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You’d think you know a lot about flowers until I introduce you to these Japanese vines. Strong and adapted to survive through harsh conditions, these vines have slowly moved from just
being houseplants grown for the beauty of gardening to an invasive species that grow wherever their spores can be dispersed to.
These plants are key components of Chinese medicine and performed the roles of curing fever, sores, inflammations, and cold-related coughs.
In ancient China, the Japanese honeysuckle vines were invaluable in herbal medicine, so it was usually grown in almost every household. You can call these vines miracle plants as they produce loniflavone, an essential compound used in the production of virus-killing medicines.
There is rarely any country in the world where the vines of the Japanese honeysuckles have not extended to. From the Australian territories to Argentina, the United States of America, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
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Its invasive nature is the reason why it is considered an unwanted plant species and banned in certain countries.
Notwithstanding, the Japanese honeysuckle can be grown and kept indoors as an ornamental house plant. The structure and color of its leaves are such that add beauty to an environment.
It grows in areas with direct sunlight, especially areas where the soil has been disturbed extensively by erosion or used as walking paths. The flowers of this plant are usually a food source for wildlife and insects.
The Japanese honeysuckle does not only display an invasive nature and the ability to live in resistant areas, it also can be cultivated in various ways.
It can be cultivated by stems, root cuttings, seeds, and layering. The mode of seed dispersion is by shooting, which usually happens in spring and autumn. The uniqueness of these vines is in their vining method.
Their vines are twining vines that tangle so much and thicken the personal strength of each other, so if you are going to be pulling the vines of the honeysuckle, you will be needing extra effort, especially if the honeysuckle plant has lived for a longer time.
The Japanese honeysuckle vines are perennials that grow continuously all year round filling your house with the smell of nature from summer until Autumn.
The leaves hang off from the vine stems and the flowers are usually a mix of yellow and white. The leaves of the Japanese honeysuckle are potentially safe for consumption by humans, but its little berries are not.
Caution is advised in the usage of the seeds. It is usually advised to grow the vines far from the reach of children because children might innocently pick the seed from the plant pot and put them into their mouth.
The Japanese honeysuckle vines are cultivated for reasons that include cover cropping. This is because they can fight against the growth of weeds and keep the soil safe from erosion and excess sunlight.
The leaves have always been brewed into tea in the Asian regions and recently started to be brewed in tea in countries like the united states.
This plant is an example of irony, having both good and bad sides that make it both wanted and rejected.
But, the good outweighs the bad in this discussion and the benefits of owning a plant pot of Japanese honeysuckle vines growing in your house or garden makes for aesthetic appeal and herbal uses.
Remember, this plant has a very invasive nature and can inhibit the growth of not just weeds but any plant on its path.
So it is frequent to see a garden that used to be filled with a variety of plants, now having just the vines of the Japanese garden suckle.
This is why a plant pot is often better for the propagation of the plant.
In a plant pot, control can be easily done and you do not need to worry about rhizomes creeping to different parts of the soil where they also sprout and begin growth, destroying all the other plants on their path.
In this article, the various ways to properly grow and care for the Japanese honeysuckle are explained.
At the end of this article, it is expected that you have the necessary knowledge to grow and care for the vines of these plants in a way that does not contribute to environmental degradation.
Is Japanese Honeysuckle a Vine or a Bush?
This is often an issue for the Japanese honeysuckle growers. There is a little confusion on the nature of the Japanese honeysuckle.
Some say they are vines, while others opine that they are bushes because of how intertwined their vines become. The fact is that Japanese honeysuckle plants are vines and not bushes.
You could call it a vine bush because of how quickly it grows into a bush in the wild.
The Japanese honeysuckle often grows bushy when they are left unpruned.
Since they are evergreen perennials, they keep growing all through the year and it doesn’t take a while before the whole environment is covered with the thick vines of these plants.
The Japanese honeysuckle is classified as a vine because it fulfills the requirements of being called a vine.
Vines usually have vines for stems. Their leave and flowers grow out of their vined stems and this is the same phenomenon for Japanese honeysuckle.
So the next time you are asked if the Japanese honeysuckles you are growing are vines or stems, boldly say that they are vines.
Why is Japanese Honeysuckle a Problem
The Japanese honeysuckle is deemed a problem in various countries and its growth is outlawed in some countries. Do you ever wonder why?
Do you ever wonder why a beautiful plant consisting of vines is seen as a problem?
The reason is because of its invasive nature. Its vines can grow so long and cover large diameters where they are not wanted.
The Japanese honeysuckle also contains a chemical that inhibits the growth of other plants growing on the same soil as itself, thereby killing both weeds and other useful crops on the soil.
They are often difficult to control as the modes of dispersion are numerous. The rhizome also grows as far as areas where the vines have not extended to.
Therefore, weeding a particular area with the hopes that you have gotten rid of the Japanese honeysuckle plants, might only mean an effort in futility given that in a few days, new vines of the same plants you just got rid of, begin to appear on the soil, causing the same issues they were uprooted for.
These factors are what make the Japanese honeysuckle plants, though useful, a problem to gardeners and the life of other crops.
Where is The Best Place to Plant Honeysuckle?
You can plant your honeysuckle in any soil, or a garden but you would usually not get the best results for these perennials as they would be putting the efforts to grow and survive which would stunt their growth and leave them susceptible to pests and diseases.
Growing in an open garden takes away your ability to properly control their growth, hence I advise that your Japanese honeysuckle vines should be grown in a container and kept in an area where it gets sunlight.
The soil requirements for Japanese honeysuckle vines involve moist well-draining soil free from excessive nitrogenous bases.
Because the Japanese honeysuckle plants are vines that climb surfaces, you should consider growing them close to walls or keeping stakes around the plant pots where the vines can climb up.
This is because they usually make a mess if left to creep indoors.
What Does Japanese Honeysuckle Smell Like?
Honeysuckles have a fragrant smell with nectar sweet enough and non-toxic to be sucked by humans.
These Japanese vines have a sweet aromatic smell that can be likened to a vanilla-filled candy.
The sweet smell of Japanese honeysuckle is one of the reasons why it is grown in homes and even used in the manufacturing of perfume and as an ingredient for cupcakes.
Easy Tips to Grow and Care for Japanese Honeysuckle Vines
Growing and caring for these perennial vines isn’t much stress and doesn’t need to keep you up all day.
You should consider the following when growing your honeysuckle vines indoors:
- Mode of propagation
- Watering Techniques
- Pruning schedule
Let’s briefly explain how the right execution of the above tasks can lead to the growth of healthy Japanese honeysuckles.
1. Mode of Propagation
There are three modes of propagating the Japanese honeysuckle vines. You could propagate from seeds that are contained in the fruit.
You could decide to propagate from stem cuttings or probably from the rhizomes that develop under the ground.
Whatever way you choose to propagate, ensure that your medium of propagation in terms of soil type and constituents are fertile and well-draining enough.
2. Watering Techniques
Vines do not like overhead spraying or misting as it leads to the fungal formation on their leaves and stems, so ensure to water by soaking.
Water the plants as soon as the soil gets dry, for adequate growth.
3. Pruning Schedule
These vines are invasive, therefore you should prune regularly. They grow quickly, spreading their vines to extensive parts of the house where they are not needed.
Therefore you should prune at least once a year. Increase this pruning routine as the plant matures.
You might also need to take off some of the roots from the plant pot as a way of controlling its growth.
Conclusion
The Japanese honeysuckle vines are easy-to-grow perennials that will survive different weather conditions.
Their aromatic smell keeps your home fragranced all year long. The extra benefits of these vines come with their herbal functions and succulent vines.
As long as you keep the vines under control by regular pruning, this is certainly one of the best houseplants you ought to have growing in your home.
