achieving flowers, use a fertiliser high in potassium ('Tomato' feed) for the stimulation of flower buds - just remember that most Purple Passions will begin to decline shortly after blooming.

Common Issues with Purple Passion

Overly green juvenile growth is caused by too little light. Move the plant into a brighter area within reach of direct sunlight, but without the risk of being scorched to stimulate better colourful growth. Extreme variegations that hinder the plant from developing chlorophyll (green pigmentations) are typically caused by too much sunlight, which will quickly result in sun-scorch.

Root or basal rot is a common issue among specimens sat in too dark environments with prolonged soil moisture. Symptoms include rapidly yellowing leaves, mouldy soil, stunted growth and a rotten brown base. Take the plant out of the pot and inspect health below the soil line. If the roots sport a yellow tinge, you're good to go, but if they're brown and mushy, action must be taken immediately. Learn more about addressing root rot on this link.

Curled leaves and brown leaf-edges are the result of too little water and over-exposure to the sun. Purple Passions are best located in bright, indirect settings, and those that haven't acclimatised to the harsh rays will show signs of sun-scorch and environmental shock. A splash of winter sunlight is acceptable as long as the soil moisture is regularly observed, with complete avoidance once summer comes along.

When this species is severely dehydrated, most of its leaves will crisp-up and fall off - leaving you with a naked plant. Although it may spell the end of juvenile plantlets, there may still be light at the end of the tunnel for more established specimens. If its stem is still plump without any signs of retraction, prune-away the severely affected areas and contain the plant (with its pot) in a transparent bag that has small holes. Keep the soil continually moist, providing a good level of indirect light and temperatures above 15°C (59°F). After a few weeks, new life will form in the nodal junctions on the stems, signalling the start of its recovery process. Maintain a sealed environment for the following month until you feel it's necessary to release it back into the open air. For the prevention of environmental shock, be sure to introduce a humidity tray for higher levels of atmospheric moisture around the plant in its new setting. Not only will this ease the specimen back into healthy functioning life, but it'll also reduce the rate of transpiration (water-loss in the leaves), and therefore downplay the risk of dehydration and further decline.

Shortly after the flowering period, your specimen is likely to begin withering away. Most Purple Passions would have served their sole purpose in life, which is reproduction. Plants regarded as 'Monocarpic' will bloom only once during their lifetime, regardless of whether it takes thirty years or one to complete its lifecycle. Especially after successful pollination, the leaves may begin to yellow and wilt over, followed by basal rot that'll spell the end of its life. Although this process should take around four or five years to complete, some specimens will reach maturity within three years before developing their first flower. If you're interested in prolonging your Purple Passion's life, cut off any flower-shafts or unopened buds that'll usually develop at the tips of each stem. Keep the specimen in a warm, bright location and regularly feed it with a 'Houseplant' labelled fertiliser to optimise its health. Lowered temperatures may quicken its rate of death or decline, so tricking it into warmer and consistent temperatures throughout the year is highly recommended. Take stem cuttings (before it produces the flower-stalk, which will be located at the tips of each stem) via water to maintain a small collection of Purple Passion plants. Scroll down to 'Propagation' to learn more. 

Origins

Augustin Pyrame de Candolle first documented the species in 1838, during a voyage to South-East Asia. He placed it in the already-erected genus of Gynura which was created by Alexandre Henri Gabriel de Cassini in the 1820s, using the Greek words “ghyné” and “ourà” that refers to the elongated stigmata of each flowers. The specific epithet, "aurantiaca", can be translated from Latin to mean 'orange', referring to the warm-coloured flowers that are put out in the spring or summer. The species has natural distributions across Java and Sumatera. 

The Distribution of Gynura aurantiaca.

Temperature

15° - 24°C   (59° - 75°F)
H1a (Hardiness Zone 13) - Must be grown indoors to maintain foliage all year round. Although Purple Passion can withstand temperatures down to 12°C (54°F), they could produce flowers and most likely die shortly afterwards, as they cannot tolerate cool periods for long. If you maintain consistent temperatures of 18°C (64°F) throughout the year, you'll reduce the risk of flower development and therefore plant death in the autumn and winter - scroll up to 'Common Issues' to learn more about its lifespan. A domestic specimen can live for up to four or five years.

Spread

Up to 0.6m in height and 0.4m in width once they reach maturity. The ultimate height will take between 3 - 5 years to achieve, with up to 12cm of new growth per year.

Pruning & Maintenance

Remove yellow or dying leaves, and plant debris to encourage better-growing conditions. While pruning, always use clean scissors or shears to reduce the chance of bacterial and fungal diseases. Never cut through yellowed tissue as this may cause further damage in the likes of diseases or bacterial infections. Remember to make clean incisions as too-damaged wounds may shock the plant, causing weakened growth and a decline in health.

As Purple Passions are classed as 'Monocarpic', it's very likely for your specimen to die shortly after the flowering period. If you'd like to help extend its lifespan, pinch off any developing flower buds before they open, using your hands. Keep the specimen in a warm, bright location and maintain evenly moist soil. This should considerably elongate your specimen's life.

Propagation

Seed & Stem Tip Cuttings. 

Stem-Tip Cuttings (Easy to Moderate) can be taken at the start of spring, when specimens surpass 8cm in height. Prune the top 6cm (2.5 inches) of the leading stems, with at least five nodes (leaves) - the top two for foliar growth and the others for root development. Gently remove the lower two leaves and set the cutting's bottom half into lukewarm water. Provide a bright, indirect windowsill and replace its water once a week to alleviate basal rot. After around a month or two, you'll notice some roots develop from the base of the plant, and once they are at least 3cm (1 inch) in length, you can safely transplant it into moist compost. Although we'd recommend using a 'Houseplant' labelled soil, a 'General-Purpose' compost with added perlite will work wonders, too. Fill the bottom 1/3 of a 7cm pot, with your chosen potting mix. Place the cutting onto the soil, filling the remaining gaps with the remaining compost. Ensure you don't submerge its leaves into the soil, as they'll simply rot and weaken the specimen's overall health. Continue to provide a bright, indirect location with reliable soil moisture to quicken the rate of root and leaf development. Keep an eye on it closely for the next month, following the care advice provided above!

Propagating your Purple Passion is easily possible via stem-tip cuttings. Although rooting hormone isn't mandatory, it'll speed this process rather well, so dip the bottom centimetre into water and then into the powder. Place the cutting into a container of water to stimulate the rooting process. Copyright: The Gardening Cook.

Flowers

As Purple Passions are part of the Daisy family (Asteraceae), they'll produce pompom-like flowers throughout the spring or summer. In this species' case, you'll notice an elongated stem that'll house several clusters of small yellow flowers, lasting several days once opened. Because Purple Passion plants are 'Monocarpic', the chance of your specimen dying shortly after the last bloom is quite likely, so prune off any flower buds to reduce this risk.

Alternatively, for those interested in the best possible show of blooms, keep the specimen well hydrated, along with regular fertilisation to stimulate longer-lasting flowers. We'd recommend using a potassium-based feed, like a 'Tomato' food, every three waters to maintain evenly fertile soil. Once the final bloom wilts, cut the foliage back by a third to stimulate new lower leaf buds.

Repotting

Repot your specimen only twice in its lifetime (best done in spring), using a 'Houseplant' labelled compost and the next sized pot with drainage holes. Hydrate the plant 24hrs before tinkering with the roots to prevent the risk of transplant shock. For those that are situated in a darker location, add a thin layer of small grit in the pot's base to improve drainage and downplay over-watering. Click here for a detailed step-by-step guide on transplantation, or via this link to learn about repotting with root rot.

Book a 1-to-1 video call with Joe Bagley if you'd like a personal guide to repotting your houseplant. This will include recommending the right branded-compost and pot size, followed by a live video call whilst you transplant the specimen for step-by-step guidance and answer any further questions!

Pests & Diseases

Keep an eye out for mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, whitefly, blackfly & vine weevils that'll locate themselves in the cubbyholes and undersides of the leaves, with the exception of the latter in soil. Common diseases associated with this species are root rot, leaf-spot disease, Peronospora, botrytis, rust, powdery or downy mildew & southern blight - click here to learn more about these issues.

Toxicity

Not known to be poisonous when consumed by pets and humans. If large quantities are eaten, it may result in vomiting, nausea and a loss of appetite.

Retail Locations

Blue Diamond (Occasionally) & Online Stores.

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