Russian vine are not what they tell you they are...in the wrong situation...

They don't like sunshine...and will only do well in a mostly shady site...

....I've learned this from many attempts...:(

If by Russian Vine you mean Fallopia, it's perfectly happy in full sun or in deep dark shade - the problem with the blasted thing is preventing it from spreading more than 60 feet high and wide within 3 years. If you've planted it in a pot, it won't like that, and if the leaves are going brown, its either windburn on tender growth, or not enough water at the roots. I'd think very carefully about whether or not to plant it in the ground though...

Karenfrance, I don't know why you think its only okay in shade - it certainly isn't true. I also can't believe you've had many attempts at growing it - as I said, the problem with this plant is trying to get rid of it once its in, not growing it in the first place, although I suppose if you're planting it in summer, its possible its not getting enough water before it gets going.

..Bamboo...have you tried growing it in full sun in a hot climate?...I have, many times...it makes small, small leaves and lots of flowers...and no growth...

I've got it on a very hot, dry, almost vertical bank where it does its best to strangle everything else and survives my attempts to tame it.

Bamboo and Beattie, Neither of you actually live in a really hot climate, no matter how much you sweat in the summer! On the other hand, Karen, Russian vine does fine in full sun in Las Vegas, Nevada, with summertime highs up to 40º C. It doesn't like it here, because we get about 5º C hotter, here, with much hotter nights. One thing that I have found out about it though, is that it uses water quickly in pots, and has no forgiveness if a watering is forgotten--if it even comes back from the wilt, it will almost certainly have brown tips and edges to the leaves.

...What do you think it is, then, Tugbrethil? I planted four, same size, same day...two in shade, two in full sun...all have had the same watering. The two in shade are racing away but the two in sun are puny, producing nothing but flower. I have had russian vines in all my gardens for the last 15 years...and this is not the first time this has happened. Do they just take longer to establish?...do I give up on them too soon?

It sounds like the ones in sun aren't getting enough water. They may not need water more often, but they will need deeper watering, and, I've found, more fertilizer. Once they are established (6-12 months) they are semi drought tolerant, but they need massive amounts of water when starting.

Agree wholeheartedly with Tugbrethil - its a water problem, the ones in sun in a hotter climate than ours need a thorough soaking, in much the same way as new trees would.

...thanks, both!...did actually buy a thermometer today...42 degrees where they are...(in much the same sheltered situation as previous ones)...water well early morning and sundown...can't do much more than that...:(

Are they in pots? I would consider it a good watering in the ground if it got 19 liters for each meter of spread on its support. That should happen once a week, if they have been in the ground at least 3 months.

No Tugbrethil - all in the ground...been there since early March. They have made spindly growth to top of screen (as I said, small sparse leaves and lots of flowers) but, really, no spread...
...trouble is, I plant these vines to cover things quickly...and when they don't, I have to find other solutions.

So, are they getting that much water each week, Karen?

...yes, they are.......!

I'll admit that I'm flummoxed, then! One thing that I have found out is that plants in sun need more nitrogen than those in shade, but Russian vine isn't a hungry plant to begin with, so any reasonable fertilizing schedule should supply it with enough.

Thanks, Tugbrethil...the only thing I can think is that both times they were/are in extremely sheltered positions with radiated heat as well as full sun...so taking a real roasting!

...will try giving them a little feed, as you suggest...and will let you know how they go.

rgds, K