Right about now is the best time to start the air layer process if you're in the desert area in AZ. I'm going to start some more this weekend. Every year I air layer around 4 vines and it varies how many take root (usually depending on how well I cut them). This is basically what I do: The cut is the most important part I've found.. if you cut too deep, the vine will die before it can root, if you don't cut enough, it will just heal and roots will take a lot longer from it (if any form at all). I cut about 1 foot away from the end of the vine on a new growing vine. I cut a diagonal cut into the vine upward and about halfway through the vine is best. Then put a very small piece of wax paper (or grafting tape) in there to keep the sides separated. It's real easy to accidentally bend the vine and break off the cut at this point so you have to be careful (and I have the next part ready to go so I don't have to drop the vine). Then I dip a handful of dried sphagnum moss in water (not milled peat moss, I find that doesn't work as well for some reason), wring it out and then wrap it around the cut portion. I wrap press and seal cling wrap around it (you could use regular cling wrap too), then tie the ends firmly with a piece of string on each. Then wrap a piece of aluminum foil around it. The aluminum foil is pretty important because the plant needs darkness to grow roots. Make sure it covers the whole thing and no light is seeping in the sides. Then just leave it alone until spring.. I usually check them around mid February and you can see roots up against the side of the plastic. Then I just cut it just below the roots and place it in a pot where it grows like crazy over the summer. You could probably just plant them directly into the ground at that point but I like to make sure they have an easy time getting big before they go in the ground. I used to try to water the air layer over the winter, but I find it best to make sure the ends are sealed well with string (and the press and seal wrap makes it easier to seal it).

Absolutely:If in pot,you need to remove because the plant do not have enough energy to grow them at their highest quality. And also make sure you really take care of this plant,I mean every day,water nutrients(long term release (never without),limestone powder and manure in top,etc. Without all requirement satisfied,the fruits will be mediocre tasting,and not what they can be if plant in ground. I just wasted my Desert King crop,for not pruning roots last Spring and not watering when needed at least once.

Hi, I have an old big passion vine (P. edulis) with hundreds of flowers - when it flowers. I have taken cuttings from the vine many times and just plugged into pots, and some with budding flowers. So that way I managed to have about 2 ft tall cuttings in pots to flower. It's kinda nice to give away passion flowers that way. So I guess the answer to your question is to grow from a cutting instead of from seed for faster flowering. Tomas

I have grown Miracle fruit from seeds, I rough up the outer coating, and plant in a miracle grow mixture. Have not had any trouble getting them to sprout. I live in zone 9b outside of Orlando. You could bring them in at night, with the cooler temps. I did not use any bottom heat and kept the soil moist but not wet. I have about 6 seedlings. The most important thing is to plant the seeds when they are fresh. Germination definitely declines with time.