The balloon
vine is a deciduous woody vine with bright green, fern-like leaves, small,
white flowers and curious, inflated, fruits. It is native to tropical America
and it can be found growing in forests, wetlands and along rivers. The stems
climb by way of forked tendrils that have two coiled branches. The stems are
4-angled and can can grow up to 10 feet long. The fruits are inflated and
three-lobed, with one seed in each lobe. The fruits resemble small balloons. They
change from light green to reddish and then to light brown when mature. The
seeds are round and black, with a light brown heart-shaped marking, hence the common
names heartseed vine and love in a puff. It is grown as an ornamental plant and
it is also used medicinally. It has a fast growth rate. C. halicacabum is grown
as an annual in temperate regions and it is a perennial in frost-Fast regions. Zones
8b-11.
Growing
Instructions
The seeds have
a hard seed coat that has to be treated, or scarified, in order for water to
enter the seeds so that they can sprout.
1. Scarify the
seeds by nicking or sanding the seed coat.
2. Soak the
seeds in water for several hours.
3. The seeds
like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half
sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that
it is moist but not wet.
4. Put the
seeds on the soil.
5. Cover the
seeds with a layer of soil that is ¼ inch thick.
6. Water the
seeds.
7. Place the
pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade. The
seeds take 14-21 days to germinate.
8. When the
seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.
Leo (verified owner) –
I was happy about the quick delivery and that the seeds actually sprouted within 7 days
Ryan (verified owner) –
Very fast delivery.
Robert (verified owner) –
So far so good!
Camden (verified owner) –
Good service.
Kai (verified owner) –
WOW!! Not one dud in the bunch!! Shortly after planting they started growing ! These are really great packet of seeds!!!