How to Grow Moon Flower Seeds

Moon flower, or Ipomoea alba, belongs to the morning glory family and strongly resembles other types of morning glories in the shape of its flowers and the climbing habit of its vines. It occurs naturally in subtropical and tropical areas of the Americas, where it will reach 100 feet in height, but it is generally much smaller under cultivation. The slender, twining stems sprout heart-shaped leaves in spring, which are later joined by a profusion of 3- to 5-inch-wide white flowers. Seeds appear when the flowers fade, which grow readily whether planted indoors before the last frost or outdoors in a warm, sunny bed.

Things You'll Need

• Fine rasp
• Bowl
• 3-inch peat pots
• Garden soil
• Compost
• Sharp sand
• Tray
• Plant mister
• Soil cultivator

Instructions

Growing Moon Flower Seeds Indoors

1. Gather seed from a moon flower vine in late summer once blooming has stopped and the seed pods dry out and begin to split. Store the seeds in a cool, dark place until four to six weeks before the last frost.

2. Rub the side of each moon flower seed with a fine rasp to weaken the hull 24 hours before sowing them. Soak them in warm water overnight to begin the germination process.

3. Prepare a 3-inch peat pot for each moon flower seed. Fill the pots with a pre-moistened mixture of 3 parts garden soil, 3 parts compost and 1 part sharp sand.

4. Sow one moon flower seed in each peat pot to a depth of 3/4 inch. Firm the soil slightly. Set the peat pots on a tray so they are easier to handle.

5. Place the potted moon flower seeds near a sunny window or beneath grow lights for eight hours a day. Use a plant mister to moisten the soil whenever it feels dry at a depth of 1 inch.

6. Watch for germination in five to 10 days. Mist the seedlings once daily to keep them hydrated. Plant the peat pots outdoors two or three days after the last frost.

Growing Moon Flower Seed Outdoors

1. Choose a planting site for the moon flower seeds with full to partial sun and draining soil. Select a bedding site near a fence, trellis or other support structure so the vines have somewhere to grow.

2. Prepare the bed once outdoor temperatures stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Break up the soil to a depth of at least 5 inches using a soil cultivator or garden trowel. Incorporate a 1-inch-thick layer of sharp sand into the bed to increase drainage.

3. Sow the moon flower seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep in the prepared bed. Space the seeds 12 to 15 inches apart. Water the seeds to a depth of 3 inches after planting, then decrease water to 1 inch every two days.

4. Watch for germination in five to 10 days. Train the moon flower vines against the fence, trellis or other support structure once they are tall enough to reach it by leaning the tendrils against the base of the structure.

Tips & Warnings

• Deadhead moon flower vines after blooming to keep them from self-sowing and becoming invasive.

References

• "American Horticultural Society Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-by-Plant Manual of Practical Techniques"; Alan Toogood; 1999
• University of Oklahoma: Department of Botany and Microbiology: Ipomoea Alba
• Cornell University: Home Gardening: Flower Growing Guides: Moon Flower