Mysore trumpetvine (Mysore clock vine) care

Light

Mysore trumpetvine is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Prefers bright filtered light — excellent in a glasshouse where it receives good light with some shade from the hottest summer sun at midday. Outdoors in frost-free climates, bright indirect to morning direct sun is ideal; harsh afternoon sun can scorch leaves. Insufficient light severely limits flowering. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water mysore trumpetvine regularly during growth; reduced in winter. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Keep soil evenly moist during the growing and flowering season. In winter, reduce watering to encourage the slightly cooler, drier rest period the plant needs to rebloom freely. Use rainwater or soft water where possible; avoid allowing the pot to stand in water.

Soil and pot

Mysore trumpetvine grows best in loam-based, free-draining potting compost. Under glass, use a peat-free loam-based compost (e.g., John Innes No. 3) with added perlite for drainage. Outdoors in the ground, plant in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but free-draining soil. Good drainage is critical; waterlogged roots cause rapid decline. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Mysore trumpetvine sits happiest at around 50–80% humidity and 13–32°C (55–90°F). As a Western Ghats native it thrives in high humidity. In a glasshouse, mist foliage regularly and place on a pebble tray with water. Provide good air movement to reduce fungal issues despite the humidity. Dry air leads to bud drop and leaf tip browning. If you keep the room above 13–32°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed mysore trumpetvine sparingly. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly during active growth. Switch to a potassium-high feed in late summer to encourage continued flower production. Reduce feeding to nil during the winter rest period. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on mysore trumpetvine in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Bud drop — Sudden loss of flower buds is typically caused by a sharp drop in temperature, cold draughts, or very dry air. Maintain temperatures above 13°C (55°F), keep away from draughts, and mist regularly to maintain humidity.
• Red spider mite — A common pest in warm, dry glasshouse conditions. Fine bronze stippling on leaves with webbing underneath indicates infestation. Raise humidity, mist foliage, and introduce the biological control Phytoseiulus persimilis or apply an appropriate acaricide.
• Failure to flower — Thunbergia mysorensis often requires a cooler, slightly drier winter rest (minimum 10–13°C / 50–55°F with reduced watering) to trigger the next flush of flowers. Without this rest period, flowering diminishes over time.

Propagation

Take semi-ripe stem cuttings 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long in late spring or summer. Dip in rooting hormone powder and insert in a moist sand-perlite mix at 25°C (77°F) with high humidity — a heated propagator is ideal. Rooting takes 4–6 weeks. Can also be grown from fresh seed sown at 21–24°C (70–75°F) in spring, though germination is slow and erratic. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Mysore trumpetvine is pet-safe. Thunbergia is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA for dogs, cats, or horses. The genus has no established toxic principle. Considered pet-safe based on available evidence, though ingestion of large quantities of any plant material may cause mild gastrointestinal upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Mysore trumpetvine deep-dive guides

Every aspect of mysore trumpetvine care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Mysore trumpetvine watering schedule
• Mysore trumpetvine light requirements
• Best soil mix for mysore trumpetvine
• Mysore trumpetvine fertilizing guide
• When to repot mysore trumpetvine
• How to propagate mysore trumpetvine
• Mysore trumpetvine growth rate & size
• Mysore trumpetvine cold hardiness
• Mysore trumpetvine temperature & humidity
• Is mysore trumpetvine toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is mysore trumpetvine toxic to cats?
• Is mysore trumpetvine toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Mysore trumpetvine qualifies for 10 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best pet-safe trailing & hanging plants — Trailing and climbing plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe for shelves and hanging pots in a pet home.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best pet-safe large indoor plants — Big, floor-standing houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — a statement plant that is safe around pets.
• Best fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Mysore trumpetvine is also known as Mysore trumpetvine, Mysore clock vine, Indian clock vine, and Brick and butter vine.

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