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Purple bell vine · Rhodochiton atrosanguineus

Why is my purple bell vine getting so leggy?

A leggy vine is stretching out because it is searching for more light. This is common when the plant does not get enough energy to grow compact and full.

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leggy growth on a plant
Photo: Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Observe how many hours of bright light the plant gets daily.
  2. Check if the plant is leaning toward a window.
  3. Look at the distance between the leaf nodes on the stem.

Likely causes

  1. Insufficient Light

    Most likely

    How to tell: The stems have long gaps between the leaves and the plant looks thin and sparse. It is leaning heavily toward the nearest light source.

    What to do: Move the plant to a brighter location with more direct or bright indirect light. If it is indoors, a south or west facing window is usually best.

  2. Lack of Pruning

    Possible

    How to tell: The vine is very long but has stopped producing new side shoots. The base of the plant looks bare.

    What to do: Pinch back the tips of the stems to encourage branching. This forces the plant to grow bushier rather than just getting longer.

Leggy growth in other plants

Find out what's wrong with your purple bell vine

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

Legginess is rarely fatal, but it does make the plant look less attractive. It is a sign that your plant is not thriving as well as it could.

Stopping it coming back

Provide plenty of bright light and pinch the tips of the vines regularly throughout the growing season.

Purple bell vine: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your purple bell vine and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Can I cut the long stems off?
Yes, pruning actually helps the plant grow back fuller. Just make sure to leave some healthy leaves on the stem.
Will it grow back if I prune it?
Absolutely. Purple bell vines respond very well to pruning and will produce new, healthy growth from the cut points.

More problems with Purple bell vine

Back to the Purple bell vine guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.