Garlic Vine Plant Care: Learn How To Grow This Vining Plant

A woody climbing plant, the garlic vine (Mansoa hymenaea), also called the false garlic plant, is native to South America. The garlic vine plant is a beautiful ornamental plant to beautify your gardens. This plant is also easy to grow and care for. Therefore, it is a great option for many gardeners who are looking for an easy-care flowering vine.

Garlic vine plant care is easy, as this plant needs warm conditions with enough sunlight to grow. Moreover, the medicinal properties of this herbal plant are used to make medicines to treat colds, coughs, flu, and many other ailments.

Somewhat different from the edible garlic, the garlic vine plant can be used as a substitute for garlic in food. Moreover, the beautiful bell-shaped, fragrant flowers of this plant can make any dull area shine. It is great for a vertical garden or as a potted plant in gardens. So let’s explore the basics of garlic vine plant care and how you can grow this plant in your garden.

What Is The Garlic Vine Plant?

Native to South America, the garlic vine plant is a part of the Bignoniaceae family. Also known as forest garlic or false garlic, the leaves of this vine smell like garlic when crushed, hence the name. The long and green leaves of the garlic vine plant resemble those of shrubs. The woody vines of this plant can grow up to 2-3m tall.

The vibrant flowers of the garlic vine plant are funnel or trumpet-shaped and come in bright shades of lavender before turning white or pale pink. These fall flowers bloom in autumn months, and also in spring.

Moreover, this pet-friendly plant is perfect for a home with furry friends, and this plant is used in various medicinal and culinary items.

Garlic Vine Plant Care

The garlic vine plant care is easy as long as you can provide the plant with its basic requirements. Here’s how you care for your plant –

Water

The garlic vine plant is native to tropical regions and is used to heavy rainfall followed by a few dry spells. So it needs a good balance between moisture and dry periods. During its active growing season, water the plant regularly, but make sure not to overwater the plant.

Careful and regular watering during the active growing season will result in healthy blooms for this evergreen plant. In colder regions, water every 3 to 5 days for optimal growth. Consider rainfall levels to ensure you don’t overwater your plant.

In simple terms, infrequent and deep watering is ideal for better garlic vine plant care.

Sunlight

The garlic vine is a sun-loving plant and thrives in full sun. However, this plant can also adapt to partial shade. Lack of light can result in stunted growth and no flowering.  Therefore, choose a sunny and bright location for this plant.

Soil

A well-draining soil mix is preferred for the garlic vine plant. As long as the plant is getting enough sunlight and with the required watering, it can grow in any kind of soil. Just ensure it is well-draining, as the garlic vine plant doesn’t like sitting in water.

Temperature and Humidity

Warm climates are preferred for better garlic vine plant care, but this plant is also resilient to cold temperatures, dropping down to 41℉ (5℃). However, it needs extra support and care in freezing temperatures. Use mulch if you see any symptoms of frost damage, such as wilting and leaves turning brown.

Similarly, in extremely warm conditions, keep the hydration high and provide shade to protect the plant from scorch.

Fertilizing

During the active growing period, feed the garlic vine plant every 2-3 weeks to keep it healthy and vigorous. Use a balanced NPK fertilizer with a ratio of 10-10-8 or 10-10-10. Choose half the strength of the recommended fertilizer.

Fertilizers provide additional nutrients and strength to produce more flowers in the growing season. However, you should reduce fertilizers in colder months when the plant enters its dormancy. Moreover, over-fertilization can cause various problems in the plant, such as stunted growth, a lack of flowers, etc.

Learn more about How to Fertilize Plants.

Pruning

Prune the garlic vine plant in early spring to get rid of any dead or decayed foliage from winter damage. However, make sure not to over-prune the plant as it can result in a lack of blooms. Regularly pruning the plant in its growing season would result in healthy growth due to improved air circulation, disease prevention, and fresh foliage.

How To Propagate The Garlic Vine Plant?

You can easily propagate this plant through stem cuttings. Here are the steps you can follow to propagate the garlic vine plant –

• Take a healthy semi-hardwood cutting with at least one leaf node.
• Apply rooting hormone to the base of the cutting.
• Use a well-draining soil mix suitable for the garlic vine plant and place the cutting in the pot.
• Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
• Maintain optimal humidity or place a transparent plastic bag over the cutting.
• Place the pot in a bright area but away from direct sunlight.
• After a few weeks, check for root development and wait for new growth before shifting the cutting to its permanent location.

Make sure to use clean and sharp garden tools to prevent any plant diseases. Moreover, avoid common mistakes while propagating, such as irregular cuts, overwatering, lack of humidity, poor soil, etc.

Common Pest and Disease Problems

The garlic vine plant care is easy; however, this plant is susceptible to various plant pests, diseases, and other problems, such as –

• Yellow Leaves – The yellowing of plant leaves could be due to a lack of nutrients or poor watering. If the leaves and flowers are turning yellow from the base of the plant, it could be either of the two reasons. However, random yellowing could be due to natural ageing.
• Pests – Pests like mealybugs are most commonly found on this plant. These bugs can cause discoloration, stunted growth, and more plant problems. For better garlic vine plant care, regularly monitor your plant to check for any signs of pests and use neem oil or insecticidal soap to treat them.
• Wilting – Wilting of leaves is usually caused by underwatering and can be treated easily. However, make sure to gradually increase the watering as dousing the plant with water instantly can cause stress.
• Diseases – Diseases such as leaf scorch and petal blight are common in the garlic vine plant. Therefore, make sure to take better care of your plant and don’t overlook any signs of pests and diseases.

Conclusion

The garlic vine is a beautiful evergreen flowering plant that is a must-have in any vertical garden. The easy garlic vine plant care makes this plant ideal for beginners. Moreover, the beautiful blooms and foliage of this plant improve the overall appearance of any garden. So, make sure to grow this plant at home with the help of this guide and download the Plantora App to learn more about plant care and how you can grow different plants easily at home.