how long does it take for vinca to grow

Seedlings emerge in 14-21 days at 75-78 degrees F. As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night.

Is vinca fast growing?

Vinca is a fast growing ground cover with large green foliage and large pretty vinca blue flowers. Big Leaf Periwinkle or vinca major grows to 12 inches in height but soon falls over to spread where it roots at the leaf nodes as it covers the ground with its shiny green foliage.

Does Vinca need a lot of water?

They love hot, humid weather and are fairly self-sufficient. Water the plants only when the top inch of soil is dry. Container plants will need water more often than those planted in beds, but it's important to avoid over-watering both. Vinca typically needs no fertilization.

Do vincas come back every year?

Vinca is grown as an annual. It will often return in following summers from self-sown seed. Annual vinca is not the same as the perennial periwinkles (Vinca minor or V.

Do vinca flowers spread?

Vinca spreads fairly quickly through runners underground, but weed suppression until establishment is important because it is difficult to pull or spray weeds growing within the dense mat of periwinkle foliage.

Does Vinca die in winter?

Vinca (Vinca minor) also called myrtle and common periwinkle, grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 8. In these climates, it generally survives the winter. It's grown as an annual in colder regions, although vinca might survive under snow.

Where should I plant Vinca?

Vinca minor grows in partial sun, partial shade, and full shade. It tolerates deep shade conditions but may burn in direct sunlight. For best results, plant them in partial shade. Also, they are a good choice for a ground cover for an area with dry shade.

Does vinca like sun or shade?

Vinca needs little maintenance, and deadheading isn't required. They do well in full sun to part shade, and can tolerate some drought, although they flower best with regular watering. Check out the top 15 easy flowers anyone can grow.

How often should I water vinca?

Annual vinca is drought tolerant but does best if you water the plants whenever the top inch or so of the soil feels dry to the touch. Take care not to overwater this plant; it's easily susceptible to root rot.

Why does my vincas keep dying?

Vincas, or periwinkles, can be infected with a fungal disease called aerial phytophthora. The disease spreads when the fungal spores in the soil are splashed on the plants when you water or when it rains. ... If rains or overwatering continues, the fungus can spread to the base of the plant and it can die.

Should you cut back vincas?

Avoid pruning vinca minor during May and June while it's in bloom to keep from losing the colorful blossoms before they die a natural death. Perform a hard prune every two to three years to control growth, rejuvenate vinca minor and encourage its best performance.

How do you take care of vincas in the winter?

Overwintering Vinca Major and Minor

In late fall, apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch over the entire area where vinca is growing. Cover the foliage completely. Vinca doesn't like to dry out, so water it regularly if your winters are dry or very windy, which will dry the plant out excessively.

What is the difference between Vinca major and Vinca minor?

The main difference between Vinca major and Vinca minor is that the leaves of V. major are slightly broader, larger, ovate, or heart shaped, while those of V. minor are small, elongated, lance-shaped.

Does Vinca bloom all summer?

Abundant flowers bloom continuously throughout the summer. Summer-flowering vinca is hardy in USDA zones 9 through 12, and is treated in lower hardiness zones as an annual.

Does Vinca kill other plants?

It's an aggressive ground cover that grows like crazy, yet it's gentle enough to not kill other flowers in the garden. ... The trick here is only get flowers that are more then 6 inches tall, don't plant seeds and expect them to grow with periwinkle in the way either. It won't climb or chock flowers or bushes.

Does Vinca choke other plants?

Vinca minor, in most cases, will not choke out other plants growing in the area. They just fill in around them. Vinca major, being more aggressive, can take over other plants in your flower bed.

How cold can Vinca tolerate?

Vincas prefer to be grown in a very warm environment and this is why many growers have difficulty with them. Daytime temperatures should be around 82˚F (±2˚F), and at night, around 68˚F (±1˚F). Temperatures below 64˚F can stunt plant growth and cause leaves to turn yellow.

Why is my vinca turning yellow?

Vincas with yellowing leaves are often reacting to a lack of iron, which is a common problem in alkaline soil. A lack of nitrogen in the soil can also cause yellowing leaves. Use of a fertilizer containing nitrogen, iron and sulfur helps to replace the nutrients while balancing the pH.

Can vinca minors take full sun?

The plant tolerates close to full shade, but prefers full or partial sun (although it can tend to yellow in full sun and high heat) and moist, organic soils. When using as a groundcover, plant 8 inches apart for quick cover of smaller areas and 12 to 18 inches apart for large areas.

Is vinca poisonous to dogs?

The vinca alkaloids known as vinblastine and vincristine are widely used in chemotherapy to treat a variety of cancers in humans and animals. Since this periwinkle contains these alkaloids, if ingested by dogs, they can be poisonous and cause a variety of side effects.

Are periwinkle and vinca the same thing?

Vinca is a good example. Periwinkle is the common name for this pretty plant that belongs to the dogbane or Apocynaceae family. ... Vinca major and vinca minor are shade-loving ground covers, and vinca vine is a trailer with variegated leaves often used in window boxes and containers.

How far apart should Vinca be planted?

Space plants at least 12 to 18 inches apart. Plant out periwinkle in spring or early fall. Water the soil deeply after planting and keep the soil evenly moist during the first 6 to 10 weeks, as the roots become established.