Growing Candy Corn Vines: Care Of Manettia Candy Corn Plant

For those of you looking to grow something a bit more exotic in the landscape, or even the home, consider growing candy corn vines.

About Manettia Candy Corn Plant

Manettia luteorubra, known as candy corn plant or firecracker vine, is a beautiful and exotic vine that is native to South America. This vine is a member of the coffee family, although it bears no resemblance at all. It will grow in full to partial sun. It does well indoors and out and can grow to 15 feet (5 m.) as long as it is supported well. The flowers are red-orange tubular shape, with bright yellow tips, making it look like candy corn or fireworks.

How to Grow a Candy Corn Vine

Growing candy corn vines is relatively easy. The first step to growing a Manettia candy corn plant is to install a trellis where you would like your vine to grow. It is best to plant where there is partial to full sun. Dig a hole in front of the trellis about two to three times the size the root base of the plant. Place the plant in the hole and fill the hole in with the dirt. Water the candy corn plant until it is saturated, making sure that the water has reached the roots. Cover the soil with mulch to keep it moist.

Growing Candy Corn Vine Indoors

Place your candy corn plant in a 1-gallon (4 L.) container; be sure the soil doesn't break up as you don't want to disturb the roots. Cover the roots with regular potting soil and saturate thoroughly. Before watering again, let the first couple inches (5 cm.) of soil dry. Keep the soil moist and do not let your plant sit in water. Doing so will rot the roots. Remember that the candy corn plant likes the sun, so give it a location where it can best take advantage of this. When the roots start coming out of the drainage hole in the pot, it is time to re-pot.

Manettia Vine Care

If you do not want your candy corn plant grow on a trellis, you can prune this plant to the size you would like. Instead of a long twining vine, you can cut it back to keep the plant bushy and full. It provides good ground coverage as well. Also, to encourage new growth, prune old branches out. Your Manettia will need fertilizer every other week. Use ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml.) of 7-9-5 diluted in a gallon (4 L.) of water to help this unique plant to grow.