Vincas are really beautiful flowering plants. In fact, they can be used to decorate the terrace or balcony, especially during spring, as this is when they look much prettier when they are in full bloom. But you should know that, although their care is simple, the truth is that they are herbs that have a hard time when their needs are not met in the right way.
For example, when they are watered too frequently, their root system can die as a result of excess moisture. This is why it is important to know why vincas die, and what to do to prevent this from happening.
Get to know the periwinkle a little
Before getting into the nitty-gritty, it is very necessary to know a little about the characteristics of the vincas, since this way we will be able to understand certain things later. Thus, we must know that our protagonists They are perennial herbs (that is, those that live more than two years) originating mainly from Eurasia, although they are also found in Africa.
Five species are known, which are:
- Vinca difformis: Originally from the Mediterranean basin, it is a creeping plant with soft blue flowers that grows up to 40-50 centimetres in height.
- Vinca erecta: This is a species native to Central Asia that reaches a height of about 20 centimetres. It produces white or blue flowers.
- Vinca herbacea: is a perennial herb native mainly to Europe that reaches 20 centimetres in height. Its flowers are bluish, and rarely white.
- vinca major: It is also native to the Mediterranean area, and as its name indicates, it is the largest of all the species in its genus, since it can measure around 1 metre in height.
- vinca minor: It grows in Eurasia as a small climbing plant without tendrils. It can reach up to 40 centimetres in height, and its flowers are blue, violet or white. Learn more.
Of all these, the last two are the most sold, and therefore, they are also the ones most commonly found in patios, gardens, balconies, etc. They all bloom mainly in spring, but they can also do so in summer.Also, if the climate is mild or warm, they may produce some flowers during the fall, but this is rarer, so I don't recommend waiting for your specimen to do so during that season, as it most likely won't.
Now, let's look at why vincas can die.
Why do they die?
There are several reasons why vincas can dry out and die. I mentioned overwatering a bit earlier, but there are other reasons that can also shorten their life:
Cold
Although vincas are frequently cultivated in almost the entire Mediterranean region, especially in those warmer areas, the truth is that They are not plants that can withstand very low temperatures.. Furthermore, it is advisable that if the temperature drops below -2ºC, they remain protected. This is especially important and necessary if there is also the possibility of hail or snow.
Irrigation problems
Both too much and too little water can have very serious consequences for any plant, not just vincas. Excess water rots the roots, while lack of water dries them out.. So, to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to check the humidity of the soil before watering them. This can be done with a simple stick: by inserting it to the bottom of the pot, then when you remove it you will be able to know if you need to water or not, because you will see how the stick is. So, if it is moist, you will not have to water; and on the contrary, if it is dry, then you will have to do it.
If the problem is already there, then you will have to water them with plenty of water if the soil is completely dry. On the other hand, if it is very wet, it is best to take them out of the pots, wrap the soil in a double layer of absorbent paper, and plant them in a new pot with new soil the next day.
The pot has no holes in its base
Pots without holes are very decorative, but They pose a major danger to non-aquatic plants, such as vincas. When we water, the water stays inside the plant, since it has no outlet. If this water is not removed, it will end up rotting the roots since they will drown. For this reason, it is extremely important to avoid this type of container at all costs: plants that are not aquatic will appreciate it.
Also, if we put a plate underneath them, we will have to remove the water after having watered them. In this way, we can prevent their root system from suffering from excess water.
Pests
Vincas are, unfortunately, plants that are very vulnerable to pests. Mites, aphids, scale insects... even snails and slugs can come near them to feed on their leaves. Fortunately, we are talking about relatively small plants, which can be treated easily. So, I recommend you throw them over diatomaceous earth to get rid of mites (and red spiders) and aphids, and to clean the leaves with beer to get rid of scale insects. For snails, it can be very interesting to put copper strips around the plant.
With these tips I hope and trust that your vincas can always be beautiful.