Overgrown or leggy looking plants can be cut back to encourage bushier growth and keep them under control. Though prolific growers, you may fertilize monthly, if desired, using a general all-purpose, water soluble fertilizer. While tolerant of drought, these plants prefer to be kept moist (not soggy). The care of sweet potato plants is similar to most other vining houseplants in the home, spending summers outdoors. In containers, make sure there are adequate drainage holes. Give them well-draining soil whether they are grown in pots or in the ground. Sweet potato vines enjoy a bright, sunny location outdoors with similar conditions in the home. Stem cuttings can also be placed in water with rooting taking place within a few weeks. Place your sweet potato tuber in a glass of water with the top third exposed by securing it in place with toothpicks. They are easily propagated either from small rooted pieces from the eye buds of the tuber or by stem cuttings–no plant seeds to worry with as with their morning glory cousin. Growing sweet potato vines is not too difficult.
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You might be asking yourself about how to grow an ornamental sweet potato plant. How to Grow an Ornamental Sweet Potato Plant Tricolor – Another less vigorous grower with small pointy leaves that are multicolored and variegated in shades of green, pink and white.Marguerite – Bold, chartreuse green foliage with heart-shaped leaves.Drain the potatoes in a colander and season as desired. On medium-high heat, cover the pot and let potatoes simmer until tender, usually about 15-20 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a pot and add water until cubes are completely covered. Blackie – Nearly black foliage with deep cut leaves. If boiling on the stove, peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch cubes.Sweet Carolina ‘Purple’ – Dark purple foliage and smaller tubers.Popular types of ornamental sweet potatoes include: When growing ornamental sweet potato vines, there are a number of varieties to choose from. They can also be grown outdoors as annual ground cover in flower beds. The vigorous growth and drought tolerance of ornamental sweet potato vines makes them great choices for mixed containers and hanging baskets. This plant produces vine-like stems similar to the philodendron and requires similar care to that of ivy when grown indoors. While it does produce edible sweet potato tubers (albeit not very palatable and bitter), the ornamental variety bears more colorful foliage, making it a popular houseplant. The ornamental sweet potato plant ( Ipomoea butatas) is somewhat different from its southern grown vegetable sibling.
Keep reading for more ornamental sweet potato info. Grown and cared for like average houseplants, these attractive vines add a little something extra to the home or patio. Growing sweet potato vines is something every gardener should consider.