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Morning glories are a great option if you’re looking for a fast-growing, colourful vine to add to your garden. They’re easy to care for and bloom prolifically from summer through fall. You need to know to grow morning glories in your garden.
About Morning Glories
Morning Glories is a flowering plant that blooms in the morning. The scientific name for Morning Glories is Ipomoea nil. It is part of the Convolvulaceae family and is native to China. Morning Glories are vines that can grow up to 10 feet long. The leaves are dark green, and the flowers are white, pink, blue, or purple. The flowers only bloom in the morning and close up at night. This plant is also the birth month flower of September.
The morning glory has been cultivated in China for over 3,000 years. It was introduced to Japan in the 8th century and Europe and America in the 18th century.
Planting
Planting for morning glories is best done in the spring after the last frost has passed. Seeds can be sown directly into the ground or started indoors and then transplanted later.
Here is what you will need to consider to plant for morning glories:
When To Plant Morning Glories
This flower grows best in the morning sun, so plant morning glories in an area of your garden that gets full sun in the morning but is sheltered from the hot afternoon sun. Morning glories also like well-drained soil, so be sure to add compost or other organic matter to improve drainage if your garden has heavy clay soil.
How To Plant Morning Glories
To plant Morning Glories, choose a spot in your garden that gets full sun to partial shade. Morning Glories do best in rich, well-draining soil. Loosen the ground with a shovel and mix in some compost or manure to help the plants grow.
- Plant morning glory seeds about 1/2 inch deep and 18 inches apart. Thin the seedlings to about 12 inches apart when they are 4 to 6 inches tall.
- Water your morning glories regularly, especially during dry periods. Morning glories are drought tolerant once established but will produce more flowers if kept moist.
- Fertilize your plants every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer to encourage more blooms—Deadhead morning glories to keep them coming back all summer long.
Growing
- Start with seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date in your area.
- Sow the seeds on the moistened, sterile potting mix surface and lightly press them into the mixture.
- Cover the seed tray with plastic wrap or a clear lid to help retain moisture and place it in a warm spot with indirect light.
- Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and remove the plastic once the seedlings emerge.
- Transplant morning glory seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed, and they have at least four true leaves.
- Space them 12-18 inches apart in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
- Be sure to harden off the plants gradually before transplanting them by placing them outdoors in a protected spot for a few hours each day.
Recommended Varieties
There are wide different morning glory varieties to choose from. Some of the most popular types include:
Heavenly Blue
The heavenly blue morning glory (Ipomoea tricolour) is an annual climbing vine that produces large, sky-blue flowers. It typically blooms from summer to fall and can reach up to 20 feet in length. This morning glory variety is a popular choice for gardens and containers.
Scarlett O’Hara
The morning glory that Scarlett O’Hara grows is Ipomoea nil. This variety of morning glory is also known as the Japanese or blue morning glory. The Ipomoea nil morning glory is a climbing vine that can reach up to 30 feet in length. The leaves of this morning’s glory are dark green, and the flowers are a deep blue. The Ipomoea nil morning glory is a native of China and Japan. This morning glory was introduced to Europe in the 19th century and brought to America in the 20th century.
Wit And Wisdom
Morning glories are one of the world’s most popular types of flowers. They’re easy to grow, beautiful, and have a long blooming season. They are also one of the most versatile flowers. They can be planted in the ground or containers, used as borders or as accents, and come in a wide variety of colours.
Pest/ Diseases
Morning glories are susceptible to a few pests and diseases, but nothing too serious. Here is the list of problems and conditions found in morning glory
Aphids
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that can be found in various colours, including green, black, brown, and red. Aphids feed on plant sap, which can cause stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and distorted new growth.
To get rid of aphids, spray them with water from a hose to knock them off the plant. You can also try using an insecticidal soap or neem oil. If those don’t work, you can try a more potent insecticide, but follow the instructions on the label carefully.
Fusarium
Fusarium is a type of morning glory that is often considered a weed. It is a fast-growing plant that can reach up to six feet. The leaves of the plant are large and heart-shaped. The flowers are white or pink and have five petals.
Leaf Miners
Leaf miners are the larvae of various insects, including flies, moths, and beetles, that tunnel between the upper and lower surfaces of leaves as they feed. The damage appears pale, with meandering streaks or blotches on the leaf surface.
Remove affected leaves and destroy them. You can also try spraying the plants with an insecticide.
Rust
Rust is a morning glory disease that causes brown or orange spots on the plant’s leaves. The sites may be slightly raised and can have a powdery appearance. Rust can also cause the leaves to turn yellow and curl up. In severe cases, the plant may produce fewer flowers or none at all.
Morning glory plants are significantly susceptible to rust if grown in humid conditions. The disease is spread by spores released from infected plants and carried by the wind to healthy plants. Rust can also be applied by watering morning glories with water that contains rust spores.
Advice On Buying Morning Glory
If you want to grow morning glories, choosing the right type of plant is essential.
- There are wide varieties of morning glory, so it is essential to consult with a nursery or gardening centre about which would be best for your particular climate and soil type.
- Once you have chosen the right plant, it is also essential to make sure that you purchase it from a reputable source.
- This will ensure that the plant is healthy and will have a better chance of thriving in your garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called morning glory?
Morning glory is called morning glory because the flowers typically open in the morning and close by the evening. The species name “Ipomoea” is derived from two Greek words, ips (meaning “worm”) and homoios (meaning “alike”), which refers to the fact that the seeds of some species of morning glories coil into a tight spiral resembling a worm.
Is morning glory poisonous to dogs?
Yes, morning glory can be poisonous to dogs. The plant contains alkaloids, which are toxins that can cause an array of problems in dogs, including vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and even seizures. It’s important to keep any plants with toxic substances away from pets and to contact a veterinarian immediately if you believe your dog has been poisoned by a plant.
Do butterflies like morning glory?
Yes, butterflies love morning glory flowers! They drink the sweet nectar from the flowers and get their energy from them. The butterflies then spread pollen from the flowers to other plants, allowing them to reproduce
What is special about the morning glory flower?
The morning glory flower is special because it is a source of the psychedelic compound lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
The seeds of the morning glory plant contain lysergic acid and related compounds. When these are ingested, they are converted into LSD in the body. LSD is a potent hallucinogen that can cause changes in perception, mood, and thinking. It can also produce anxiety, panic attacks, and psychosis.
What type of plant is a morning glory?
Morning glory is a type of flowering plant. It typically grows as a vine that wraps around other plants or objects for support. The flowers of morning glory can be purple, blue, pink, or white, and they often have a trumpet-like shape. Morning glories are native to the Americas but can now be found all over the world.
Do morning glories bloom more than once?
Yes, morning glories will bloom more than once–often up to three times per growing season. The exact number of blooms will depend on the variety of morning glory, how well it’s cared for, and the climate conditions in which it’s grown. Morning glories are a relatively easy plant to grow, and with a little care, they’ll provide months of beautiful blooms.
Is morning glory vine invasive?
Yes, morning glory vine is invasive. Morning glory grows quickly and spreads rapidly by seed. The vines can grow up to 30 feet long and attach themselves to trees, buildings, or other structures. Morning glory also has aerial roots that grow down from the stems of the vines and cling to surfaces. Once it has taken hold, morning glory is difficult to remove.
Morning glory vine was introduced into the United States as an ornamental plant and has since become an invasive species. The plants can take over native vegetation, reduce biodiversity, and damage natural ecosystems. Morning glory vine has been listed as a noxious weed in several states.
Will morning glories choke out other plants?
Morning glories can be invasive plants, and they may choke out other plants if not properly managed. Morning glories are classified as annual plants, which means that the seeds will germinate, grow, flower, and produce seeds all in the same season. Because of their aggressive growth habit, morning glories can quickly overtake a garden bed or landscape planting.
If you’re growing morning glories in your garden, it’s important to keep them well-maintained and to regularly pull up any unwanted vines. You can also use a trellis or fence to help contain the vines.
How do you winterize morning glories?
There are a few things you can do to winterize your morning glories. One is to cut the stems back by about 2/3, and then mulch them heavily. You can also dig up the plants, wrap them in burlap or plastic, and store them in a cool, dark place until spring. Another option is to bring the plants inside for the winter. Morning glories don’t need much sunlight, so you can put them in a sunny window or even under grow lights.
How deep do morning glory roots go?
Morning glory roots can go anywhere from 12 to 36 inches deep, depending on the type of soil and the climate. They like a well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter, and they’re good for breaking up heavy clay soils. In warm climates, they can become invasive because they spread by rhizomes.
