Garden Trees, Shrubs & Vines
 Will Ford
Vining plants can freshen up a home, adding vertical intrigue and drama. There are a number of popular vining plants readily available online, at plant boutiques, and even in hardware stores. Philodendrons and pothos are typical candidates, known for their varied green hues and quick-growing patterns. While both are great options for houseplant enthusiasts, there’s one unsuspecting and incredibly easy-to-grow vining plant you can pick up during your next grocery trip for pennies on the dollar. Sweet potatoes, a delicious and healthier alternative to the common Idaho potato, are not only a staple carbohydrate, but they are also incredibly easy to transform into a beautiful vining plant to add to your houseplant collection.
Sweet potato vines, with their ornate, deeply lobed foliage in various colors like chartreuse, purple, and variegated shades, add a distinctive and eye-catching dimension to indoor greenery. Their growth pattern is perfect for hanging baskets or as trailing plants on shelves, creating an elegant cascading effect. Compared to pothos, sweet potato vines offer a strikingly different look that can be particularly appealing to those seeking diversity in their plant collection. Additionally, sweet potato vines are generally more adaptable to different light conditions and have a fast growth rate, which can lead to quicker results in creating lush, trailing displays. Overall, growing sweet potato vines not only enhances your indoor decor with their captivating beauty but also provides an alternative and aesthetically pleasing option to cultivating pothos plants.
How to start your sweet potato vine
Growing ornamental vines from a sweet potato can be a rewarding and visually appealing gardening project. To get started, you’ll need to select an appropriate container suitable for growing sweet potato vines. Opt for a glass vase or jar with a narrow neck, as this will support the vines and make it easier to see the root development and water level, which can be quite decorative. Ensure that the vase is large enough to accommodate the sweet potato, with some space for it to sit partially submerged in water.
To start, choose a sweet potato with visible eyes or buds, which are the points from which the vines will grow. You can often find these in grocery stores or garden centers. To encourage sprouting, submerge the lower half of the sweet potato in water while suspending it in the vase using toothpicks. The upper part should remain exposed, allowing it to receive light and air. Put your sweet potato vase in a location with indirect sunlight. The sweet potato will start producing vines that will grow vigorously over time.
As the vines grow, pinch back the tips to promote lateral branching and bushier growth. You can guide the vines along trellises or stakes to create an attractive, structured appearance. Sweet potato vines tend to cascade and sprawl, so a little support can help control their growth and keep them looking tidy.
How to care for your new sweet potato vine
Ronimeshulamabramovitz/Getty Images
Caring for a sweet potato vine as an ornamental plant involves providing the right conditions to promote beautiful vines. They’ll thrive in bright, indirect sunlight. Fortunately, they are not overly demanding and can adapt to varying light conditions, but they typically exhibit the most vibrant foliage colors when exposed to ample light. Avoid direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day, as it can scorch the leaves. In low-light conditions, the vine may become leggy and less dense.
While sweet potato vines can simply be left to grow from the spud and roots in a glass of water, they can also be transferred to a container with well-draining soil and eventually moved to a garden come spring. Nevertheless, if ornamental vines are your priority over an edible garden, a decorative vase may be the best route. In this case, change the water weekly in order to avoid bacterial growth or root rot.
Since sweet potato vines are incredibly fast growing—up to 10 feet in a single season—regular pruning is essential for maintaining the shape and health of your plant. The more you trim, the bushier it will become. It’s also good to be mindful of possible pest infestations. Sweet potato vines are generally resilient, but they can occasionally suffer from aphids, whiteflies, weevils, caterpillars, and beetles. Regularly inspect your plant for signs of infestation and address any issues promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
