Typically grown as an annual, sweet potato vine is a perennial in warmer regions.
It thrives in weather that hovers around 75F.
The more sun the plant gets, the more vibrant its leaf color will typically be.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Soil
These plants prefer moist, well-drained soil that’s nutritionally enhanced with organic matter.
They are prone to root rot if their soil remains too wet.
double-check that the container you choose has ample holes for drainage.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Water
Sweet potato vines aredrought-tolerant, though they will grow more vigorously with frequent watering.
Water enough to keep the soil consistently moist but not overly wet.
Its leaves will wilt when the plant is thirsty.
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Temperature and Humidity
These vines like the sun more than high heat.
They thrive in many humid climates but don’t need high humidity as othertropical plantsdo.
The plant grows best at an average temperature of 75F and does not tolerate frost.
It prefers sunny days and warm nights.
Fertilizer
Fertilize sweet potato vines if you want them to grow vigorously.
Cut back rapidly spreading vine tips that have exceeded their boundaries to prevent them from extending too far.
Cut about 1/4 inch above leaf nodes to encourage new growth.
Use bleach or rubbing alcohol to sterilize a pair of pruning shears between the pruning of different plants.
The more the vine is pruned, the more it will venture to regrow.
Pruning Tip
Looking for the best pruners for your sweet potato vines?
We tested over 10top-rated pruning shearsin our Lab to double-check your plants stay happy and healthy.
Propagating Sweet Potato Vines
Sweet potato vines are easy to grow from existing plants.
Take the cutting in autumn before the first frost.
The plant dies off when exposed to frost.
You’ll need pruning shears or snips, a jar of water, and a sunny spot.
It can be tricky to get seeds since they don’t flower regularly and many varieties are sterile.
confirm your container or window box has ample drainage holes.
Fill the pot with good-quality potting soil mixed with compost.
Water the container once a week until the water begins leaking from the drainage holes.
Plants will thrive if the container is kept in full sun rather than shade.
Come spring, you’ve got the option to plant the sprouting tuber.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
The golden tortoise beetle likes to feast on sweet potato vines.
The insect looks like a teardrop of molten gold.
Rotate the planting location of sweet potato vines every season to avoid leaf fungus.
The most common fungi are verticillium or fusarium, which can cause yellowing at the base of the plant.
Planting sweet potato vine with ample space to spread and allow air circulation will help prevent disease.
However, if you do find blooms, you’ll see them in the spring or summer.
What Do Sweet Potato Vine Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Sweet potato vines rarely bloom, but when they do, they’re glorious.
And, they look like purple or pink trumpeting morning glories.
The plant does not have a scent.
For optimal flowering, use a low-nitrogen, bloom-enhancing fertilizer with a 7-9-5 ratio.
Alternatively, a balanced fertilizer may also be used.
Pluck offspent flowersto encourage more flower growth if they flower at all.
Be careful not to overwater as this is the most common cause of infection.
Plant in containers with drainage holes and keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
Pull any infected plants to prevent the spread to neighbors.
Plant in a different location to prevent fungal infection from recurring the next year.
Blackened Leaves
Sweet potato vines are frost-sensitive.
Blackened or mushy leaves can indicate that the plant has frostbite.
Pull it up and discard it.
Leaves Wilting or Curling
Keep its soil consistently moist.
When watering sweet potato vine, water the soil to a depth of 6 inches.
Sweet potato vines will wilt or curl their leaves when lacking water.
To get rid of beetles, shake them off into a bucket of soapy water.
Spread diatomaceous earth around the plant.
you might also applyneem oilto the affected area.
Use a plant-based pyrethrin insecticide but only as a last resort since it will also kill beneficial insects.
Weaving the vines through it will prevent excessive crawling.
Plants that prefer moist, well-draining soil and lots of sun will do well with sweet potato vines.
Marigolds, spinach and yarrow are all popular companions to this plant.
Sweet potato vines are the same species as sweet potatoes.
Ornamental sweet potato vines have beautiful leaves but their tuberous roots are bitter and not sweet-tasting.
Under the right conditions, sweet potato vine can last many years.
Sweet potato vines may come back every year, but it depends on your climate.
In zones 9-11, sweet potato vines can come back every year.
Most commonly, however, sweet potato vines are grown as an annual.
Sweet Potato Production and Pest Management in Georgia.
University of Georgia Extension.
